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.
Willie Horton smacked a pair of two-run homers to lead the 1968 Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 victory over 1927 New York Yankees.
Horton’s second blast in the fifth inning off New York starter Urban Shocker put the Tigers in front for good at 6-5.
It was the first loss of the season for Shocker, who is now 9-1. He tossed six innings giving up 10 hits and seven runs with two strikeouts. Myles Thomas pitched the last two innings for the Yankees giving up a run on four hits.
Detroit starter Mickey Lolich stuggled early, but lasted through six innings to get the win. He surrendered all five New York runs on 11 hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
Pat Dobson earned his first save of the season as he blanked the Yankees for three frames giving up two hits with three strikeouts including one of Pat Collins to end the game with runners at second and third.
The Yankees scored all of their runs in the first three innings.
Babe Ruth hit his team-high 31st of the season in he first inning. He now has 67 RBI.
It only took two batters for Detroit to tie the conest in the bottom of the first. Ruth misplayed a single by Dick McAuliffe as the Tiger leadoff hitter ended up at second and then scored on a single by Mickey Stanley.
In the top of the second, back-to-back singles by Earle Combs and Mark Koenig gave the Yankees a 3-1 advantage.
Bob Meusel hit a two-run homer in the third as the Yankees added to their lead to make it 5-1.
The Tigers began the road back in the third when Horton had his initial two-run bomb to make it 5-3.
Bill Freehan got the Tigers closer in the fourth with with a run-scoring single that cut Detroit’s deficit to 5-4.
Horton connected for his second homer one inning later and the Tigers were up by a run.
Detroit added two more runs for the final margin. Pinch-hitter Gates Brown had a RBI single in the sixth, while Don Wert doubled home the final tally in the eighth.
Wilcy Moore (9-3) gets the start for the Yankees in the fourth affair of the six-game series. Joe Sparma goes to the mound for Detroit.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (48-30)
1961 New York Yankees (43-34)
1968 Detroit Tigers (10-5)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 32
Roger Maris 31
Babe Ruth 31
Lou Gehrig 21