Its been a saying for forty years, there's no better cure for a slump than the Washington Senators. After the Sox were swept out of Cleveland, they traveled to Washington to give a beating to the hapless Senators. Rico Petrocelli and Billy Conigliaro both went yard as Ray Culp (2-0, 3.57 ERA) was outstanding for 8 innings to earn the win. For some reason Eddie Kasko left Culp in way too long in the ninth inning which led to a Senators rally. Ken Tatum had to come in and slam the door but the Sox came away with the 10-7 win over the Senators at RFK Stadium.
Gerry Janeski got the ball for the Senators in the top of the first and Luis Aparicio grounded out to short to start. Reggie Smith flied out to right but Carl Yastrzmeski drew a walk. Rico Petrocelli popped up to second to end the inning. Culp began his day by getting Del Unser to ground out to second to start. Tim Cullen popped up to third but Frank Howard took first on a strike three passed ball by Duane Josephson. Mike Epstein singled to right but old pal Joe Foy flied out to left to end the inning.
George Scott flied out to right to start the top of the second before Josephson did the same. Foy booted a ground ball by Billy Conigliaro for an error but Doug Griffin popped up to third to end to end the inning. Richie Scheinblum walked to open the bottom of the second before Jim French struck out. Toby Harrah lined out to left and Janeski lined out to third to end the inning.
Culp grounded out to first to start the top of the third before Aparicio struck out. Smith popped up to third to end the inning. The Senators struck first in the bottom of the third as Unser singled to right and stole second to begin. Cullen singled Unser to third and Del scored on the double play by Howard. Epstein and Foy stroked back to back singles but Scheinblum flied out to left to end the inning with Washington up 1-0.
The Sox tied the game in the top of the fourth as Yaz walked to start. Petrocelli singled Yaz to third and Carl scored on the double play by Scott. Josephson lined out to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
French flied out to center to start the bottom of the fourth before Harrah popped up to first. Janeski grounded out to third to end the inning.
Billy C grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth before Griffin grounded out to third. Culp struck out to end the inning. Culp cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Unser flied out to right to start. Cullen struck out and Frank Howard grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the sixth although Aparicio lined out to second to start. Smith grounded out to first but Yaz walked. Foy booted a grounder by Petrocelli but Scott grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Senators took the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Epstein beat out an infield single to first to start. Foy doubled to left but Epstein was thrown out at home on a grounder to first by Scheinblum. French singled home Foy to give the Senators the lead but Harrah flied out to left. Janeski struck out to end the inning but the Senators were ahead 2-1.
The Sox exploded in the top of the seventh as Josephson walked to start. Billy C singled to center and Griffin ended up bunting his way on to load the bases with nobody out. Culp himself singled home Josephson and Conigliaro to give the Sox the lead. Aparicio also caught the Senators with a bunt single to re-load the bases and Smith dumped a single to right. Scheinblum muffed the ball which allowed Griffin and Culp to score but Smith was thrown out at second base. Denny Riddleberger replaced Janeski and Aparicio scored on a ground out by Yaz. Petrocelli put the exclamation point on the rally with his first home run of the season. Scott doubled to right but was thrown out at third trying to stretch a triple to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-2.
Culp corralled a pop-up from Unser to start the bottom of the seventh before Cullen popped up to second. Howard doubled to left but Epstein grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox poured it on in the top of the eighth although Josephson flied out to center to begin. Billy C then pounded his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Griffin and Culp stroked back to back singles before both runners moved over on the Aparicio grounder. Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases and Sox manager Eddie Kasko shocked the world by pinch hitting Joe Lahoud for Yaz. The gamble worked as Lahoud cleared the bases with a single and chase Riddleberger from the game. Tommy McCraw came in for Howard with Horacio Pina replacing Riddleberger on the mound. Petrocelli struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-2.
Foy grounded out to short to start the bottom of the eighth before Scheinblum grounded back to the mound. French walked but Harrah struck out to end the inning.
Scott flied out to center to start the top of the ninth before Josephson also flied out to center. Billy C grounded back to the mound to end the inning. As if pinch hitting for Yaz wasn't crazy enough, Kasko wanted Culp to finish the game for some ungodly reason in the bottom of the ninth. McCraw, Unser and Cullen hit 3 straight singles to load the bases with nobody out and Bernie Allen pinch hit for Pina. Allen flied out to right and Epstein struck out, but Foy singled home Unser and McCraw. Kasko remained in the dugout and Scheinblum doubled home Cullen and Foy to inch the Senators closer. French singled home Scheinblum to FINALLY chase Culp. Ray almost went the distance but clearly ran out of gas to everyone but Kasko. Ken Tatum came in and froze Harrah for strike three to end the game. It got hairy at the end but the Sox held off the Senators 10-7.
Hero of the Night is Ray Culp. Not only did he toss 8 outstanding innings to earn the win, he went 2 for 4 at the plate to drive in 2 runs before scoring 2 of his own.
The Good:
Carl Yastrzemski walked 3 times, drove in a run and scored a run.
Joe Lahoud hit a 2 run single as a pinch hitter.
Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 5 with a home run.
Billy Conigliaro was 2 for 5 with a home run and 2 total runs scored.
Doug Griffin was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Ken Tatum struck out the only guy he faced to earn the save.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Luis Aparicio was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Reggie Smith was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in two runs.
George Scott was just 1 for 5.
Duane Josephson was 0 for 4 with a passed ball but walked and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Was Kasko drunk or something this game? How do you pinch hit for Yaz who had walked 3 times and then leave Culp out to dry? The Sox still won the game but those were some head scratchers for sure. Still, Culp improved to 2-0 on the season and that's more that can be said for Cal Koonce and Gary Peters. The Sox may have something if Jim Lonborg can ever get healthy and Culp is the real deal. As for the offense, about time they did something. Yes its the Senators but better to score 10 runs against them than 2 or 3. Forget the ninth inning and Culp's outing was what the doctor ordered and hopefully the momentum carries over to tomorrow. The Sox look to make it two in a row over the Senators when Sonny Siebert takes the mound opposite former Detroit Tigers ace Denny McLain. The game begins at 7 PM at RFK Stadium.
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