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 wasn’t the start that the 1927 New York Yankees wanted.
After splitting a six-game road series with the 1968 Detroit Tigers, the Yankees were hoping for better results as they visited the 1948 Cleveland Indians.
It didn’t happen for the Yankees in the opener of the four-game set as Dale Mitchell gave the Indians a 7-6 victory with a walk-off single in the 10th inning.
New York’s Myles Thomas (7-6) was in his third inning of relief of starter Dutch Ruether as he walked Jim Hegan to begin the 10th.
Cleveland player-manager Lou Boudreau selected Thurman Tucker to pinch-hit and he came through with a single that moved Hegan to third.
The Indians didn’t have to wait long for a result as Mitchell smacked his game-winner to set off the celebration.
The affair was scoreless until the fourth as Ruether and Cleveland starter Satchel Paige matched each other through three innings.
Both teams rallied in the fourth as the Yankees would hold a 3-2 advantage.
Paige walked Babe Ruth and then allowed a single by Lou Gehrig. After Tony Lazzeri was retired on a fly ball, Bob Meusel tripled giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Meusel scored the final tally on a sacrifice fly by Joe Dugan.
Cleveland answered in the bottom of the frame as the Indians scored a run with three straight singles off Ruether by Ken Keltner, Larry Doby and Eddie Robinson. The last run came on a RBI groundout by Paige.
In the seventh, the Indians went in front 5-3 as they ousted Ruether as he could only get one out. A three-run blast by Joe Gordon highlighted the outburst.
Gehrig tripled to get the top of the ninth underway against Paige. After Lazzeri walked Meusel singled and the Yankees trailed 5-4.
Boudreau called Russ Christopher from the bullpen and he walked Dugan loaded the bases. Pat Collins followed with a two-run singled and the Yankees were up by a run.
Now in line for the victory, Thomas couldn’t hold on to the lead as he surrendered a single to Allie Clark and then walked Boudreau to begin the bottom of the ninth. Gordon came through again as he tied the contest with a RBI single.
Thomas, who got the final two outs of the seventh, went the rest of the way as he suffered the loss surrendering two runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Reuther allowed five runs on a dozen hits as he fanned just one Cleveland batter.
Despite the blown save opportunity, Christopher did get the win as he allowed just one hit with a pair of strikeouts over two innings. Paige went eight innings giving up all six runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The second game of the series features ace Waite Hoyt (10-3) on the mound for the Yankees, while the Indians counter with their top starter Bob Lemon.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (50-32)
1961 New York Yankees (44-37)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (9-6)
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 34
Roger Maris 31
Babe Ruth 31
Lou Gehrig 23