Siebert Outduels Chance, Sox Edge Tigers (4/18/71)

When Ray Culp of the Boston Red Sox took on Detroit Tigers ace Mickey Lolich yesterday, the pitcher's duel turned into a slugfest. Today Sonny Siebert and Dean Chance had the duel everyone thought was coming yesterday. With the city of Boston abuzz for tonight's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens, the Red Sox gave the fans an afternoon treat by edging the Tigers. Carl Yastrzemski supplied the only run the Sox needed with a home run as they beat Detroit 1-0 at Tiger Stadium.

                                                        Phil Esposito approves of the win

Chance got the ball in the top of the first and Luis Aparicio flied out to center to start. Reggie Smith singled to left and moved to second on the Carl Yastrzemski grounder. Rico Petrocelli took strike three to end the inning. Siebert got the ball in the bottom of the first and Dick McAuliffe took strike three to start. Al Kaline grounded out to short but both Jim Northrup and Norm Cash drew walks. Willie Horton popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning.

George Scott grounded out to third to start the top of the second and Duane Josephson took strike three. Billy Conigliaro singled to center and swiped second, but Doug Griffin grounded out to third to end the inning. Aurelio Rodriguez popped up to center to start the bottom of the second but Bill Freehan singled to left. Freehan swiped second but Ed Brinkman grounded out to short. Chance flied out to right to end the inning.

Siebert took strike three to start the top of the third before Aparicio grounded out to short. Smith lined out to left to end the inning. Siebert cruised in the bottom of the third as McAuliffe popped up to short to start. Kaline took strike three and Northrup grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the fourth when Yaz belted his second home run of the season to score the only run of the game. Petrocelli popped up to third in foul territory, Scott flied out to right and Josephson grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                              Yaz puts Boston on top

Siebert cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Cash flied out to right to start. Horton popped up to short and Rodriguez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.

Chance dominated the top of the fifth as Billy C struck out to start. Griffin lined out to second and Siebert flied out to left to end the inning. Freehan popped up to third in foul territory to start the bottom of the fifth before Brinkman hit one up the elevator shaft. Chance struck out to end the inning.

Aparicio popped up to second to start the top of the sixth before Smith grounded out to first. Yaz walked but Petrocelli grounded out to short to end the inning. Siebert got McAuliffe to ground out to second to start the bottom of the sixth and Kaline grounded out to third. Northrup beat out an infield single to short but Cash grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the seventh as Scott grounded out to short to start. Josephson grounded out to short as well and Billy C grounded out to first to end the inning. Horton grounded out to short to start the bottom of the seventh before Rodriguez did the same. Freehan beat out an infield single to first but Brinkman grounded out to third to end the inning.

Griffin flied out to left to start the bottom of the eighth before Siebert grounded out to short. Aparicio grounded out to short to end the inning. Dalton Jones pinch hit for Chance to start the bottom of the eighth and singled to center. Cesar Gutierrez ran for Jones but was doubled off first on the liner to Griffin by McAuliffe. Kaline grounded out to third to end the inning.

                                                               Heads up play by Griffin

Bill Zepp came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Smith grounded out to first to start. Yaz grounded back to the mound and Petrocelli took strike three to end the inning. The Sox managed just 3 hits and a walk the whole game but were 3 outs away from stealing one. Siebert began the bottom of the ninth by allowing a single to Northrup. Cash flied out to center and Horton struck out, but Gates Brown pinch hit for Rodriguez. Brown took strike three to end the game. Siebert had tossed a complete game 5 hit shutout to beat the Tigers 1-0.

Hero of the Night is Sonny Siebert. He tossed a complete game 5 hit shutout to earn his second win of the season.

                                                  Hell of an effort by the Hero

The Good:

Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.

Billy Conigliaro was 1 for 3 with a stolen base.

The Bad:

Luis Aparicio was 0 for 4.

Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 with 2 stirkeouts.

George Scott was 0 for 3.

Duane Josephson was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Doug Griffin was 0 for 3.

The Ugly:

Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4.

Final Thoughts:

Go Bruins and go Red Sox. After yesterday's disaster the Sox offense went to sleep but luckily Siebert was there to save the day. The Sox are going to have to ride Ray Culp and Siebert this season if Jim Lonborg isn't going to be much help and they don't make a trade during the season. This game was a great pitcher's duel and Siebert was up to the challenge. Anytime you can win a game with only 3 hits is stealing one and the Sox can't afford too many games like this. Still a win is a win even if its by 1 run or 10. Its only 10 games into the season but the power just hasn't been there this season so far. Yes, Carl Yastrzemski homered today but in general the team just isn't hitting them out as much. Like I said its only been 10 games so there's plenty of time to warm up, just concerning so far in April. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox return home to face the very same Indians that swept them out of Cleveland last week. Mike Nagy gets the start for the Sox up against Alan Foster of the Indians at 1 PM at Fenway Park.