The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the first inning. Rick Burleson was hit by Jim Barr to begin the game and was moved to second on the Jack Brohamer ground out. Fred Lynn slammed a single to score Burelson with the game's first run. Jim Rice singled and Carl Yastrzemski hit a routine grounder to Dickie Thon at second but he booted it, everyone was safe. Bob Watson made Dickie pay by doubling home both Lynn and Rice to give the Sox a three run lead just like that. Butch Hobson failed to score Yaz when his pop up to right was too shallow and Dwight Evans whiffed to end the inning. The Sox had 3 runs on 3 hits.....and would have just two more hits the rest of the game.
Unfortunatey Bob Stanley (10-6, 3.38 ERA) couldn't keep the Angels off the board in the bottom of the first inning. Old pal Rick Miller singled but Stanley picked him off first. Carney Lansford and Dan Ford hit back to back singles but Don Baylor beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Willie Aikens walked to load the bases then Brian Downing was apparently hit on the belt, forcing in a run. Sox manager Don Zimmer sprinted out of the dugout screaming like a banshee that the ball never hit Downing and when the umpire told him to go away, Zimmer started tearing his clothes off and had to be carried out by the police before he caused further ruckus. When action resumed Joe Rudi grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Gary Allenson led off the top of the second inning by popping up to first. Burleson struck out but Brohamer walked. Lynn flied out to left to end the inning. The Angels struck again in the bottom of the second inning. Jim Anderson doubled to start and Thon sacrificed him to third. Miller singled home Anderson but Lansford hit into a double play to end the inning with the Sox up by just one, 3-2.
Both pitchers settled into a groove as Rice lined out to center to start the top of the third inning. Yaz hit a comebacker to the mound and Watson grounded out to short to end the inning. Ford grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third, but Baylor singled. Aikens banged into a double play to end the inning.
Hobson hit a comebacker to the mound to open the top of the fourth before Evans grounded out to third. Allenson popped up to third to end the inning. The Angels beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fourth as Downing, Rudi and Anderson all grounded out to short to begin and end the inning.
Burleson flied out to center to start the top of the fifth before Brohamer grounded out to first. Lynn grounded out to second to end the inning. Thon grounded out to third to open the bottom of the fifth before Miller lined out to short. Lansford grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox got their first hit since the first inning when Rice singled to lead off the top of the sixth. They couldn't capitalize as Yaz lined out to center, Watson flied out to center and Hobson flied out to right to end the inning. The Angels continued to fall victim to Stanley's sinker in the bottom of the sixth as both Ford and Baylor grounded out to short. Aikens flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox failed to score in the top of the seventh inning as Evans grounded out to short to start. Allenson flied out to center but Burleson somehow singled. Rick swiped second but Brohamer grounded out to third to end the inning. Downing flied out to right to begin the bottom of the seventh before Rudi hit a routine grounder to Hobson. Butch fired to first and Watson dropped the ball, allowing Joe to reach. All of a sudden the enraged Zimmer ran half naked from the clubhouse onto the field screaming at Watson, chasing Bob all the way into the clubhouse, forcing Jim Dwyer to take over at first. Anderson singled and Willie Davis pinch hit for Thon only to beat out a double play ball. With runners at the corners, Stanley got Miller to hit a comebacker to end the inning with the lead intact.
Anderson moved to second base with Bert Campaneris now taking over at short to begin the top of the eighth. Lynn walked but Rice banged into a double play. Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox pissed the game away in the bottom of the eighth inning. Stanley froze Lansford for strike three before Ford and Baylor stroked back to singles. All of a sudden Zimmer escaped the clutches of the police, grabbed a bat and ran on the field to attack Stanley. Stanley wouldn't back down and ended up chasing Zimmer all the way into the clubhouse, leaving no one to pitch. Tom Burgmeier ran out of the bullpen before anyone could make a real decision. Aikens hit a routine grounder to first but Dwyer went OLE! and Ford scored all the way from second with the tying run. Had he made the play, it could have been an inning ending double play. Butch Hobson then picked Dick Drago's name out of Burleson's hat so Dick came in to pitch. Right on cue Downing slammed a single to score Baylor with the go-ahead run. Rudi popped up to third and Anderson grounded out to third to end the inning but the Angels now led 4-3.
The Sox had one last chance to take the game in the top of the ninth against closer Mark Clear. Dwyer at least drew a walk to somewhat make up for his error but the idiotic Zimmer decided to have the man that hit 40 homers in 1977 (Hobson) drop down a bunt to advance Jim to second. Evans grounded out and even though Dwyer was on third, there was now 2 out. Allenson went to bat but Zimmer tackled him to the ground and demanded Tom Poquette pinch hit. No one knew why this was a good idea and sure enough, Poquette flied out to right to end the game. The Angels had won it 4-3.
Jackass of the Night is Jim Dwyer for allowing the error in the eighth.
The Good:
Rick Burleson was 1 for 3 with a stolen base, a run scored and was hit with a pitch.
Fred Lynn was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Jim Rice was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Bob Watson was 1 for 3 with 2 rbi's.
The Bad:
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 4.
Butch Hobson was 0 for 3.
Dwight Evans was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Gary Allenson was 0 for 3.
Tom Poquette made the last out.
Dick Drago allowed the go-ahead run to score.
The Ugly:
Jack Brohamer was 0 for 3 but walked.
Bob Stanley went 7 2/3 innings and look the loss allowing 4 runs, but the final 2 runs were due to an error and the bullpen. He really should have had his 11th win.
Tom Burgmeier faced one man and he reached, but only because Dwyer couldn't make the play.
Final Thoughts:
That was a sucker punch to the go-nads after how well Stanley had pitched in this game. The lunatic Zimmer cost them another game by taking away Bob Watson's bat only for Jim Dwyer's glove to let them down. This all coming after that outburst in the first inning just makes it seem like this team wins in spite of Zim more often than not. He can't blame Bill Lee, Jim Wiloughby, Fergie Jenkins or Lee's other cronies anymore, its all on him now. The worst part about the loss is that the Orioles lost too meaning the Sox could have gained a game on the O's had they won. As it is the Sox are 52-32, still 3 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox go after the Angels once again as Dennis Eckersley goes one on one with Dave Frost at 7:30 PM at Anaheim Stadium.
