It wasn't pretty but the Boston Red Sox posted a victory in today's game against the Detroit Tigers. Gary Peters (1-1, 4.60 ERA) tossed 8 outstanding innings to keep the Sox in the game. The offense didn't muster much but took advantage of some shoddy Detroit defense to take command in the top of the eighth inning. Once again Sox manager Eddie Kasko nearly lost the game by having his starter try to complete the game. Peters ran out of gas in the ninth inning, Sox closer Ken Tatum faltered but Sparky Lyle saved the day on the 5-3 win at Tiger Stadium.
Joe Niekro got the start for Detroit and the Sox beat the ball in the dirt to begin the top of the first. Luis Aparicio grounded out to third to start. Reggie Smith grounded out to second and Carl Yastrzmeski grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Peters got the ball in the bottom of the first and Ed Brinkman grounded out to third to start. Jim Northrup grounded out to second but Al Kaline singled to left. Willie Horton popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second although Rico Petrocelli popped up to short to start. George Scott grounded back to the mound but Duane Josephson walked. Josephson swiped second and scored on the rbi single by Billy Conigliaro. Doug Griffin lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
Billy C drives in a run
Peters cruised in the bottom of the second as Bill Freehan hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Aurelio Rodriguez popped up to second and Dick McAuliffe grounded out to second to end the inning.
Peters singled to right to start the top of the third but Aparicio banged into a double play. Smith singled to center and Yaz walked, but Petrocelli lined out to short to end the inning. Mickey Stanley grounded out to short to start the bottom of the third before Niekro struck out. Brinkman flied out to center to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth although Scott grounded out to short to start. Josephson singled to center and took third on the error by Stanley. Billy C and Griffin worked back to back walks to load the bases and Peters beat out a double play ball to score Josephson. Aparicio grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Northrup grounded out to first to start the bottom of the fourth but Kaline singled to left. Horton banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox scored another run in the top of the fifth when Smith cracked his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Yaz walked but Petrocelli banged into a double play. Scott grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox lead 3-0.
Freehan flied out to left to start the bottom of the fifth before Rodriguez lined out to second. McAuliffe grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Josephson struck out to start. Billy C singled to center but Griffin popped up to second. Peters lined out to center to end the inning. The Tigers struck back in the bottom of the sixth as Stanley singled to start. Ike Brown pinch hit for Niekro and hit a home run all the way to British Columbia to cut the lead. Brinkman, Northrup and Kaline all grounded out to third to end the inning but it was 3-2 Sox.
Bill Zepp came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Aparicio grounded out to third to start. Smith and Yaz stroked back to back singles but Petrocelli struck out. Scott flied out to center to end the inning. Horton flied out to left to start the bottom of the seventh but Freehan doubled to left. Rodriguez struck out swinging and McAuliffe struck out looking to end the inning.
The Sox took advantage of shoddy defense to score in the top of the eighth. Josephson walked to start and Billy C singled to left. Josephson was forced at third on a grounder by Griffin and Peters walked to load the bases. Aparicio dropped down a bunt for the suicide squeeze and it ate Northrup up for an error to score Conigliaro and re-load the bases. Smith hit a sac fly to score Griffin and that was it for Zepp. Fred Scherman came in and Yaz walked to re-load the bases. Petrocelli flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.
Peters cruised in the bottom of the eighth as Stanley grounded out to short to start. Cesar Gutierrez pinch hit for Scherman and popped up to first before Brinkman grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Daryl Patterson came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Scott singled to center to start. Josephson popped up to first, Billy C struck out and Griffin grounded into a force to end the inning. For some inane reason Sox manager Eddie Kasko sent Peters out to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth. Northrup popped up to short but Kaline doubled to left. Horton singled Kaline to third to chase Peters. He was great and almost went the distance, tossing 8 1/3 innings of 3 run ball. Ken Tatum came in and Freehan singled home Kaline to cut the lead. Kevin Collins pinch ran for Freehan but Rodriguez took strike three. Kasko then brought in Sparky Lyle to face McAuliffe and Dick popped up to short to end the game. The Sox held on to win it 5-3.
Hero of the Night is Gary Peters. He was outstanding by tossing 8 1/3 innings of 3 run ball. He was also 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi at the plate.
The Good:
Reggie Smith was 3 for 4 with a solo home run and 2 total rbis.
Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 2 with 3 walks.
Duane Josephson was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, a stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Billy Conigliaro was 3 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Sparky Lyle earned the save by retiring the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Luis Aparicio was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
George Scott was just 1 for 5.
Doug Griffin was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.
Ken Tatum allowed an inherited runner to score but struck out the other man he faced.
Final Thoughts:
I don't know what is with Eddie Kasko and trying desperately to have his starters finish games. When you have Sparky Lyle, Ken Brett, Ken Tatum and Bill Lee, why do you want your starters to burn their arms out? The Sox team ERA would be significantly lower if they had one of those four guys start the ninth instead of sending the starter back out there, especially in April! Gary Peters, Sonny Siebert and Ray Culp have pitched admirably so why not save them wear and tear come July, August and September? Not much to complain about on the offensive side other than Petrocelli was useless in this one. Billy Conigliaro had a good game though, he's never going to be his brother but he doesn't have to be if he can drive in runs and get on base. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Tigers tomorrow in a battle of the aces. Ray Culp goes for the Sox up against Mickey Lolich at 2:00 PM Eastern time at Tiger Stadium.
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