Brett Outduels Stottlemyre as Sox Take Game 1 (6/28/70)

The Boston Red Sox have to play a doubleheader today against the New York Yankees and they opened the salvo by taking game 1 on the back of Ken Brett (2-2, 3.31 ERA). Brett held the Yankees in check for 8 solid innings to earn the win. The Sox offense got to Mel Stottlemyer for 4 runs including a Carl Yastrzemksi 3 run home run in the top of the third. There's another game to be played but the Sox took this one 5-3 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                Mariska Veres approves of the win

Stottlemyre cruised in the top of the first inning as Mike Andrews grounded back to the mound to start. Reggie Smith flied out to center and Carl Yastrzemski grounded out to first to start. Brett got in trouble in the bottom of the first as Horace Clarke drew a leadoff walk. Bobby Murcer struck out but Clarke swiped second. Roy White and Danny Cater drew back to back walks to load the bases but Thurmon Munson flied out to center. John Ellis flied out to center to end the inning.

Tony Conigliaro drew a walk to begin the top of the second inning but Rico Petrocelli lined out to center. George Scott and Billy Conigliaro both popped up to second to end the inning. Ron Woods singled to left to begin the bottom of the second but was doubled off first on the Gene Michael to short. Stottlemyre singled to left but Clarke lined out to left to end the inning.

The Sox broke through in the top of the third inning although Jerry Moses grounded out to third. Brett singled to center to start the rally and Andrews got a base hit to left. Smith singled to right to score Brett and Yaz cleared the bases with his 17th home run of the season to put the Sox up big early. Tony C singled to left but Petrocelli banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                         Yaz hits it out

Brett cruised in the bottom of the third as Murcer flied out to right to start. White lined out to left but Cater singled to right. Munson popped up to second to end the inning.

Stottlemyre matched Brett in the top of the fourth as Scott flied out to center to begin. Billy C and Moses both flied out to left to end the inning. Brett got Ellis to ground back to the mound to start the bottom of the fourth before Woods flied out to left. Michael lined out to short to end the inning.

Brett himself grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth inning before Andrews struck out. Smith grounded out to second to end the inning. Stottlemyre struck out to begin the bottom of the fifth before Clarke flied out to left. Murcer grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Sox threatened in the top of the sixth although Yaz flied out to right to start. Tony C grounded back to the mound but Petrocelli singled to center. Cater booted a Scott ground ball which allowed him to reach first but got picked off to end the inning. White flied out to center to open the bottom of the sixth before Cater lined out to left. Munson singled to center but Ellis popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning.

Billy C flied out to right to begin the top of the seventh but Moses beat out an infield single. Brett banged into a double play to end the inning. Brett made up for the DP by getting Woods to line out to left to start. Michael singled to center and Ron Hansen pinch hit for Stottlemyre. Brett struck out Hanson and Clarke popped up to short to end the inning.

John Cumberland was brought in to pitch the top of the eighth and Andrews popped up to first to start. Smith lined out to left but Yaz singled to left....just to get thrown out trying to steal to end the inning. Brett ran out of gas in the bottom of the eighth as Murcer belted a 750,000 foot home run into the Long Island Sound to put the Yankees on the board. White grounded out to third and Cater popped up to short but Munson crushed a 9,000 foot home run to cut the lead. Ellis popped up to short to end the inning with the Yankees down 4-2.

                                                    The spot where Murcer's homer landed

The Sox got a big insurance run in the top of the ninth although Tony C grounded out to third to start. Petrocelli flied out to right but Scott blasted his 8th home run of the season to increase the lead. Billy C grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.

                                                       Scott with the big home run

Brett tried to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth but Woods homered to chase him. He went 8 innings and allowed 3 runs before being replaced by Sparky Lyle. Michael struck out and Curt Blefary pinch hit for Cumberland, drawing a walk. Clarke popped up to second and Murcer grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had held on to win it 5-3.

Hero of the Night is Ken Brett. He held the Yankees to 3 runs in 8 innings of work. He allowed 8 hits while striking out 3. He was also 1 for 3 at the plate with a run scored.

                                                          Brett The Hero



The Good:

Carl Yastrzemski was 2 for 4 with a 3 run home run.

Tony Conigliaro was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Jerry Moses was 1 for 3.

Sparky Lyle earned his 11th save with a scoreless 9th.



The Bad:

Billy Conigliaro was 0 for 4.



The Ugly:

Mike Andrews was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.

Rico Petrocelli was just 1 for 4.

George Scott was just 1 for 4 but the hit was a home run.




Final Thoughts:

That's a good start to today to take the opening game of a doubleheader. Brett pitched a great game and Lyle held the fort in the ninth inning. The Sox are gonna need more games like this from Brett if they have any hope of coming close to the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox offense is as good as anyone in the American League but the pitching needs to get a lot better if they hope to compete going forward. As for this game, great win. The win improved to 34-34 with Game 2 to be played mere hours from now. Ray Culp (6-7) goes for the Sox up against Stan Bahnsen at 3:45 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees Turn Tables on Sox (6/20/70)

After the Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees yesterday, today it was the Yankees turn to stick it to the Sox. The Yankees bats pounded out 15 hits and 8 runs, knocking out Sox starter Mike Nagy (1-1, 4.67 ERA) in 4 innings. The Sox bullpen didn't do Nagy any favors by allowing 4 runs of their own. Mel Stottlemyre went the distance for the Yankees as the Bombers knocked out the Sox 8-3 at Fenway Park.

                                               Joel doesn't like bad pitching

The Yankees wasted no time getting to Nagy in the top of the first inning. Horace Clarke struck out to begin the game but Jerry Kenney singled to center. Kenney swiped second and Bobby Murcer singled to right. Tony Conigilaro booted the ball in right which allowed Kenney to score and advance Murcer to third. A wild pitch by Nagy allowed Murcer to score another run. Roy White popped up to third but Danny Cater and Curt Blefary stroked back to back singles. Rob Hansen popped up to first to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 2-0.

                                                          Dammit Tony

The Sox answered in the bottom of the first against Stottlemyre as Mike Andrews led off by dumping a base hit to left. Reggie Smith flied out to center but Carl Yastrzemski walked. Tony C struck out but Rico Petrocelli singled home Andrews to cut the lead. George Scott struck out to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                            Petrocelli drives in a run

The Yankees countered in the top of the second as Jake Gibbs flied out to center to begin. Stottlemyre walked and Clarke flied out to left. Kenney doubled home Stottlemyre to increase the lead. Murcer walked but White flied out to left to end the inning with the Yankees up 3-1.

Billy Conigliaro grounded out to second to open the bottom of the second before Jerry Moses grounded out to short. Nagy struck out to end the inning.

The Yankees kept up the attack in the top of the third inning as Cater popped up to second to begin. Blefary grounded back to the mound but Hansen singled to right. Gibbs doubled home Hansen to push the Sox down further. Stottlemyre popped up to second but it was now 4-1 Yankees.

Andrews walked to begin the bottom of the third but Smith grounded out to second. Andrews moved to second on the out then to third on the grounder by Yaz. Tony C flied out to center to end the inning.

Nagy finally kept the Yankees off the board in the top of the fourth as Clarke popped up to second to begin. Kenney took strike three but Murcer doubled to left. White grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Sox had a chance to come back in the bottom of the fourth although Petrocelli flied out to center to start. Scott flied out to right but Billy C walked and Moses singled to bring the tying run to the plate. Sox manager Eddie Kasko had rookie Mike Derrick pinch hit for Nagy... only to strike out to end the inning.

                                                That's not how you pinch hit, Derrick

Lee Strange came in for the top of the fifth inning and got hammered as well. Cater singled and Blefary was hit with a pitch to start the inning. Hansen singled home Cater and moved Blefary to third, Blefary scoring on the sac fly by Gibbs. Stottlemyre popped up to short but Clarke singled Hansen to third. Kenney flied out to center to end the inning but the game was in hand for the Yankees 6-1.

                                                        Nice relief Lee

The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the fifth as Andrews grounded out to third to start. Smith grounded out to first and Yaz popped up to short to end the inning.

Strange cruised in the top of the sixth as Murcer popped up to third to start. White flied out to left and Cater grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the sixth although Tony C lined out to left to start. Petrocelli smashed his 12th home run of the season to cut the deficit. Scott singled but Billy C forced him at second and Moses lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 6-2.

                                                        Home run Rico

Strange came back for the top of the seventh and Blefary popped up to third to start. Hansen lined out to center but Gibbs singled to left. Stottlemyre took strike three to end the inning. Jim Lyttle took over for Blefary with Dick Schofield pinch hitting for Strange to begin the bottom of the seventh. Dick grounded out to first before Andrews flied out to right. Smith doubled to left but Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning.

                                              Not the best pinch hitting by Schofield

Jose Santiago took over for the top of the eighth and the Yankees got to him too. Clarke flied out to left but Kenney walked. Murcer popped up to third but White doubled home Kenney. Cater singled home White to increase the lead. Lyttle took strike three to end the inning with the Yankees up 8-2.

                                                             Bad relief Jose

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Tony C flied out to right to start. Petrocelli lined out to center and Scott struck out to end the inning.

Santiago came back for the top of the ninth and Hansen flied out to center to begin. Gibbs popped up to short but Stottlemyre singled to center. Clarke grounded out to first to end the inning. Stottlemyre came back to complete the game but the Sox had one last raspberry to blow in the bottom of the ninth. Billy C of all people smashed his 5th home run of the year just to stick it to the Yankees. Moses grounded out and Tom Satriano pinch hit for Santiago, only to fly out to left. Andrews popped up to short to end the game. The Yankees had won it 8-3.

Jackass of the Night is Mike Nagy. He got lit up for 4 runs in just 4 innings in a clear sophomore slump to take the loss.

                                                           Jackass Nagy


The Good:

Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis and a home run.

Billy Conigliaro was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.



The Bad:

Tony Conigliaro was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Mike Derrick struck out as a pinch hitter.

Dick Schofield grounded out as a pinch hitter.

Tom Satriano was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter

Lee Strange allowed 2 runs in 3 innings of work.

Jose Santiago allowed 2 runs in 2 innings of work.



The Ugly:

Mike Andrews was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4.

Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 but walked.

George Scott was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Jerry Moses was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

If you wonder why the Sox are a game under .500, the regression of Nagy has to be one of the main reasons. Lots of fans thought he was going to be the second coming of Jim Lonborg but it hasn't worked out this season. The offense has been fine for the most part but the Sox simply dont have the pitching to match some of the great teams in baseball. Maybe they can make a trade but as of right now it doesnt look good moving forward this season. The loss dropped the Sox to 30-31, 10 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for 1st place in the American League East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox are back in action against the Yankees with Gary Peters going for the Sox up against Fritz Peterson at 2:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Culp Outpitches Kaat, Sox Defeat Twins (6/13/70)

In one of the few brightspots in this mediocre season for the Boston Red Sox, Ray Culp (5-6, 2.81 ERA) defeated Minnesota Twins ace Jim Kaat in today's game against the Minnesota Twins. The Twins took a 3-1 lead early but the Sox came through with four runs in the 6th and one in the 7th to take a commanding lead. The Twins rallied in the bottom of the ninth but the Sox held on to come back to .500 on the season with a 6-4 win at Metropolitan Stadium.

                                                      Greta Garbo approves of the win

The Sox wasted no time getting to Kaat in the top of the first inning although Mike Andrews flied out to center to start. George Thomas doubled to right and moved to third on the Carl Yastrzemski ground out. A wild pitch scored Thomas to give the Sox the lead and Reggie Smith doubled to right. Rico Petrocelli flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                              Thomas scores a run

The Twins wasted no time tying the game in the bottom of the first against Culp. Cesar Tovar beat out an infield single but Culp threw the ball away, allowing Tovar to reach second on the error. Rod Carew took strike three but Tony Oliva moved Tovar to third with a grounder. A wild pitch scored Tovar to tie the game before Harmon Killebrew walked. Rich Reese singled to center and Jim Holt walked to load the bases, but Leo Cardenas grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

George Scott singled to center to start the top of the second but Billy Conigliaro popped up to first. Jerry Moses popped up to third in foul territory as a wild pitch moved Scott to second. Culp grounded out to third to end the inning. The Twins struck again in the bottom of the second as Paul Ratliff walked to start. Ratliff was erased on the force by Kaat and Tovar singled to left. Carew singled to right and Kaat motored around, only to score when catcher Jerry Moses muffed the ball for an error. Oliva singled home Tovar with another run but Killebrew banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.

                                                        Catch the damn ball Jerry!

Andrews tried to start a rally with a base hit to to center to start the top of the third before moving to second on the grounder by Thomas. Andrews moved to third on the grounder by Yaz but Smith lined out to center to end the inning. Reese doubled to right to start the bottom of the third and moved to third on the grounder by Holt, but Cardenas popped up to third. Ratliff flied out to right to end the inning.

Kaat cruised in the top of the fourth as Petrocelli flied out to right to start. Scott and Billy C both grounded out to short to end the inning. Culp matched Kaat in the bottom of the fourth as Jim himself grounded out to short to start. Tovar lined out to left and Carew flied out to left to end the inning.

Nothing happened in the top of the fifth as Moses flied out to left to start. Culp lined out to right and Andrews grounded out to short to end the inning. Culp got Oliva to ground out to first to start the bottom of the fifth before Killebrew lined out to short. Reese lined out to left to end the inning.

The Sox came to life in the top of the sixth inning as Thomas doubled to right to start. Yaz singled him home to cut the lead. Smith doubled to left to chase Kaat after just 5 innings. Bill Zepp came in and managed to get Petrocelli to line out to right and Scott to strike out, but Billy C singled home Yaz and Smith to put the Sox on top. Moses singled to right and Culp helped his own cause with a base hit up the middle to score Conigliaro. Andrews grounded into a force to end the inning but the Sox rallied to take a 5-3 lead.

                                                       What a rally by Yaz and the Sox

Culp did his job in the bottom of the sixth as Holt grounded back to the mound to start. Cardenas struck out and Ratliff lied out to center to end the inning.

The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh as Thomas singled to start. Yaz walked and but Smith hit a double play ball to second. Yaz was forced but Cardenas threw the relay throw away. Thomas scored and Smith moved to second. Petrocelli grounded out to short and Scott grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 6-3.

                                                        Smith helps the Sox rally...sort of

Charlie Manuel pinch hit for Zepp to begin the bottom of the seventh and took strike three to start. Tovar grounded out to third but Carew motored around for a triple. Oliva grounded out to first to end the inning.

Stan Williams took over on the mound for the top of the eighth inning and Billy C struck out to start. Moses flied out to center and Culp grounded out to third to end the inning. Culp gave up a single to Killebrew to start the bottom of the eighth but he was erased on the force by Reese. Holt banged into a double play to end the inning. At this point Culp had pitched 8 innings of 3 run ball, well done.

                                                         "Eat my dust, Kaat!"

The Sox failed to add anymore runs in the top of the ninth as Andrews popped up to short to start. Thomas got plunked and moved to second on the Yaz grounder, but Smith grounded out to second to end the inning. Culp returned to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth but got no help from his defense. Petrocelli booted a routine grounder by Cardenas to start and a single by Ratliff chased Culp. Sox manager Eddie Kasko brought in Vicente Romo to pitch to pinch hitter Rick Renick. Renick walked to loaded the bases with nobody out, but Tovar could only score Cardenas with a sac fly. Kasko wanted Sparky Lyle to pitch to Carew. The gamble worked as Lyle punched out Carew and Oliva grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had held on to win it 6-4.

                                                        "Had em all the way!" -


Hero of the Night is Billy Conigilaro. He put the Sox up for good in the 6th inning with a 2 run single.

                                                          Billy C is the Hero


The Good:

George Thomas was 3 for 4 with a hit by pitch and 3 runs scored.

Reggie Smith was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Ray Culp tossed 8 innings of 4 run (3 earned) ball to get the win. He allowed 9 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. He was also 1 for 4 at the plate with an rbi.

Sparky Lyle earned his 9th save of the year by getting the final two outs of the ninth.



The Bad:

Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4.

Vicente Romo allowed a walk and an inherited runner to score in the two batters he faced.



The Ugly:

Mike Andrews was just 1 for 5.

Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.

George Scott was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jerry Moses was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

Good win by the Sox especially with Sparky Lyle able to hold on at the end. If only the Sox had someone else besides Sonny Siebert and Culp to pitch well. If Jim Lonborg could revert back to 1967 form, this would be a dangerous team. Culp did well against a high powered Twins offense and good on the Sox for getting to Kaat in the 6th inning. Culp and Conigliaro driving in runs helped big time. All in all it was a good win and hopefully more of these are on the way. The win improved the Sox to 27-27, 8.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox play the Twins in the rubber game of the series tomorrow afternoon when the Sox send Sonny Siebert (5-3, 3.54 ERA) to the mound to take on Bert Blyleven at 2:05 PM Eastern time at Metropolitan Stadium.

Petrocelli Slams Royals in Game 2 (6/7/70)

For 7 innings it looked like the Kansas City Royals were going to avenge their Game 1 doubleheader loss against the Boston Red Sox. Reggie Smith drove home Gary Peters in the bottom of the sixth to take a 1-0 lead over Bob Johnson and the Royals. Pat Kelly then drove in two runs against Peters to chase him from the game and give the Royals the lead. With two out in the bottom of the eighth, Rico Petrocelli hit a grand slam to put the Red Sox up for good. Vicente Romo (4-0, 3.38 ERA) got the win and Sparky Lyle got the save and the Sox had won their fifth straight game 5-2 at Fenway Park.

                                                               Corinna Tsopei

Peters got the ball in the top of the first inning and Pat Kelly flied out to left to start. Paul Schaal and Amos Otis stroked back to back singles but Bob Oliver struck out swinging. Lou Piniella popped up to second to end the inning. Johnson got the ball in the bottom of the first and Mike Andrews grounded out to third to start. Reggie Smith popped up to third and Carl Yastrzemski grounded out to short to end the inning.

Luis Alcaraz flied out to left to start the top of the second before Jackie Hernandez singled to right. Ellie Rodriguez banged into a double play to end the inning. Tony Conigliaro struck out swinging to open the bottom of the second before Rico Petrocelli popped up to short. George Scott struck out swinging to end the inning.

Johnson struck out swinging to open the top of the third but Kelly singled to left. Schaal forced Kelly at second and Otis forced Schaal at second to end the inning. Don Pavletich popped up to first to start the bottom of the third but Luis Alvarado singled to right. Alvarado stole second but Peters struck out swinging. Andrews popped up to short to end the inning.

Oliver walked to begin the top of the fourth but Piniella flied out to center. Oliver moved to second on the grounder to third by Alcaraz and Hernandez flied out to center to end the inning. Smith grounded out to first to start the bottom of the fourth before Yaz popped up to first. Tony C was plunked but Petrocelli popped up to first to end the inning.

Rodriguez flied out to right to start the top of the fifth before Johnson took strike three. Kelly walked and stole second but Schaal grounded out to third to end the inning. Johnson cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Scott struck out swinging to start. Pavletich took strike three and Alvarado flied out to right to end the inning.

Otis flied out to center to start the top of the sixth and Oliver also flied out to center. Piniella grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the sixth as Peters singled to right to begin. Andrews dropped down a bunt to move Peters to second and Gary scored on the base hit to right by Smith. Reggie took second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball but Yaz struck out swinging. Tony C struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                        Smith drives in a run

The Royals answered in the top of the seventh as Alcaraz and Hernandez got back to back base hits to start before moving over on a passed ball. Rodriguez walked to load the bases and Hawk Taylor pinch hit for Johnson. Taylor took strike three but Kelly lashed a base hit to left. Yaz then turned and threw the ball onto the Mass Pike for an error to score Alcaraz and Hernandez to give the Royals the lead. That was it for Peters who allowed 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Vicente Romo came in to pitch and Schaal walked to reload the bases, but Otis flied out to center. Oliver took strike three to end the inning with the Royals up 2-1.

                                                          "Dammit Yaz"

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the seventh with Al Fitzmorris now on the mound. Petrocelli and Scott both grounded out to third but Pavletich singled to left. Dick Schofield pinch hit for Alvarado but grounded out to first to end the inning.

Schofield moved to third with Petrocelli at short for the top of the eighth and Piniella grounded out to short to start. Alcaraz flied out to center and Hernandez popped up to short to end the inning. The Sox suddenly rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Mike Derrick pinch hit for Romo to begin. Derrick grounded back to the mound but Andrews ripped a base hit to left. Smith popped up to short but Yaz and Tony C drew back to back walks to load the bases. Petrocelli then smashed a grand slam to put the Sox on top. Scott flied out to right to end the inning with Boston ahead 5-2.

                                                     Grand slam Petrocelli

Sparky Lyle came in to close out the top of the ninth and Rodriguez grounded out to third to start. Rich Severson pinch hit for Fitzmorris and singled in the hole at short. Kelly lined out to left and Schaal flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-2.

Hero of the Night is Rico Petrocelli. His two out grand slam in the bottom of the eighth put the Sox up for good.

                                                            Petrocelli The Hero

The Good:

Mike Andrews was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Don Pavletich was 1 for 3.

Luis Alvarado was 1 for 2.

Gary Peters tossed 6 1/3 innings of 2 run ball and was 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored.

Vicente Romo got the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Sparky Lyle got his eighth save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

George Scott was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Dick Schofield was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Mike Derrick was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

The Ugly:

Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error but walked and scored a run.

Tony Conigliaro was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked, was hit with a pitch and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

This season has been a disaster so far but today was fun. Winning both games of a doubleheader put the Sox back over .500 temporarily. Its a shame that back in April the Sox looked like they could hang with Baltimore but the Sox pitching never got untracked to help the offense. Peters did well today but his ERA is damn near 6.00. Maybe the Sox can turn it around this month but its highly unlikely. They also don't have much to trade to bring in some help unless they want to give up their 1967 core in the process. Still, they won the first game and they won this game with a timely grand slam from Petrocelli. The win improved the Sox to 25-25, 9 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox are back in action Tuesday night in Chicago to take on the hapless Chicago White Sox. Sonny Siebert (5-2) takes on Gary Janeski of Chicago at 8:05 PM Eastern time at Commiskey Park.

Sox Bash Sloppy Royals in Game 1 (6/7/70)

This was a win giftwrapped on a silver platter for the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a day night doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals. Old friend Dave Morehead didn't get out of the first inning as the Boston bats pounded out 7 runs including a home run from Ken Brett....yes, HIM. The Royals committed 3 errors and the Sox bullpen led by Brett and Lee Strange slammed the door as the Sox took Game 1 7-4 at Fenway Park

                                                   Jennifer Liano approves of the win

Sox starter Ray Culp got the ball in the top of the first inning and Pat Kelly beat out an infield single to third to start. Kelly was thrown out trying to steal before Rich Severson struck out swinging. Amos Otis popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Morehead in the bottom of the first as Mike Andrews walked to start. Reggie Smith singled to right and Carl Yastrzemski walked to load the bases with nobody out. Tony Conigliaro ripped a base hit to left that got under the glove of left fielder Lou Piniella. Andrews and Smith scored, Yaz took third and Moreland had to leave the game. Royals manager Charlie Metro brought in Tom Burgmeier to pitch and Petrocelli walked to re-load the bases. George Scott banged into a double play but Yaz scored to increase the lead. Jim Campanis came in to catch for Ed Kirkpatrick and Tom Satriano grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                             Conigliaro drives in a pair

Culp got Bob Oliver to fly out to center to start the top of the second but Piniella got a base hit to left. Joe Keough flied out to left but Jackie Hernandez walked. Campanis struck out swinging to end the inning. Luis Alvarado flied out to right to start the bottom of the second but Culp struck out swinging. Andrews walked but Smith forced him at second to end the inning.

The Royals struck back in the top of the third inning as Burgmeier singled to center to start. Kelly clobbered a home run all the way to Utica to cut the lead. Severson singled to left but Otis struck out swinging. Oliver lined out to left but Piniella singled Severson to third. Keough walked to load the bases but Hernandez grounded into a force at second to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 3-2.

                                                         The pitcher scores a run

The Sox answered in the bottom of the third as Yaz lined one off Burgmeier but right to Hernandez who threw to first for the out. Tony C grounded out to short but Petrocelli tripled to center. Scott bashed a base hit to right to score Rico for another run but Satriano forced Scott at second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                            Scott drives in a run

Campanis was plunked to start the top of the fourth but Burgmeier struck out swinging. Campanis moved to second on the grounder to second by Kelly but Severson grounded out to short to end the inning. Alvarado struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth before Culp grounded out to short. Andrews singled to center but Smith forced him at second to end the inning.

Culp cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Otis struck out swinging to start. Oliver grounded out to short and Piniella flied out to left to end the inning. The sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Yaz grounded out to second to start. Tony C singled to center but was forced at second by Petrocelli. Scott singled to left and Satriano walked to load the bases. Alvarado flied out to center to end the inning.

The Royals chased Culp in the top of the sixth as Keough walked to start. Hernandez hit a home run all the way to Bismarck, North Dakota to tie the game and Campanis walked. That was it for Culp who left after allowing 4 runs in just 5 plus innings. Lee Strange came in and Burgmeier forced Campanis at second before Kelly walked. Both runners moved over on the grounder to first by Severson and Otis walked to load the bases. Oliver grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.

                                                          Culp couldn't get it done

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the sixth with Dick Schofield pinch hitting for Strange. Schofield walked and Burgmeier booted a grounder by Andrews for an error before throwing the ball away for another error to send Schofield to third. Smith hit a sac fly to score Schofield plus move Andrews to second but Yaz flied out to right. Tony C got a base hit to left to score Andrews with an insurance run and chase Burgmeier. Ken Wright came in and Petrocelli grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-4.

                                                       Schofield scores the go-ahead run

Ken Brett came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Piniella walked to start. Keough popped up to short but Hernandez walked. Campanis struck out swinging and Hawk Taylor pinch hit for Wright. Taylor struck out swinging to end the inning. Moe Drabowski came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Scott took strike three to start. Satriano flied out to right and Alvardo grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Mike Fiore came in to play first for Scott in the top of the eighth and Kelly grounded out to first to start. Severson flied out to center and Otis struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the eighth when Brett himself hit his first home run of the season. Andrews his one up the elevator shaft and Smith struck out looking, but Yaz walked. Tony C flied out to right to end the inning with Boston up 7-4.

                                                           Home run Brett

Brett returned to finish the job in the top of the ninth and Oliver struck out swinging to start. Piniella doubled to right and moved to third on the grounder to second by Keough, but Hernandez grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had won Game 1 by a score of 7-4.

Hero of the Night is Ken Brett. He tossed 3 scoreless innings to get the save and hit a home run.

                                                        Hero Brett

The Good:

Mike Andrews was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.

Tony Conigliaro was 3 for 5 with 3 runs batted in.

Rico Petrocelli was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

George Scott was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Dick Schofield walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter.

Lee Strange got the win by pitching a scoreless sixth inning.

The Bad:

Luis Alvarado was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Ray Culp allowed 4 runs in just 5 plus innings. He was 0 for 2 with a strikeout at the plate.

The Ugly:

Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run and scored a run.

Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.

Tom Satriano was 0 for 3 but walked.

Honorable Mention:

Mike Fiore played first base in the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

Culp not lasting long wasn't good and neither was Scott getting yanked from the game after watching strike three go by. Kudos to Brett and Strange for holding the fort but the pitching on this team has been atrocious this season as a whole. Losing Jim Lonborg hurt but the Sox needed ace pitching from Sonny Siebert, Culp and Mike Nagy....but aren't getting it. The Baltimore Orioles have a huge lead and it doesn't look like the Sox can get out of their mediocrity even with their powerful offense. Its a shame considering the season Tony Conigliaro is having, hopefully the pitching improves as the season moves along. The win improved the Sox to 24-25. The Sox play Game 2 of the doubleheader in an hour against these same Royals. Gary Peters starts for the Red Sox against Bob Johnson of Kansas City. The game begins at 5 PM at Fenway Park.