Ray Culp got the ball to start the top of the first and Horace Clarke greeted him by flying out to left field. Thurman Munson struck out and Roy White grounded out to end the inning. The Sox ran themselves into outs in the bottom of the first inning. Luis Aparicio greeted Yankees starter Stan Bahnsen with a single down the third base line but was foolishly thrown out in a run down trying to stretch it into a double. Reggie Smith singled but he was thrown out trying to steal. Carl Yastrzemski flied out to left to end the inning.
Culp cruised in the top of the second inning. Bobby Murcer grounded out, Danny Cater grounded out and Jim Lyttle flied out to end the inning. Bahnsen turned up the heat in the bottom of the second inning. Rico Petrocelli looked at strike three, George Scott whiffed and Duane Josephson struck out to end the inning.
Culp dominated the top of the third inning. Jerry Kenney flied out, Gene Michael flied out and Bahnsen struck out to end the inning. Bahnsen matched Culp in the bottom of the third inning. Billy Conigliaro and Doug Griffin grounded out then Culp watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Culp finally met resistance in the top of the fourth inning. Clarke tried to catch the Sox asleep with a bunt but he popped it up for the out. Munson singled, stole second and moved to third on the White ground out. Murcer grounded out to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aparicio grounded out but Smith doubled. Yaz smacked a double to score Smith with the game's first run. Petrocelli grounded Yaz to third but Scott flied out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Could Culp hold the fort in the top of the fifth inning? Soitenly! Cater grounded out, Lyttle popped up and Kenney grounded out to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fifth but found a way to screw it up. Josephson singled but Billy C popped up. Griffin walked but Culp's bunt sucked so bad Josephson was thrown out at third. Aparicio grounded out to end the inning, what a waste.
Culp cruised in the top of the sixth inning. Michael lined out, Bahnsen struck out and Clarke grounded out to end the inning. Bahnsen matched Culp in the bottom of the sixth inning. Smith singled but Yaz banged into a double play. Petrocelli whiffed to end the inning.
Culp continued to dominate the top of the seventh inning. Munson hit one up the elevator shaft, White grounded out and Murcer flied out to end the inning. The Sox added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Scott and Josephson singled and Billy C dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both men into scoring position. Joe Lahoud pinch hit for Griffin but was intentionally walked. Culp then beat out a double play ball to score Scott to increase the lead. Aparicio lined out but the Sox led 2-0.
Culp sensed victory in the top of the eighth but was nearly let down by his defense. John Kennedy took over at second but Ray gave up back to back singles to Cater and Lyttle. Kenney hit one to Kennedy who tried to kick it over the first like a soccer ball, failing miserably and everyone was safe on the error. With the bases loaded Frank Tepedino pinch hit for Michael but popped up to short. Jake Gibbs pinch hit for Bahnsen and Culp struck him out. Clarke singled to right to score Cater but Smith gunned down Lyttle at home to end the inning. The play of the game right there.
The Sox got the insurance run right back in the bottom of the eighth. Jack Aker took over on the mound for New York and Smith grounded out. Yaz singled and Petrocelli singled him to third. Scott lined out but Yaz scored to increase the lead. Josephson singled but Billy C grounded out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Culp came back to finish the job in the top of the ninth. Munson led off with a single but White struck out. Murcer grounded out and Cater flied out to end the game. Culp had gone the distance and beaten the Yankees 3-1.
Hero of the Night is easy. Ray Culp was amazing. He went the distance allowing just an unearned run plus knocked in one of his own.
The Good:
Reggie Smith was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Carl Yastrzemski was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an rbi.
George Scott was 1 for 3 with a run scored and an rbi.
Duane Josephson was 3 for 4.
Doug Griffin walked in 2 plate appearances
Joe Lahoud walked as a pinch hitter.
The Bad:
Billy Conigliaro was 0 for 3.
John Kennedy made an error in the 9th inning.
The Ugly:
Luis Aparicio was 1 for 4.
Rico Petrocelli was 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
That's a great way to get the season started. Losing Tony Conigliaro sucked but games are won on the mound and for one game, Ray Culp was dominant. If the Sox can pitch well they have a chance every game.
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