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.
Back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the 2005 Chicago White Sox a 4-3 victory over the 1961 New York Yankees.
Roger Maris blasted his 35th homer of the season in the top of the eighth to put the Yankees in front by a run before the White Sox answered with clutch hitting.
New York reliever Tex Clevenger walked Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko with two outs to begin the rally.
A.J. Pierzynski singled to tie it and Aaron Rowand followed with the go-ahead hit to tag Clevenger (4-3) with the loss. Luis Arroyo replaced Clevenger and fanned Joe Crede to end the inning.
Chicago closer Dustin Hermanson walked a pair in the ninth, but he was able to retire Tony Kubek on a pop up and Bobby Richardson on a fly ball to earn the save.
The White Sox grabbed an early advantage against New York starter Rollie Sheldon thanks to Dye, who had a sacrifice fly in the first and a solo homer in the third.
White Sox Jose Contreras went eight innings allowing seven hits with seven strikeouts and didn’t surrender a run until the seventh.
With one out, Yogi Berra singled before Clete Boyer reached on a two-base error by White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe.
Pinch-hitter Johnny Blanchard cut New York’s deficit in half with a single. Kubek’s single tied it at 2-2.
Although Contreras gave up the long ball to Maris in the eighth, he became the winning pitcher thanks to his teammates in the bottom of the frame.
Sheldon worked six innings giving up four hits with five strikeouts before getting lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
Bud Daley (6-8) is slated to start the third contest of the four-game series for the Yankees, while the White Sox counter with Orlando Hernandez.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (54-37)
1961 New York Yankees (49-42)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (13-9)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
2005 Chicago White Sox (7-11)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (8-14)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 38
Roger Maris 35
Babe Ruth 34
Lou Gehrig 24