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.
Wilcy Moore had a rough beginning, but by the end his teammates on the 1927 New York Yankees had saved the day in a 6-5 victory over the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.
The future looked bright in the top of the first as Babe Ruth homered off Baltimore starter Jim Hardin, but then the Orioles beat up Moore in the bottom of the inning.
Paul Blair led off with a double and two outs later Boog Powell tied the game with a RBI single.
Merv Rettenmund followed with a single and then he and Powell both scored on a double by Brooks Robinson and Baltimore led 3-1.
The Yankees came to life in the third and then got some help from the Orioles.
Mark Koenig got things underway with a single and then Ruth walked before Lou Gehrig had an infield single to load the bases.
An error by Robinson at third on a grounder by Tony Lazzeri allowed a run to score with the bases remaining jammed.
Ben Paschal, who got the start in left field for Bob Meusel, singled to bring home a pair of runs and the Yankees went on top 4-3.
New York added on to its advantage in the seventh when Keonig singled and Ruth smashed his 33rd homer of the season to make it 6-3.
Those final two runs became critical for the Yankees in the bottom of the seventh. Moore slipped up with two outs as he appeared to lose some concentration and the Orioles made him pay the price.
Pinch-hitter Chico Salmon and Blair blasted back-to-back homers to cut Baltimore’s deficit to a run.
Moore (11-3) reached back and with some extra effort answered the call finishing on the mound allowing a pair of walks the rest of the way. He gave of eight hits overall and just four after the opening frame with three strikeouts.
Hardin went seven innings for the Orioles as he was tagged with the loss giving up eight hits and fanning three. Dick Hall gave up a hit with two strikeouts as he worked the final innings,
George Pipgras (6-5) will start the second contest of the four-game series for the Yankees, while Tom Phoebus gets the ball from Baltimore manager Earl Weaver.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (52-34)
1961 New York Yankees (46-39)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (13-9)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-10)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 36
Babe Ruth 33
Roger Maris 32
Lou Gehrig 24