What a great season debut for Jim Lonborg (1-0, 1.29 ERA). The ace of the Red Sox looked good in his season debut against old friend Ted Williams' Washington Senators. Jim scattered 6 hits and only a single run in 7 strong innings. The offense wasn't much but George Scott, Rico Petrocelli and Luis Alvarado all drove in runs which happened to be just enough for Lonborg. Sparky Lyle and Lee Strange slammed the door in the late innings and its better to start the season 2-1 rather than 1-2. Lonborg helped win the game 4-1 at Robert F Kennedy Stadium.
Joe Coleman got the start for Washington and Mike Andrews walked to begin. Andrew moved to second on the grounder by Reggie Smith and Carl Yastrzemski worked a walk. Andrews moved to third on the fly out by George Scott and Rico Petrocelli struck out swinging to end the inning. Lonborg got the ball in the bottom of the first and Del Unser beat out an infield single to Lonborg to start. Ed Brinkman walked but Frank Howard struck out swinging. Mike Epstein struck out swinging and Ken McMullen took strike three to end the inning.
Tony Conigliaro took strike three to start the top of the second and Luis Alvarado also watched strike three go by. Jerry Moses got a base hit to right but Lonborg also took strike three to end the inning. Lee Maye grounded out to third to start the bottom of the second. John Roseboro walked and Tim Cullen beat out an infield single to Lonborg, but Coleman banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third inning although Andrews grounded out to third to start. Smith singled to center and took second on a balk by Coleman, moving to third on the double by Yaz. Scott grounded out to first but Smith scored and Yaz moved to third. A wild pitch scored Yaz and Petrocelli lined out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Unser beat out a bunt single back to the mound to begin the bottom of the third but Brinkman struck out swinging. Howard grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Tony C grounded out to short to start. Alvarado flied out to center but Moses walked. Lonborg ripped a base hit to center and a wild pitch moved both runners over. Andrews walked to load the bases but Smith popped up to short to end the inning. The Senators fought back in the bottom of the fourth as Epstein smashed a home run all the way to Baltimore to begin. McMullen struck out swinging, Maye flied out to left and Roseboro flied out to center to end the inning with the Senators down 2-1.
The Sox blew another rally in the top of the fifth as Yaz singled to right to start. Yaz stole second but Scott grounded out to short. Yaz took third on a passed ball but Petrocelli took strike three. Tony C was intentionally walked but Alvarado struck out swinging to end the inning. Lonborg cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Cullen flied out to right to begin. Coleman struck out swinging and Unser grounded out to first to end the inning.
Bernie Allen came in to play second in the top of the sixth and Moses grounded out to third to start. Lonborg also grounded out to third and Andrews struck out swinging to end the inning. Lonborg got in trouble when Brinkman singled to start before Epstein drew a walk. McMullen popped up to first and Maye grounded out to first to end the inning.
Smith grounded out to first to start the top of the seventh but Yaz doubled to left. Scott popped up to third and Petrocelli struck out swinging to end the inning. Lonborg returned for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh and Roseboro hit one up the elevator shaft to begin. Allen grounded out to second and Ed Stroud pinch hit for Coleman. Stroud got a base hit to center but Unser flied out to center to end the inning. Lonborg pitched great, tossing 7 innings of 1 run ball to give the Sox a chance to win.
Darold Knowles came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Tony C singled to right to begin. Alvarado forced Conigliaro at second and Moses flied out to right. Dick Schofield pinch hit for Lonborg and singled to center, moving Alvarado to third. Andrews lined out to left to end the inning. Lee Strange came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Brinkman was hit with a pitch to start. Howard and Epstein both struck out swinging but McMullen beat out an infield single to short. Hank Allen pinch hit for Maye and Sox manager Eddie Kasko brought in Sparky Lyle to face him. Allen forced McMullen at second to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game in the top of the ninth as Smith singled to left to start. Yaz popped up to second but Scott singled to left. Petrocelli doubled home Smith and Tony C was intentionally walked to load the bases and Alvarado scored Scott with a sac fly. Moses was intentionally walked to reload the bases and Lyle grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Lyle came back for the bottom of the ninth and Roseboro grounded out to second to start. Allen walked and Paul Casanova pinch hit for Knowles, flying out to right. Unser grounded back to the mound to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-1.
The Good:
Reggie Smith was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Carl Yastrzemski was 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
Tony Conigliaro was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.
Jerry Moses was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.
Dick Schofield singled as a pinch hitter.
Sparky Lyle earned his first save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice.
George Scott was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Rico Petrocelli was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Luis Alvarado was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.
Lee Strange hit a man and allowed a hit in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
If Jim Lonborg can get back to where he was in 1967, this team may contend with Baltimore for AL East supremacy. Ray Culp looks like he'll settle in just fine and Sonny Siebert isn't bad either. If Lonborg can be a 20 game winner again, they may have an outside shot to topple the birds. That's a big if, and for now the Sox should just celebrate winning the game. Lonborg pitched great today and Sparky Lyle slammed the door in relief. The offense wasn't much but it was definitely timely, getting runs when they had to by any means necessary. The Sox have to beat teams like the Senators as much as possible and hopefully this is the start of a nice winning streak. The Sox look to beat the Senators again tomorrow night when they send Sonny Siebert to the mound for his season debut up against Dick Bosman of the Senators. The game begins at 6:05 PM at Robert F Kennedy Stadium.
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