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 didn’t take very long for the 1961 New York Yankees to establish control on the way to an 11-5 victory over the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees scored three times in the bottom of the first as they sent nine batters to the plate against Baltimore starter Tom Phoebus.
Tony Kubek and Bobby Richardson began the rally with singles before Roger Maris walked to load the bases.
After Mickey Mantle was retired on a fly ball to center, Elston Howard walked and the Yankees had a run.
Yogi Berra hit into a fielder’s choice to Baltimore first baseman Boog Powell and Richardson was out at home.
Phoebus was still experiencing control issues as he walked Bill Skowron with the bases jammed to make it 2-0.
Clete Boyer singled to drive in the final run of the frame and it was 3-0.
In the second, Phoebus was sent to the showers after three hitters. Kubek led off with a double and Richardson added a RBI single. Maris followed with a two-run homer and it was 6-0.
Dick Hall took over on the mound for the Orioles and was able to get out of the inning.
However in the third, Boyer’s ninth homer of the season put New York in front 7-0.
Baltimore got on the scoreboard against New York starter Bud Daley in the bottom of the fourth.
Powell and Brooks Robinson had back-to-back doubles to bring home the first tally. The second run came when Andy Etchebarren grounded into a double play that allowed Powell to score from third.
With Hall still in the game for the Orioles, Maris and Mantle blasted solo shots to put the Yankees on top 9-2.
Both teams scored in the eighth with the final runs of the contest.
Maris reached base on an error by Baltimore shortstop Mark Belanger and then Mantle drilled another homer that made it 11-2.
With his two long balls, Mantle now leads the Yankees with 38 homers and 89 RBI this season. Maris has 34 bombs with 56 RBI.
An error with two outs by Kubek helped the Orioles cut into their deficit as Etchebarren eventually smacked a three-run homer.
Daley (6-8) went the distance for the Yankees surrendering a dozen hits, while not walking a batter and fanning four.
Phoebus recorded just three outs and gave up six runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout.
Hall worked six innings giving up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Pete Richert went the final two innings allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout.
Whitey Ford (8-6) is scheduled to start the third contest of the four-game series with the Orioles countering with Jim Palmer.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (52-35)
1961 New York Yankees (48-39)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (13-9)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (6-12)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 38
Roger Maris 34
Babe Ruth 33
Lou Gehrig 24