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.
Elston Howard blasted a pair of homers to lead the 1961 New York Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the 2005 Chicago White Sox.
Both of Howard’s long balls were two-run shots that put the Yankees on top as he now has 22 homers on the season with 69 RBI.
Chicago grabbed an early advantage in the second when Joe Crede sent one over the fence against New York starter Tex Clevenger that drove in two.
Roger Maris answered for the Yankees in the bottom of the third with a RBI single off White Sox starter Orlando Hernandez that cut New York’s deficit in half.
Howard hit his first bomb of the affair in the sixth against Hernandez after Mickey Mantle singled as the Yankees went in front 3-2.
The lead didn’t last very long as Juan Uribe and pinch-hitter Carl Everett both singled to begin the seventh.
Scott Podsednik singled to tie it at 3-3 before Jermaine Dye added a sacrifice fly to give Chicago the lead.
Bobby Richardson led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Chicago’s Neal Cotts retired the next three batters to keep the White Sox in the lead.
Bill Stafford, who was in between starts, was needed for the eighth inning on the mound for the Yankees and he answered the call with a perfect frame.
In the eighth, Mantled doubled off Cotts and Howard followed with his second homer of the day that put the Yankees in the lead for good.
Luis Arroyo took over for Stafford and despite giving up two hits and a stolen base, he fanned Tadahito Iguchi and Dye to earn his 16th save of the season.
Stafford (17-7) picked up the victory thanks to Howard’s timely homer in the eighth.
The fourth contest of the five-game series features Rollie Sheldon (10-9) getting the ball for the Yankees, while Mark Buehrle starts for the White Sox.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (88-56)
1961 New York Yankees (78-66)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (23-21)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (19-25)
2004 Boston Red Sox (17-27)
2005 Chicago White Sox (15-25)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 61
Babe Ruth 55
Roger Maris 54
Lou Gehrig 35