The Sox needed this win today big time. After the Oakland A's defeated Vincente Romo yesterday, the Sox needed Ray Culp (11-9, 2.93 ERA) to deliver a big game and he did. Culp came through with a complete game 5 hitter where he allowed just one run while striking out 12. On offense it was the George Thomas show who drove in 3 of the 4 runs Culp would need for the victory. The season has been mediocre as it gets but at least today was a good day as the Sox beat the A's 4-1 at Oakland Coliseum.
Diego Segui got the ball for the A's in the top of the first inning and Mike Andrews led the game off with a base hit to center. Reggie Smith banged into a double play and Carl Yastrzemski's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Sal Bando to end the inning. Culp got the ball in the bottom of the first and Bert Campaneris led off with a double to left. Rick Monday flied out to center, Felipe Alou took strike three and Bando struck out swinging to end the inning.
Tony Conigliaro began the top of the second with a double to right but Rico Petrocelli flied out to right. George Thomas and John Kennedy both grounded out to third to end the inning. Don Mincher struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second and Reggie Jackson flied out to center. Dave Duncan struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jerry Moses flied out to left to open the top of the third and Culp grounded out to short. Andrews also grounded out to short to end the inning. Dick Green singled to left to start the bottom of the third and was sacrificed to second on the bunt by Segui. Campaneris grounded back to the mound and Monday struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the fourth although Smith flied out to left to begin. Yaz got a base hit and swiped second, but Tony C popped up to short. Petrocelli walked but Thomas doubled to left to score both runners. Kennedy grounded back to the mound to end the inning but the Sox were up 2-0.
Culp stayed strong in the bottom of the fourth as Alou grounded out to short to start. Bando struck out swinging but Mincher walked. Jackson flied out to center to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Moses struck out looking to start. Culp struck out swinging and Andrews flied out to right to end the inning. Duncan singled to left but was doubled off first on a bullet to Petrocelli by Green. Segui struck out swinging to end the inning.
Smith flied out to center to start the top of the sixth but Yaz singled to left. Tony C grounded into a double play to end the inning. The A's struck back in the bottom of the sixth as Campaneris hit a home run into the Pacific Ocean to start. Monday popped up to third in foul territory and Alou grounded out to short but Bando walked. Bando was thrown out trying to steal to end the inning with the A's down 2-1.
Petrocelli singled to left to start the top of the seventh and moved to second on the grounder to short by Thomas. Kennedy flied out to center but Moses was intentionally walked. Culp flied out to center to end the inning. Mincher flied out to right to start the bottom of the seventh and Jackson lined out to right, but Duncan walked. Steve Hovley pinch ran for Duncan and Tommy Davis pinch hit for Green, striking out swinging to end the inning.
Frank Fernandez took over behind the plate and Tony La Russa took over at second for the top of the eighth and Andrews stuck out swinging to start. Smith popped up to short and Yaz popped up to third to end the inning. Joe Rudi pinch hit for Segui to start the bottom of the eighth and struck out swinging. Campaneris struck out swinging and so did Monday.....but Moses muffed the ball and Monday took first. Alou flied out to left to end the inning. Great work by Culp so far!
The Sox pounced on Marcel Lachemann in the top of the ninth as Tony C singled to left to begin. Petrocelli singled to center, Thomas singled home Tony C to increase the lead and Rico took third on the hit. Bob Locker came in to pitch and Kennedy struck out swinging. Moses grounded out to short but Petrocelli scored to wrap up the scoring. Culp took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.
Culp returned to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth but Bando singled and took second on a wild pitch. Mincher flied out to right but Bando took third on the grounder to second by Jackson. Fernandez struck out swinging to end the game. Culp went the distance and the Sox had won it 4-1.
The Good:
Carl Yastrzemski was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Tony Conigliaro was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Ray Culp tossed a complete game 5 hitter, allowing just 1 run while striking out 12.
The Bad:
Reggie Smith was 0 for 4.
John Kennedy was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Jerry Moses was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
If the Sox can't catch the Baltimore Orioles, the least they could do is finish in second place. If they had a bit more offense in the bottom of the order this team could go a long way in the future. As for this game, Culp was outstanding and is a microcosm of the season really. Some days they're not good, some days they are....this was one of the good days. The offense wasn't much but George Thomas stepped up to be the hero today. Its too bad the Sox have been inconsistent all season because a healthy trio of Jim Lonborg, Sonny Siebert and Ray Culp could have been something special. There's still 2 months left in the season to catch Baltimore but it doesn't look good right now. Tomorrow night the Sox look to make it two in a row against the A's when they send Cal Koonce (0-4) to the mound against Catfish Hunter of the A's. The game begins at 10:30 PM at Oakland Coliseum.
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