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 little persistence by the 1961 New York Yankees finally paid off as they need four hits in the 12th inning to produce a walk-off 3-2 victory over the 1972 Oakland A’s.
Bob Locker was in his first inning of work on the mound for Oakland and the trouble started early as Yogi Berra singled. However, Locker got Bill Skowron to hit into a double play, which deflated the Yankees.
Unfortunately for the Oakland reliever, Bobby Richardson singled and pinch-hitter Hector Lopez followed with an infield single. Tony Kubek kept the streak alive as he singled to bring Richardson home with the game-winning run.
Luis Arroyo (3-3) earned the victory for New York as he was perfect over the final two frames with three strikeouts.
Ralph Terry started for the Yankees going seven innings allowing eight hits with three strikeouts.
Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth as George Hendrick singled to drive Mike Epstein, who had walked.
Clete Boyer tied the game in the seventh as he drilled a solo homer, which was his sixth of the season.
Reggie Jackson led off the eighth against Terry with a home run.
Terry’s day ended when Sal Bando and Epstein had back-to-back singles.
Tex Clevenger fanned Gene Tenace and got Hendrick to hit into a double play to end the eighth.
Jim Coates didn’t give up a run in the ninth in his first of two frames to give the Yankees an opportunity in the bottom of the inning.
Oakland starter Blue Moon Odom gave up just three hits and two runs for the A’s through eight innings.
Rollie Fingers replaced Odom after Kubek doubled leading off the ninth.
Fingers struck out Boyer, but Roger Maris walked to bring Mickey Mantle to the plate. Mantle’s single tied the affair at 2-2, but Fingers was able to retire Berra and Elston Howard on ground outs to send the game into extra innings.
New York is set to entertain the 2004 Boston Red Sox in a four-game series at Yankee Stadium with Rollie Sheldon (3-6) slated to start the opener. Boston will counter with Derek Lowe.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (43-24)
1961 New York Yankees (39-28)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (10-14)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 28
Babe Ruth 28
Roger Maris 26
Lou Gehrig 21