Editor’s note: The 27 * 61 Yankees Replay games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will not be used for any games. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
It was a case of too little and too late after the pitching problems for the 1927 New York Yankees as they fell 9-4 to the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
Yankees starter George Pipgras (5-5) struggled through five innings allowing six runs on eight hits with six walks and five strikeouts.
As much as Pipgras fought his control, Myles Thomas faced four batters in the sixth surrendering three runs on three hits and a walk. He was replaced by Dutch Ruether, who tossed three innings and gave up three hits. Wilcy Moore pitched a perfect ninth.
Perhaps the tone was established early as the Red Sox scored a run in the top of the first.
Johnny Damon led off with a single and after two outs David Ortiz reached on an error by Pipgras, who proceeded to walk Kevin Millar and Kevin Youkilis to make it 1-0.
In the third, Ortiz began the frame with a grounder to Tony Lazzeri, who was playing short with Mark Koenig getting the day off. Lazzeri muffed the play and Ortiz was standing on second. He later scored on a single by Pokey Reese.
Boston scored three times in the fourth as Millar had a two-run double, which was followed by a RBI ground out by Youkilis and it was 5-0.
Orlando Cabrera had a RBI single in the fifth as the Red Sox built a 6-0 advantage.
The Yankees finally came to life in the seventh against Boston starter Bronson Arroyo.
Babe Ruth walked to begin the inning, but Arroyo fanned Lou Gehrig and Lazzeri. Mike Gazella, who was getting a rare start at second, hit a two-run homer and it was 9-2.
Arroyo began the ninth looking for a complete game, but Ben Paschal singled and Ruth doubled and it was time for help.
Ramiro Mendoza gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Lazzeri and Gazella before getting Keonig, who was pinch-hitting, to bounce into a double play to end the affair.
New York will try to end its losing streak at three by sending Waite Hoyt (8-3) to the mound in the third contest of the four-game series in Yankee Stadium, while Boston’s Curt Schilling gets the ball for the Red Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (43-26)
1961 New York Yankees (39-29)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (13-14)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 28
Babe Ruth 28
Roger Maris 26
Lou Gehrig 21