A day after the Boston Red Sox were held to just one run by the Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox took their frustrations out on Chicago in today's game. Rookie Steve Crawford was knocked out in the fourth inning after allowing four runs but Bob Stanley (2-1, 1.42 ERA) saved the day again with 4 shutout innings. Meanwhile the Boston bats woke up as Gary Allenson clubbed a 3 run home run and the BoSox scored four runs in the top of the ninth to knock out the White Sox 9-4 at Commiskey Park.
The Red Sox wasted no time pouncing on White Sox starter Ross Baumgarten in the top of the first inning. Dwight Evans walked but Dave Stapleton popped up to Bill Almon in foul territory. Carney Lansford singled to left and Wayne Nordhagen booted the ball, allowing the runners to advance on the error. Jim Rice grounded out to second but Evans scored and Lansford moved to third. Tony Perez walked to load the bases and Joe Rudi singled home Lansford to increase the lead. Glenn Hoffman popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.
The White Sox struck back against Crawford in the bottom of the first as Tony Bernazard grounded out to third to start. Mike Squires flied out to right but...surprise surprise....Carlton Fisk hit a home run all the way to Lake Superior to cut the lead. Fisk has four home runs on the season, 3 of them are against the BoSox. Greg Luzinski took strike three to end the inning but it was 2-1 Red Sox.
Gary Allenson walked to start the top of the second and was sacrificed to second on the bunt by Reid Nichols. Allenson moved to third on the fly out by Evans but Stapleton popped up to first to end the inning. Chet Lemon walked to start the bottom of the second but Harold Bained banged into a double play. Nordhagen singled to right but Jim Morrison popped up to left in foul territory to end the inning.
Lansford struck out swinging to open the top of the third and Rice grounded back to the mound. Perez popped up to first to end the inning. Almon grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the third and Bernazard lined out to second. Squires singled to center and FINALLY Crawford backed Fisk off the plate by hitting him. Luzinski flied out to right to end the inning.
The BoSox struck again in the top of the fourth as Rudi was plunked in retaliation by Baumgarten to start. The BoSox made him pay as Hoffman singled to center and Allenson crushed his second home run of the season to increase the lead. That was it for Baumgarten as Dennis Lamp came in to get Nichols to ground out to first. Evans grounded out to short and Stapleton did the same to end the inning with Boston ahead 5-1.
Crawford fell apart in the bottom of the fourth although Lemon grounded out to short to start. Baines and Nordhagen hit back to back singles and Morrison doubled both men home to cut the lead. Almon walked and Bernazard singled to left and BoSox manager Ralph Houk had seen enough. Crawford was sent to the showers and Bob Stanley came in to clean up the mess. Squires popped up to first but, who else. Fisk walked home Morrison to cut the lead. Luzinski took strike three to end the inning with Boston still ahead 5-4.
Lansford singled to left to start the top of the fifth but Rice lined out to third. Lansford was thrown out at second trying to steal on the Perez strikeout to end the inning. Stanley made the ChiSox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fifth. Lemon grounded out to second, Baines grounded back to the mound and Nordhagen grounded out to short to end the inning.
Rudi struck out swinging to start the top of the sixth and Hoffman grounded out to short. Allenson flied out to center to end the inning. Morrison singled in the hole at short to start the bottom of the sixth but Almon banged into a double play. Bernazard hit a routine grounder to Stapleton who tried to field the ball in his hat for an error. Squires flied out to left to end the inning.
Rick Miller pinch hit for Nichols to start the top of the seventh and he flied out to center. Evans drew a walk and moved to second on the grounder to short by Stapleton. Lansford walked and that was it for Lamp. Ed Farmer came in to pitch and Rice took strike three to end the inning. Fisk continued his dominance by getting a base hit to left to start the bottom of the seventh but Luzinski took strike three. Lemon popped up to third in foul territory but Baines grounded out to second to end the inning.
Perez struck out swinging to start the top of the eighth but Rudi singled to left. Hoffman and Allenson both struck out swinging to end the inning. Stanley ran out of gas in the bottom of the eighth as Nordhagen singled to right to start. Rusty Kuntz pinch ran for Nordhagen and he took second on the sacrifice bunt by Morrison. Bob Molinaro pinch hit for Almon and he walked to chase Stanley. Tom Burgmeier came in and Bernazard singled to left. Rice came up throwing and nailed Kuntz at home for the second out. Lamar Johnson pinch hit for Squires and popped up to first to end the inning. Rice's throw home saved the game for the BoSox.
The floodgates opened in the top of the ninth as Greg Pryor took over at short. Miller popped up to second but Evans was hit with a pitch. Stapleton singled to center and Lansford singled home Evans to ice the game. Rice hit a routine grounder to third but Morrison booted it for an error to load the bases. White Sox manager Tony La Russa had enough of Morrison and sent Jim Essian in to play third. Perez popped up to first but Rudi hit a routine grounder to Essian....and HE booted it for an error to score Stapleton and re-load the bases. Hoffman singled home Lansford and Rice to wrap up the scoring. Allenson walked to re-load the bases and chase Farmer. Kevin Hickey came in to pitch and Miller struck out swinging to end the inning but the BoSox put the game away 9-4.
Burgmeier came in to finish off the ChiSox in the bottom of the ninth and Fisk took strike three to start. Luzinski flied out to right and Lemon grounded out to short to end the game. The Red Sox had won it 9-4.
Hero of the Night is Gary Allenson. His 3 run home run ended up being the blow to keep the BoSox ahead for good.
The Good:
Dwight Evans walked twice, was hit with a pitch and scored 2 runs.
Carney Lansford was 3 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Joe Rudi was 2 for 4 with an rbi, hit by pitch and run scored.
Glenn Hoffman was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Bob Stanley got the win by pitching 4 shutout innings.
Tom Burgmeier got the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Reid Nichols was 0 for 1 before being lifted.
Rick Miller was 0 for 3.
Steve Crawford lasted just 3 1/3 innings and was charged with 4 runs.
The Ugly:
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 5 with an error but scored a run.
Jim Rice was 0 for 5 but drove in a run, scored a run and cut down a runner at the plate.
Tony Perez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Fisk is still a pain in the ass but for one day Gary Allenson did one better. Obviously Red Sox fans never wanted Fisk to leave and Allenson will never be like him, but every now and then he can pull off performances like this one. The entire offense did their job today and once again Bob Stanley was magnificent in relief. He may become the second coming of Dick Radatz this season at this rate. Any time a starter falters early, send in Stanley to save the day. Carney Lansford has been hitting balls over the field since Opening Day and he's off-setting the loss of Fred Lynn big time. It was a good team win and hopefully the momentum carries over in Boston's next series. Tomorrow morning its Patriots Day at Fenway Park with the visiting Texas Rangers in town. Mike Torrez gets the start for the Sox up against Doc Medich of the Rangers with the game beginning at 11 AM at Fenway Park.
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