Boston Red Sox fans are not very happy with mother nature right now. Today was a big showdown between the defending AL Champion Baltimore Orioles and the Red Sox. The Orioles jumped out to a quick lead over Sox starter Ray Culp (1-2, 4.29 ERA) but the Sox got 2 runs against Jim Palmer to take the lead. The O's tied it in the top of the fourth a nd Boog Powell hit a home run in the top of the sixth to give the O's the lead. One inning later, the game was called on account of rain. It was a bitter pill for Sox fans to swallow to lose a game against a division rival like that. As it stands, the Orioles defeated the Sox 3-2 in 6 innings at Fenway Park.
Culp got tagged in the top of the first inning as Don Buford flied out to center to start. Mark Belanger tripled into the centerfield triangle and scored on the Frank Robinson ground out to third to give the O's the lead. Boog Powell grounded out to second to end the inning but Baltimore led 1-0.
Robinson drives in a run
Palmer got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mike Andrews drew a walk to start. Reggie Smith flied out to right and Carl Yastrzemski popped out to first. George Scott struck out swinging to end the inning.
Paul Blair popped up to first to start the top of the second and Brooks Robinson grounded out to second. Davey Johnson hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the second as Rico Petrocelli walked to start. Tony Conigliaro singled to left and Luis Alvarado singled home Petrocelli to tie the game. The rally ended as Conigliaro got picked off and Gerry Moses popped up to first. Culp singled to right to move Alvarado to third and Andrews popped up to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Andy Etchebarren struck out swinging to start the top of the third and Palmer flied out to center. Buford also flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the third as Smith popped up to second to start. Yaz walked and took second on a wild pitch before moving to third on another wild pitch. Scott popped up to second but Petrocelli walked. Tony C atoned for his baserunning blunder with a base hit to left to score Yaz to put Boston on top. Alvarado struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
The O's struck again in the top of the fourth as Belanger struck out swinging to start. Frank Robinson doubled to left and Powell slammed a single to center to score Robinson to tie the game. Blair flied out to center but Brooks Robinson singled to left. Johnson forced Robinson at second to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Moses lined out to center to start. Culp struck out swinging but Andrews walked. Smith walked but Yaz flied out to left to end the inning.
Etchebarren lined out to short to start the top of the fifth and Palmer flied out to center. Buford flied out to left to end the inning. Scott grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fifth and Petrocelli flied out to center. Tony C walked but Alvarado popped up to third to end the inning.
The O's took the lead in the top of the sixth as Belanger flied out to left to start. Frank Robinson grounded out to third but Powell hit a home run all the way to Barbourville, Kentucky to give Baltimore the lead. Blair took strike three to end the inning but the O's had the lead 3-2.
The Sox had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Moses singled to center to start, but Culp banged into a double play. Andrews popped up to second to end the inning.
Brooks Robinson doubled to left to open the top of the seventh when umpire Jerry Neudecker ran around in the circle flailing his arms to signify a rain delay. With the rain not supposed to let up, the game was called and Baltimore were declared the winners 3-2.
The Good:
Mike Andrews walked twice in four plate appearances.
Rico Petrocelli walked twice and scored a run.
Tony Conigliaro was 2 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
Luis Alvarado was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Gerry Moses was 1 for 3.
The Bad:
George Scott was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Reggie Smith was 0 for 2 but walked.
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 2 but walked and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
That was a tough game to lose considering its a division rival and it was shortened by rain. In a one run game someone can get a piece of one, somebody can walk, steal and score on a bloop, there's many possibilities. With the Sox looking up to Baltimore in the standings, a game like this hurts because they had gotten to Palmer for a few runs and didn't get a chance to deliver a knockout punch. Culp wasn't pitching that bad either but gave up too many runs against a damn good team. The only thing the Sox can do is shake it off and come back the next game. The offense was doing very well until the game was called and hopefully they can do it again on Wednesday when Sox ace Jim Lonborg (2-0) takes on Dave McNally of the Orioles. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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