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.
The 1927 New York Yankees have now lost four straight with three of those defeats by the 1948 Cleveland Indians.
Four runs in the fifth inning against New York starter Herb Pennock made the difference as the Indians went on to a 5-3 victory.
The Yankees began the day as if they might end their losing streak as Babe Ruth doubled with two outs in the first off Cleveland starter Bob Feller.
Lou Gehrig followed with a triple and the Yankees led by a run.
Cleveland tied it in the third with an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau.
Things went downhill for Pennock in the fifth as the Indians built a 5-1 advantage.
Jim Hegan led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Feller. Dale Mitchell singled to send Hegan to third.
A single by Thurman Tucker, which was his third of four hits in the contest, gave the Indians a 2-1 margin as Mitchell raced to third. Boudreau added another sacrifice fly as the Indians were in front by two runs.
Joe Gordon and Ken Keltner both singled before Larry Doby knocked in the final two runs with a double.
The Yankees picked up a run in the sixth when Bob Meusel hit into a RBI fielder’s choice to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Feller was hoping for a complete game, but he needed help in the ninth as the Yankees scored their last run on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Ben Paschal.
Russ Christopher earned a save as he induced Earle Combs to hit into a game-ending double play.
Pennock (5-7) worked seven innings giving up all five runs with four being earned on 14 hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Feller allowed seven hits with five walks and five strikeouts in getting the victory.
In the finale of the four-game set, the Yankees send Urban Shocker (9-1) to the mound hoping to avoid being swept by Cleveland as Gene Bearden starts for the Indians.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (50-34)
1961 New York Yankees (45-38)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (12-7)
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 35
Roger Maris 32
Babe Ruth 31
Lou Gehrig 23