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.
A late rally made the difference as the 1968 Detroit Tigers defeated the 1927 New York Yankees 10-6.
With the scored tied 6-6 heading into the top of the eighth, Dick McAuliffe and Mickey Stanley began the frame with back-to-back singles against Dutch Ruether (3-4), who entered the contest in the seventh in relief of starter Urban Shocker.
Al Kaline‘s grounder to New York second baseman resulted in a fielder’s choice that allowed McAuliffe to score and give the Tigers a 7-6 advantage.
Gates Brown sealed the win for the Tigers in the ninth with a three-run blast off Myles Thomas.
Tigers Early Lead Evaporates
The Tigers built a lead with a run in each of the first three innings.
McAuliffe led off the contest with a solo homer, which was his first of four hits on the day. Bill Freehan added a RBI single in the second and Willie Horton‘s run-scoring double in the third made it 3-0.
The Yankees were able to get on the scoreboard in the fourth when Lou Gehrig tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Dugan.
New York exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead and end the day for Detroit starter Mickey Lolich.
Gehrig’s RBI double got New York to within a run before Tony Lazzeri‘s triple that scored a pair put the Yankees on top 4-3. Dugan drilled a two-run homer and the Yankees led by three.
Detroit was able to respond in the sixth against Shocker to tie the contest at 6-6.
Don Wert had a sacrifice fly, which was later followed by a RBI double by McAuliffe. Kaline’s run-scoring single tied the contest to set the stage for the winning rally.
Don McMahon (1-0) worked the final two innings on the mound for the Tigers to earn the victory.
In the finale of the three-game series, Wilcy Moore (7-0) is slated to start for the Yankees and Joe Sparma gets the ball for the Tigers.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (28-17)
1961 New York Yankees (25-19)
1948 Cleveland Indians (6-2)
1968 Detroit Tigers (5-2)
2005 Chicago White Sox (3-3)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-5)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 21
Lou Gehrig 17
Babe Ruth 14
Mickey Mantle 13