Wowzers, that's one way to begin a new season. After fnishing in 8th place with only 72 wins on the season, new manager Billy Herman has his ballclub ready for the 1965 season. Bill Monbouquette (1-0) pitched a hell of a game and the bats clubbed 5 home runs off the Washington Senators to defeat the home team 7-2 at DC Stadium.
Phil Ortega took the mound in the top of the first and rookie Rico Petrocelli greeted him by striking out. Lenny Green popped up to short and Carl Yastrzemski grounded out to short to end the inning. Bill Monbouqutte got the opening day start for the Red Sox and got Don Blasingame to pop up to Lee Thomas on the first pitch. Ken McMullen struck out but Bob Chance singled to left-center. Frank Howard grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox almost tagged Ortega in the top of the second when Tony Conigliaro singled to lead-off. Tony C stole second but couldn't advance as Lee Thomas grounded to first. Felix Mantilla flied out to left but Frank Malzone walked. Bob Tillman hit a ground ball to Ed Brinkman who booted it to load the bases. Monbouquette took a full count borderline strike three pitch to end the inning, what a waste. The Senators wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the second when Don Lock blasted an upper deck home run to give Washington the lead. Willie Kirkland walked but Mike Brumley struck out, then the alert Tillman gunned down Kirkland trying to steal. Brinkman grounded out to end the inning with the Senators up 1-0.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third. Petrocelli whiffed and Green grounded out, but Yaz worked a walk. Tony C singled him to third and Thomas blasted a 3 run bomb over the scoreboard to give the Sox a 3-1 lead. Mantilla followed the homer with a blast of his own. Malzone popped up but the Sox now led 4-1.
Could Monbo pitch with the lead? YES! Ortega grounded out to second, Blasingame popped up to Green and McMullen flied out to left to end the inning.
Ortega settled down in the top of the fourth inning as Tillman grounded out to third. Monbo grounded out to second but Petrocelli walked. Rico then foolishly tried to run on Brumley and was thrown out to end the inning. Monbo was greeted by a Chance double to begin the bottom of the fourth. Howard walked but Lock flied out to center with no advancement. The Senators made a boo-boo as Malzone dropped an infield fly hit by Kirkland and the alert Malzone noticed Chance off of second and Chance got tagged out for the double play. Senators manager Gil Hodges wont be happy.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth inning as Green hit a line drive home run just over the fence. The rattled Ortega walked Yaz on four pitches and he swiped second immediately. Sox manager Billy Herman must have looked at the pathetic stolen base total from the 64 season and decided to get guys running. Tony C grounded out but Yaz moved to third. Thomas failed to score Yaz with a ground out and Mantilla grounded out to end the inning with the Sox up 5-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sox analyst Curt Gowdy told a hilarious story of how Sox clubhouse manager Johnny Orlando once threw Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn and future president Lyndon Johnson out of the clubhouse. Brumley popped up.but Brinkman hit one in the hole at short. Joe Cunningham pinch hit for Ortega and whiffed. Blasingame grounded out to end the inning.
Steve Ridzik took the mound in the top of the sixth and cruised. Malzone nearly hit one out but Lock robbed him at the wall. Tillman whiffed and Monbo grounded out to end the inning. McMullen began the bottom of the sixth by popping up to Petrocelli. Chance grounded out and Howard did as well to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the seventh inning although Petrocelli's long drive was caught at the wall. Green then hit yet another line drive home run into the right field corner to increase the lead. Yaz whiffed but Tony C absolutely crushed a home run deep into the upper deck for Boston's fifth homer of the day. Ridzik buzzed Thomas up and in before striking him out to end the inning with the Sox up 7-1.
Monbo returned for the bottom of the seventh and struck out Lock to begin. Kirkland popped up to Mantilla and Brumley popped up to end the inning. 8 in a row retired by Monbo.
Ridzik came back for the top of the eighth and got Mantilla to ground out to begin. Malzone whiffed and Tillman grounded out to end the inning. Monbo returned for the bottom of the eighth and Brinkman grounded out to short to start. Jim King pinch hit for Ridzik and flied out to right on the first pitch. Blasingame grounded out to end the inning, 11 in a row for Bill.
Frank Kreutzer took over for Ridzik in the top of the ninth inning. Monbouquette struck out to begin before Petrocelli earned a hat trick by striking out before Green whiffed as well to end the inning. Monbo came out to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth. McMullen refused to go quietly by crushing a solo home run to cut the lead to 5. Monbo recovered to get Chance to pop up to Malzone. Howard popped up and Lock grounded out to end the game. The Sox had won 7-2.
Hero of the Night is Lee Thomas. His 3 run blast in the third inning proved to be the difference in the game.
The Good:
Lenny Green was 2 for 5 with 2 home runs
Carl Yastzremski walked twice in four plate appearances, stealing a base and scoring a run.
Tony Conigliaro was 3 for 4 with a home run, stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Bill Monboquette tossed a complete game 5 hitter, allowing just two solo home runs to earn the win.
The Bad:
Bob Tillman was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 with a hat trick but walked.
Felix Mantilla was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count
Frank Malzone was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
That's the way to begin the season. The Sox ran the bases, hit for power, fielded well and pitched great. Obviously one day doesn't make a season but that's a good start. Tony C picked up where he left off last year and Petrocelli is going to take his lumps but should be damn good down the road. Rico, Yaz and Tony could be a core for years to come. Monbo came out firing and if he has a good season, the Sox will go places. How about Lenny Green hitting 2 homers? Love to see that keep up as well. Well done Billy Herman. After an off-day, Earl Wilson makes his season debut against the Senators.
Very interesting what you have done here. I enjoyed the final assessments with the good, bad, and ugly. Maybe some young Sox fan will pick this up and share it with his friends.
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