Peterson got the ball in the top of the first and Andrews grounded out to short to start. Reggie Smith grounded back to the mound and Carl Yastrzemski flied out to left to end the inning. The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the first although Horace Clarke lined out to center to start. Thurman Munson struck out but Roy White hit a home run into the Long Island Sound to give the Yankees the lead. Bobby Murcer walked but Curt Blefary struck out to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 1-0.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as George Scott grounded out to third to start. Rico Petrocelli also grounded out to third and Tony Conigliaro flied out to right to end the inning. Culp recovered in the bottom of the second as John Ellis grounded out to short to start. Danny Cater struck out and Gene Michael flied out to left to end the inning.
Luis Alvarado grounded out to short to begin the top of the third but Jerry Moses hit a ball under Cater's glove for an error to advance Jerry to second. Culp grounded out to third but Andrews flied out to left to end the inning. Peterson singled to right to start the bottom of the third but Clarke flied out to right. Munson struck out and White popped up to short to end the inning.
Peterson cruised in the top of the fourth as Smith flied out to right to start. Yaz flied out to center and Scott grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Culp matched Peterson in the bottom of the fourth as Murcer flied out to right to start. Blefary grounded out to third and Ellis flied out to left to end the inning.
Petrocelli flied out to left to begin the top of the fifth and Tony C flied out to right. Alvarado grounded to short to end the inning. Culp cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Cater grounded out to short to start. Michael flied out to right and Peterson took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox roared back in the top of the sixth as Moses singled to left to start. Culp sacrificed Jerry to second and Andrews walked. Smith singled home Moses to tie the game and Yaz singled home Andrews to give the Sox the lead. Scott was intentionally walked to load the bases and the gamble worked as Petrocelli scored Smith with a ground out. Tony C popped up to short to end the inning but the Sox led 3-1.
The Yankees fought back in the bottom of the sixth as Clarke lined out to left to start. Munson singled to left and White walked. Murcer then hit a home run all the way to Bunganut Lake to give the Yankees the lead. Blefary struck out and Ellis grounded out to short to end the inning but the Yankees were ahead 4-3.
The Sox looked to rally when Alavarado and Moses stroked back to back singles to begin the top of the seventh inning. Jack Aker took over on the mound and Dick Schofield pinch hit for Culp....grounding out to third. With runners on second and third Andrews lined out to third and Smith struck out to end the inning. Vincente Romo took over for the bottom of the seventh inning and Cater grounded out to second to start. Michael grounded out to first and Aker struck out to end the inning.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the eighth as Yaz flied out to left to start. Scott flied out to right and Petrocelli whiffed to end the inning. Clarke grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the eighth and Munson grounded out to third. White singled to center to chase Romo from the game. Sparky Lyle came in to pitch and White swiped second before Murcer and Blefary walked to load the bases. Ed Phillips made his Major League debut when he relieved Lyle and got Ellis to pop up to first to end the inning. Good debut!
Jim Lyttle came in to close out the top of the ninth and Tony C singled to left to begin. Tony moved to second on the grounder by Alvarado but Moses flied out to right. Mike Derrick pinch hit for Phillips and....struck out to end the game. The Yankees had won it 4-3.
The Good:
Jerry Moses was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Ed Phillips retired the only man he faced.
Vincente Romo tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Dick Schofield was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Mike Derrick was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Sparky Lyle walked the only two men he faced.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.
Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored one.
Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
George Scott was 0 for 3 but walked.
Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
Tony Conigliaro was just 1 for 4.
Luis Alvarado was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
That game was a kick to the pants in almost every way possible. Culp made just ONE mistake and if the Sox had gotten just ONE clutch hit maybe they win the game. Still there are no "ifs" and the Yankees got the hits and made the pitches they needed to win the game. Ed Phillips made his debut and got the man he was tasked to. Welcome to the big leagues Ed. As for the rest of the offense, things seemed to fall apart as soon as Aker came into the game. Hopefully down the road they'll be able to knock around some relief pitchers, but today was not that day. The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals tonight and it would have been nice for the Sox to beat the Yankees as well. After an off-day the Sox are back in action tomorrow when they take on Ted Williams and the Washington Senators in Washington. Jim Lonborg makes his season debut for the Sox up against Joe Coleman of the Senators. The game begins at 7:00 PM at Robert F Kennedy Stadium.
No comments:
Post a Comment