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 1948 Cleveland Indians opened a four-game series against the 1927 New York Yankees with an 11-5 victory.
With eight runs in the third inning to oust New York starter Waite Hoyt, the Indians built an insurmountable margin of 10-2.
After RBI hits by Lou Boudreau in the first and Eddie Robinson in the second, Cleveland led 2-0 before the Yankees answered with a pair of runs to tie it.
Joe Dugan had a run-scoring double, while Hoyt helped himself with an infield single that knocked in a run.
In the third, Cleveland sent a dozen hitters to the plate as the Indians banged out eight hits.
The onslaught began with RBI single by Joe Gordon. Hoyt walked Ken Keltner to load the bases before Larry Doby cleared them with a triple that gave the Indians a 6-3 advantage.
Dutch Ruether came on for Hoyt and Robinson made it 7-2 with a single. Dale Mitchell and Allie Clark each drove in a run with a hit and the Indians were on top by seven. The final tally came on a sacrifice fly by Boudreau.
Keltner added a solo homer in the fourth, which turned out to be the final run for the Indians.
Cleveland starter Bob Lemon was able to shut down the Yankees until the bottom of the eighth.
Babe Ruth got the rally underway with a single before Lou Gehrig doubled. Tony Lazzeri had a sacrifice fly to produce the first score before Dugan and Pat Collins each brought home a run.
Lemon gave up five runs on seven hits with six walks and five strikeouts. Zoldak got the final five outs of the affair with a strikeout.
Hoyt (12-5) worked two innings for the Yankees giving up seven runs on 10 hits with one strikeout. Ruether ended up with six frames allowing four runs on seven hits. Myles Thomas tossed a scoreless eighth
The second contest of the four-game set in Yankee Stadium features Herb Pennock (5-9) on the mound for New York as Cleveland counters with Bob Feller.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (57-41)
1961 New York Yankees (52-45)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (14-9)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
2005 Chicago White Sox (8-14)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 39
Roger Maris 37
Babe Ruth 35
Lou Gehrig 27