Tiant began the day by getting knocked around by the Yankees in the top of the first inning. Horace Clarke singled but the Sox pulled off a "strike em out, throw em out" double play after he was caught stealing after Roy White struck out. Matty Alou doubled as both Bobby Murcer and Graig Nettles worked back to back walks to load the bases. Ron Blomberg walked in a run and Felipe Alou doubled in two runs. Thurmon Munson popped up to first but the Yankees led 3-0.
The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the first inning. Tommy Harper grounded out to third and Luis Aparicio grounded out to short. Carl Yastrzemski blasted a solo home run, the first of the Sox season to cut into the lead. Reggie Smith grounded back to the mound to end the inning but it was 3-1 Yankees.
Tiant came back for the top of the second and Gene Michael grounded out to third to begin. Clarke flied out to left and White grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the second as the new designated hitter Orlando Cepeda struck out. Rico Petrocelli singled and Carlton Fisk smashed a 2 run bomb to tie the game. Doug Griffin singled and stole second but rookie Dwight Evans flied out to right. Harper hit a routine grounder to third but Nettles threw the ball away, scoring Griffin and sending Tommy to second to give the Sox the lead. Aparicio hit a routine pop fly to short...but no one called for it and it dropped in for a "single", scoring Harper. Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox now led 5-3.
The Yankees struck back in the top of the third inning as Matty Alou popped up to short. Murcer popped up to third but Nettles crushed a 46,000 foot home run into Logan Airport to cut the lead to one run. Blomberg singled and Fisk was so distracted by a hot girl in the front row that he let a pop up hit by Felipe Alou drop in for a hit. Munson grounded into a force to end the inning but it was 5-4 Sox.
Boston struck again in the bottom of the third when Smith singled to lead off. Cepeda flied out to left and Petrocelli popped up to first, but Fisk doubled Smith to third. Griffin singled to score Smith easily and Fisk broke for home....SAFE! Griffin took second on the throw and that was it for Stottlemyre. Lindy McDaniel took over and Evans singled home Griffin for another run. Harper singled and Evans broke for third....SAFE! Harper took second on the throw but Aparicio grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 8-4.
Tiant cruised in the top of the fourth inning by getting Michael to ground out to first to start. Clarke flied out to center and White grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fourth as Yaz singled to start. Smith doubled but Cepeda struck out. Petrocelli was intentionally walked to set up a double play but Fisk made the Yankees pay by launching a grand slam to send the crowd into a frenzy. Griffin singled and Evans doubled him to third but Harper struck out. Aparicio grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 12-4.
The Yankees kept fighting in the top of the fifth as Matty Alou doubled to start. Murcer moved Alou to third with a flyout and Nettles grounded out to first to score Matty. Blomberg lined out to second to end the inning. The Sox finally went quietly in the bottom of the fifth as Yaz grounded out to first to start. Smith hit one back to the mound and Cepeda flied out to left to end the inning.
Tiant finally had a scoreless inning in the top of the sixth as Felipe Alou flied out to left to begin. Munson walked but Michael popped up to first. Clarke flied out to right to end the inning. Casey Cox came into pitch the bottom of the sixth and poured gas on the fire. Petrocelli singled and Fisk was plunked for the grand slam. Griffin caught the Yankees asleep with a bunt single to load the bases. Evans hit a routine grounder to Michael at short who went OLE! to allow Petrocelli to score and reload the bases. Harper singled Fisk home to re-load the bases but Griffin was out at home on a force by Aparicio. Yaz hit a sac fly to score Evans and wrap up the scoring. Smith flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 15-4.
Tiant pitched a clean top of the seventh and started by getting White to ground out to short. Matty Alou flied out to right and Murcer grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox went down in the bottom of the seventh with Cepeda grounded out to third to begin. Petrocelli singled but Fisk advanced him to second with a groundout. Griffin grounded out to second to end the inning.
Tiant got into some trouble in the top of the eighth by walking Nettles to start. Blomberg flied out to left but Felipe Alou singled. Munson struck out and Michael grounded out to end the inning. The Sox threatened again in the bottom of the eighth inning although Evans flied out to right to start. Harper doubled and moved to third on the Aparicio ground-out. Yaz walked and stole second then Smith was plunked. Smith had to be hauled off on a gurney as Rick Miller pinch ran for him. Cepeda popped up to short to end the inning.
Tiant returned to finish the job in the top of the ninth inning. Clarke grounded out to second, White grounded out to first and Matty Alou flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had mauled the Yankees 15-5.
Hero of the Night is Carlton Fisk. His 6 total rbi's outscored the Yankees singlehandedly including his grand slam to guide the Sox to victory.
The Good:
Tommy Harper was 3 for 6 with an rbi and a run scored.
Carl Yastrzemski was 2 for 4 with a walk, stolen base, 2 total runs scored, 2 total rbi's and a solo home run.
Reggie Smith was 2 for 5 with an HBP and 2 runs scored.
Rico Petrocelli was 3 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored.
Doug Griffin was 4 for 5 with a stolen base, 2 runs scored and 2 rbis.
Dwight Evans was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
The Bad:
Orlando Cepeda was 0 for 6 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Luis Aparicio was just 1 for 6 but drove in a run.
Luis Tiant tossed a complete game to earn the win but allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks.
Honorable Mention:
Rick Miller pinch ran for Smith in the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
A win over the Yankees is great, a huge win over the Yankees is better. Tiant looked rusty but the offense made sure he'd earn the win. The offense will be there but it will be the pitching to decide if they can compete with Oakland this season. They sure look better than the Yankees, that's for sure. The Sox return to action to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM in Fenway Park where Steve Kline goes for New York opposite Marty Pattin of Boston.
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