Tigers Sweep Sox Out of Fenway (4/19/73)

The Detroit Tigers are the team to beat the in AL East this year and they proved it by wiping out the Boston Red Sox in four straight games in Boston including today's slugfest. The first three games were lopsided contests mostly due to Boston's inability to hit Detroit pitching. Today the bats woke up to score 7 runs off 10 hits....too bad the Tigers once again shelled the Sox collective pitching staff. John Curtis (0-2, 5.40 ERA) got knocked out in the fourth inning and was charged with 6 runs. Sonny Siebert and Bob Veale failed to hold the fort as they allowed 5 runs between them to put the game out of reach. The Sox rallied to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle in the ninth but Tom Timmerman slammed the door. The Sox had lost five games in a row and were swept four straight by the AL East champion Tigers 11-7 at Fenway Park.

                                                              "Swept by the Tigers!!??"

Curtis got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tony Taylor took strike three to start. Bill Freehan walked but Al Kaline forced him at second. Willie Horton singled to left but Frank Howard grounded out to third to end the inning. Woodie Fryman got the ball in the bottom of the first and Tommy Harper led off by striking out swinging. Luis Aparicio flied out to left and Carl Yastrzemski flied out to center to end the inning.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the second inning and Aurelio Rodriguez singled to center to start. Mickey Stanley doubled to left and Ike Brown walked to load the bases. Ed Brinkman ripped a base hit to center to score Rodriguez and Stanley to put Detroit on top. Taylor popped up to right and Freehan grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Tigers up 2-0.

                                                         Brinkman drives in a pair

The Sox answered in the bottom of the second as Reggie Smith walked and Orlando Cepeda belted his second home run of the season to tie the game. Rico Petrocelli popped up to short, Carlton Fisk grounded out to short and Doug Griffin took strike three to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                           Cepeda ties the game

The Tigers struck again in the top of the third as Kaline flied out to center to start. Horton grounded out to short but Howard walked. Rodriguez singled to center and Stanley smashed a three run home run to put Detroit up for good. Brown popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning with the Tigers up 5-2.

                                                             Stanley puts the Tigers ahead

The Sox fought back in the bottom of the third as Dwight Evans smashed his first home run of the year to cut the lead. Harper beat out a roller to third and stole second, but Aparicio took strike three. Yaz singled to left to move Harper to third and Taylor threw away a double play ball hit by Smith away to score Tommy on the error. Cepeda struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 5-4.

                                                    Evans hits number 1 this season 

The Tigers were relentless in the top of the fourth as Brinkman grounded out to short to start. Taylor singled to right, stole second and took third on the base hit to left by Freehan. That was it for Curtis whod be charged with 6 runs in just 3 1/3 innings. Sonny Siebert came in and Kaline singled to left to score Taylor. Horton struck out swinging and Gates Brown pinch hit for Howard and struck out swinging to end the inning with the Tigers ahead 6-4.

                                                                       Not John's best stuff

Norm Cash took over at first for Ike Brown to start the bottom of the fourth and Petrocelli lined out to left to start. Fisk flied out to center and Griffin grounded out to short to end the inning. 

Rodriguez singled to left to start the top of the fifth but both Stanley and Cash struck out swinging. Brinkman grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Evans grounded back to the mound to start. Harper flied out to center but Aparicio doubled down the left field line. Yaz ripped a base hit to center to score Luis but Smith flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox down 6-5.

                                                             Yaz drives in a run

The Tigers scored AGAIN in the top of the sixth as Taylor popped up to second to start. Freehan doubled to left, Kaline walked and Horton singled to left to score Freehan. Bob Veale took over for Siebert and Brown struck out swinging. Rodriguez forced Horton at second to end the inning with the Tigers ahead 7-5.

                                                    Horton out hitting the Red Sox by himself 

Tom Timmermann took over on the mound to start the bottom of the sixth and Cepeda hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Petrocelli popped up to second and Fisk struck out swinging to end the inning.

Veale cruised in the top of the seventh as Stanley struck out swinging to start. Cash flied out to center and Brinkman grounded out to short to end the inning. The Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the seventh as Griffin grounded out to short to start. Evans and Harper both grounded out to third to end the inning. 

The Tigers struck again in the top of the eighth as Taylor popped up to right to start. Freehan singled to left, took second on a wild pitch and scored on the base hit to right by Kaline. Aparicio booted a grounder by Horton for an error but Brown popped up to third. The Tigers laughed at the Sox as Horton stole second and Kaline technically stole home on the throw back to the plate for another run. Rodriguez ripped a base hit to right to score Horton but Stanley grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Tigers up 10-5.

                                                       "Can we get anybody out?" - BV

The Sox did scratch out another run in the bottom of the eighth as Aparicio walked to start. Yaz struck out swinging but Smith drew a walk. Cepeda then lashed a base hit to right to score Aparicio and cut the lead. Ben Oglivie ran for Cepeda but Petrocelli popped up to third and Fisk grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox down 10-6

                                                            Aparicio scores a run

The Tigers wouldn't go away in the top of the ninth as Cash walked to start. Cash took second on the sacrifice bunt by Brinkman and moved to third on the grounder to short by Taylor. Who else but Freehan singled home Cash to increase the lead and chase Veale. Bobby Bolin came in and got Kaline to ground out to third to end the inning with the Tigers up 11-6.

                                                  Freehan couldn't miss in this one

The Sox did rally in the bottom of the ninth as Griffin got a base hit to center to start. Evans flied out to left but Harper singled to right. Aparicio grounded back to the mound to move the runners over and Yaz got a base hit to center to score Griffin. Smith flied out to right to end the game as the Tigers completed the sweep with an 11-7 win.

Jackass of the Night is John Curtis. He put the Sox in a deep hole they were never fully able to climb out of by allowing 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

                                                                  Jackass Curtis

The Good:

Tommy Harper was 2 for 5 with a stolen base and a run scored. 

Carl Yastrzemski was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.

Orlando Cepeda was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run and 3 total rbis.

Bobby Bolin got the final out of the ninth inning.

The Bad:

Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4.

Carlton Fisk was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Bob Veale allowed 4 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

The Ugly:

Luis Aparicio was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error but walked and scored 2 runs.

Reggie Smith was 0 for 3 but walked twice, drove in a run and scored a run.

Doug Griffin was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run. 

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Sonny Siebert allowed an inherited runner to score and one of his own in 2 innings.

Honorable Mention:

Ben Oglivie pinch ran for Cepeda in the eighth.

Final Thoughts:

Well this sucks. The Sox were narrowly beaten by Detroit in the AL East race last season and they completely stomped out the Sox so far this season four straight. The trio of Freehan, Horton and Kaline couldn't miss this series and they scored 18 runs in the last two days. Unless the Sox get better pitching, this season is going to go down the drain sooner rather than later. Curtis was a nice surprise last year but he hasn't stepped up this year so far. Siebert looks like he's washed up and its sad to see that happen after he strong-armed the Sox in the years Jim Lonborg kept getting hurt. The offense woke up today and normally scoring 7 runs leads to victory so hopefully they can keep that pace up. Its only April so there's no need to panic although losing five games in a row doesn't exactly inspire confidence. The Sox now hit the road and their first stop is Cleveland for a set with the Indians beginning tomorrow night. Marty Pattin (1-1) gets the start for Boston against Gaylord Perry of Cleveland. The game begins at 9:00 PM Eastern time at Cleveland Stadium.