It was a bad day for Boston sports as the New York Rangers tied up the NHL playoff series with the Boston Bruins with a Game 4 victory and the Boston Red Sox couldn't complete a rally against the Washington Senators. Gary Peters (1-1, 7.45 ERA) got hammered for 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings, putting the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of. Jerry Moses and Carl Yastrzmski both hit home runs as the Sox desperately tried to fight back, including a big rally in the ninth inning. The Sox left the tying run on first as Horacio Pina got the final out Washington needed to win the game 6-5 at Robert F Kennedy Stadium.
Casey Cox got the start for Washington and Mike Andrews led off the top of the first with a swinging strikeout. Reggie Smith grounded out to second but Carl Yastrzemski walked. George Scott singled Yaz to third but Rico Petrocelli forced Scott at second to end the inning. Peters got the ball in the bottom of the first and Del Unser grounded out to short to start. Ed Brinkman grounded out to first and Frank Howard grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second although Tony Conigliaro popped up to third to start. Luis Alvarado grounded out to short but Jerry Moses cracked his first home run of the year to give Boston the year. Peters grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Senators struck back in the bottom of the second as Ken McMullen flied out to left to start. Mike Epstein hit a routine grounder to Andrews who turned and threw the ball into the left field seats for an error. Epstein took second on the bad throw and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on the sac fly by Hank Allen. Bernie Allen grounded out to second to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Andrews tried to atone for his error with a base hit to center to start the top of the third but was erased on the Smith double play. Carl Yastrzemski singled to center and stole second, but Scott grounded out to third to end the inning. Paul Casanova walked to start the bottom of the third but Cox bunted foul for strike three. Unser flied out to center and Brinkman grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Petrocelli took strike three to start the top of the fourth but Tony C singled to left. A wild pitch moved Conigliaro moved second on a wild pitch but Alvarado struck out swinging. Moses grounded out to third to end the inning. The Senators pounced in the bottom of the fourth as Howard doubled to left to start. McMullen grounded out to third but Epstein hit a home run all the way to Lancaster to put Washington up for good. Hank Allen grounded out to short and Bernie Allen popped up to short to end the inning with the Senators up 3-1.
Peters tried to aid the cause with a base hit to right to start the top of the fifth but Andrews banged into a double play. Smith doubled to left and Allen bobbled a grounder by Yaz to put runners at the corners. Scott grounded out to short to end the inning. The Senators chased Peters in the bottom of the fifth as Casanova singled in the hole at second to start. Cox moved Casanova to second with a bunt and Unser walked. Brinkman singled in the hole at short to load the bases and a wild pitch scored Casanova. Howard doubled to left to clear the bases and chase Peters after allowing 6 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Lee Strange came in and McMullen flied out to right. Epstein was intentionally walked and Hank Allen flied out to end the inning with the Senators up 6-1.
Petrocelli tried to start a rally in the top of the sixth with a base hit to center but Tony C popped up to short Alvarado forced Petrocelli at second but Moses doubled Luis to third. Sox manager Eddie Kasko sent Tommy Matchick to pinch hit for Strange. Matchick made his season debut by grounding out to first to end the inning. Ray Jarvis made his season debut in the bottom of the sixth and Bernie Allen flied out to left to start. Casanova struck out swinging and Cox grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox fought back in the top of the seventh although Andrews flied out to right to start. Smith grounded out to second but Yaz belted his first home run of the season to cut the lead. Scott grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox were down 6-2.
Jarvis got Unser to fly out to right to start the top bottom of the seventh and Brinkman also flied out to right. Howard and McMullen both walked but Epstein struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox blew another rally in the top of the eighth as Petrocelli popped up to second to start. Tony C grounded out to second but Alvarado singled to center. Moses singled in the hole at short and Mike Derrick pinch hit for Jarvis. Derrick grounded out to second to end the inning. Ed Phillips came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Hank Allen struck out swinging to start. Bernie Allen singled to right but Casanova struck out looking. Cox struck out swinging to end the inning.
Ed Stroud took over in left to start the top of the ninth and Andrews popped up to second to start. Smith beat out an infield single to first and that chased Cox from the game two outs away from a complete game. Jim Shellenback was brought in just to face Yastrzemski and Yaz doubled to right. Horacio Pina came in to face Scott and George hit a routine grounder to McMullen...BOOTED for an error to load the bases. All Petrocelli could do was score Smith with a grounder but Tony C cleared the bases with a base hit to center to cut the lead and put the tying run at first. With the game on the line...Alvarado grounded out to third to end the game. The Senators had won it 6-5.
Jackass of the Night is Gary Peters. He got hammered for 6 runs in just 4 1/3 innings to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't get out of.
The Good:
Reggie Smith was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Carl Yastrzemski was 3 for 4 with a walk, stolen base, home run and 2 runs scored.
Tony Conigliaro was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis.
Jerry Moses was 3 for 4 with a home run.
Lee Strange got the final two outs of the fifth inning.
Ray Jarvis tossed 2 scoreless innings.
Ed Phillips pitched a eighth scoreless inning.
The Bad:
Tommy Matchick grounded out as a pinch hitter.
Mike Derrick grounded out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
George Scott was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Rico Petrocelli was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.
Luis Alvarado was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Final Thoughts:
Bad, bad day all around. Red Sox lost, Bruins lost, the Boston Celtics didn't make the playoffs and if the New England Patriots played today, I'm sure they would have lost too. Everything stinks! Still, the Sox did make a game out of it at the end and the shutdown pitching of Strange, Jarvis and Phillips kept the Sox in reach. Having Alvarado come up with the game on the line isn't ideal but that's the way the wind blows sometimes. Peters didn't have his best stuff today and he's the difference maker this season. Sonny Siebert, Ray Culp and Jim Lonborg will get the team wins but if the Sox have any hope of matching the Baltimore Orioles, they need Peters to step up. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox come home for their home opener against the New York Yankees on Tuesday afternoon. Ray Culp (0-1) takes on Fritz Peterson of New York at 1:35 PM at Fenway Park.
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