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 broke things open for the 1927 New York Yankees.
With four runs in the top of the eighth inning, the Yankees went on to beat the 2004 Boston Red Sox 6-2 in Fenway Park.
New York led 2-1 heading into the eighth against Boston starter Tim Wakefield.
Lou Gehrig walked to begin the inning as Wakefield’s knuckle ball seem to lose some movement. Bob Meusel followed with a double and then Tony Lazzeri walked to load the bases.
Wakefield retired Joe Dugan on a line drive to short and Benny Bengough on a pop up to second. After reaching base twice on errors by Boston second baseman Mark Bellhorn, New York starting pitcher Urban Shocker coaxed a walk from Wakefield to produce a run that made it 3-1.
Boston manager Terry Francona made the change on the mound to Ramiro Mendoza, which didn’t help the cause.
Earle Combs greeted Mendoza with a two-run single and Mark Koenig then added a RBI single and it was 6-1. Mendoza fanned the struggling Gehrig to end the inning.
In the ninth, Boston’s final run came on a RBI double by Bill Mueller.
Shocker went the distance giving up five hits with five strikeouts.
Wakefield, who left with two outs in the eighth, gave up all six runs on six hits with seven walks and five strikeouts.
Boston Scores First
The Red Sox picked up the first run of the contest on an error by Koenig in the third.
Shocker surrendered a double to Bellhorn to begin the frame. Wakefield executed a sacrifice bunt moving Bellhorn to third. Johnny Damon popped up to Lazzeri at second and Shocker was one out away from escaping the jam.
It didn’t work out as Orlando Cabrera grounded to Koenig, who couldn’t make the play allowing Bellhorn to cross the plate.
Lazzeri’s Bomb
The Yankees took the lead in the top of the sixth. Babe Ruth and Gehrig both walked, but Wakefield induced Bob Meusel to hit into a double play that left Ruth standing at third.
Wakefield fluttered a knuckle ball that Lazzeri deposited on Landsdowne Street to give New York a 2-1 advantage.
Dominant Force
Shocker took control of the affair as he retired 13 straight after the error that allowed the unearned run.
Trot Nixon broke the string in the eighth with a single, but the Red Sox couldn’t score.
New York’s Wilcy Moore gets the call to start the finale of the two-game series, while the Red Sox counter with Derek Lowe.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (8-5)
1961 New York Yankees (7-5)
1924 Washington Senators (2-2)
1972 Oakland A’s (5-7)
2004 Boston Red Sox (3-6)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
2005 Chicago White Sox (0-0)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Lou Gehrig 6
Roger Maris 5
Babe Ruth 3
Mickey Mantle 3