Reds Win World Series, Edge Sox in Game 7 (10/22/75)

The 1975 Boston Red Sox had a hell of a season but it all came to end in tonight's winner take all Game 7 against the Cincinnati Reds. For the second game in a row the Red Sox took a 3-0 lead only to cough it up. Unfortunately this time the Reds pitching held the Sox scoreless the rest of the way. Rookie Jim Burton gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth, Will McEnaney slammed the door and Cincinnati were the world champs for the first time since 1940 with a 4-3 win at Fenway Park.

                                                           Dammit

Bill Lee got the start for the Sox and he retired Pete Rose on a pop up to right to begin the top of the first. Joe Morgan swung at air for strike three and Johnny Bench grounded out to short to end the inning. Don Gullet got the ball in the bottom of the first and Bernie Carbo led off with a double off the Monster. Denny Doyle flied out to right and Carl Yastrzemski moved Carbo to third with a grounder to second. Carlton Fisk struck out swinging to end the inning.

Tony Perez started the top of the second inning by grounding out to third before George Foster hit a rocket off the Monster. Foster tried for second but Carbo gunned him down at second. Dave Concepcion grounded out to short to end the inning.

                                                      YER OUTTA THERE!

Fred Lynn led off the bottom of the second by drawing a walk. Rico Petrocelli struck out swinging on a high fastball before Dwight Evans popped up to Rose in foul territory. Rick Burleson flied out to right to end the inning.

Ken Griffey led off the top of the third by dumping a base hit to center before Cesar Geronimo banged into a double play. Gullet singled to right but Rose lined one off of Lee, Bill recovering to throw out Gullet to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the third although Lee bunted foul for strike three to start. Carbo drew a walk before Doyle singled him to third. Yaz lashed a base hit to right that scored Carbo and sent Doyle to third. Fisk was intentionally walked to load the bases and Lynn was rung up for strike three much to Fred's dismay. Petrocelli walked to bring in Doyle and re-load the bases. Evans walked to score Yaz and put Gullet on the ropes. The play of the game occurred when Burleson whiffed to end the inning. One more run could have been a difference maker but the Sox still led 3-0.

                                                   Yaz scores the last run of the Sox season

Lee kept the lead in the top of the fourth inning although Morgan bunted his way on to start. Bench hit a rocket to center but Lynn snared it to keep Morgan at first. Morgan did swipe second but Perez popped up to a running Evans. Foster hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. The Sox looked to knock Gullet out again when Lee singled to start and took second on a wild pitch. Carbo moved Lee to third on a grounder but Doyle check swing grounded out to third to kill the rally. Yaz popped up to Morgan in foul territory to end the inning. The Sox failure to get the fourth run proved to be the killer in the end.

The Reds threatened in the top of the fifth as Concepcion beat out a ground ball to first before Doyle butchered a double play ball by Griffey for an error that moved Dave to third. Lee got a key out by striking out Geronimo swinging and Reds manager Sparky Anderson put the game in the hands of his bullpen when he pinch hit Gullet with Merv Rettenmund. The move looked to be advantage Red Sox when Rettenmund hit into a double play to end the inning. The Sox blew yet another chance to break the game open against Jack Billingham in the bottom of the fifth although Fisk whiffed to start. Lynn drew a walk and Petrocelli lashed a base hit to left. Evans flied out to deep center which moved Lynn to third and put runners at the corners. Burleson walked to load the bases again and Sox manager Darrell Johnson let Lee hit away with him pitching a shut-out. Lee flied out to deep center to end the inning.

The Reds finally broke through against Lee in the top of the sixth as Rose singled to right. Morgan popped up to right before Bench hit a double play ball to short. Burleson flipped to second but Doyle threw the relay throw away for an error that allowed Bench to reach second. Perez hit Lee's infamous eephus pitch onto Landsdowne Street to cut the lead. Foster flied out to right to end the inning but the Reds were back in it 3-2.

                                                       Perez goes yard

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the sixth as Carbo grounded out to first to start. Doyle flied out to left and Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Reds tied it in the bottom of the seventh with Rick Miller now in left. Concepcion grounded out to first to start but Griffey drew a walk to chase Lee after Bill developed a blister. Lee ended up giving up 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings.

                                                       Bye Bye Lee

Roger Moret came in and got Geronimo to pop up to short before Ed Armbrister pinch hit for Billingham. Griffey swiped second and Armbrister walked before Rose dumped a base hit to center to score Griffey with the tying run. Morgan walked to chase Moret who just didn't have it tonight. Jim Willoughby came in and got Bench to pop up to Fisk reaching into the stands to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.

                                                     The Reds tie it up

Clay Carroll came in for the bottom of the seventh inning but the Sox offense was done for the night. Fisk whiffed to start before Lynn grounded out to first. Petrocelli grounded out to short to end the inning.

Willoughby came back for the top of the eighth inning and Perez popped up to third to begin. Foster grounded out to short and Concepcion grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox looked to rally when Evans walked to start the bottom of the eighth but Burleson banged into a double play. Sox manager Darrell Johnson sealed the fate of the season when he sent the slumping 1 for 18 Cecil Cooper in to pinch hit for Willoughby. Cooper popped up to Rose in foul territory to end the inning.

Darrell Johnson decided it was best for the team to send rookie Jim Burton to the mound rather than Rick Wise, Reggie Cleveland or Dick Drago for the top of the ninth inning. Griffey drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on the bunt by Geronimo. Dan Driessen pinch hit for Carroll and grounded out to second but Griffey moved to third. Rose drew a full count walk and Darrel Johnson let Burton pitch to Morgan. The lefty on lefty matchup failed as Morgan hit a broken bat single to center that scored Griffey and sent Rose to third. That was it for Burton as Johnson brought in Reggie Cleveland one batter too late. Bench walked but Perez flied out to right to end the inning with the Reds ahead 4-3.

                                                      Rose is safe and the Reds lead

Will McEnaney came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Juan Beniquez pinch hit for Miller to start. Beniquez flied out to right and Darrell Johnson sent Bob Montgomery in to pinch hit for Doyle. Montgomery wasn't even wearing a batting helmet as he grounded out to short on the first pitch. Representing the last out, Yaz popped up to center to end the game. The Cincinatti Reds won the 1975 World Series with a 4-3 comeback win in Game 7.

                                                     Dammit


Jackass of the Night is Jim Burton. He allowed the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth.

                                                               Game 7 Jackass


The Good:

Bernie Carbo was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Fred Lynn walked twice in four plate appearances.

Rico Petrocelli was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Dwight Evans walked twice in four plate appearances and drove in a run.

Bill Lee tossed 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball allowing 7 hits while striking out 2. He was also 1 for 3 at the plate.

Jim Willoughby tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Reggie Cleveland got the final out of the 9th inning.



The Bad:

Juan Beniquez was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Bob Montgomery was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Cecil Cooper was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Roger Moret allowed the tying run to score in the 7th inning.



The Ugly:

Denny Doyle was just 1 for 4 with 2 errors in the field but scored a run.

Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 5 and made the final out of the game, but drove in a run.

Carlton Fisk was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.

Rick Burleson was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.



Honorable Mention:

Rick Miller played left field for a few innings.



Final Thoughts:

What a shame. Just like the 1967 World Series the Red Sox lost to the better team. Also like in 1967 they were missing a key cog. Back then it was Tony Conigliaro and this time it was Jim Rice. Not to make excuses but nearly every game was decided by one run and Jim Rice's bat was sorely missed in those games. Still, this game and every game really was hard fought and decided by the smallest of margins. Lee pitched well but Perez was sitting on that damn eephus pitch and Moret didn't have it. Having a rookie like Burton come in to pitch the 9th inning of a winner take all Game 7 probably wasn't the best idea but if the offense didn't squander 3 big chances during the game, it probably doesn't come to that. Still, the Sox crushed the 3-peat Oakland A's to get to the World Series and fell 7 outs short of winning it. If the Sox bring the same energy they had this year, there's no reason not to believe they won't be in contention again in 1976. Congratulations to the Reds for a well earned victory and a hell of a 1975 season.

Reds Win Game 5, Push Sox To Brink (10/16/75)

They don't call the Cincinnati Reds the "Big Red Machine" for nothing and it looks like the Reds are on their way to being World Series champions. The Red Sox are missing Jim Rice big time and the lack of offense doomed them in Game 5. Don Gullet held the Red Sox to 2 measly runs while the Reds lit up Sox starter Reggie Cleveland. Reggie lasted just 5 innings while allowing 5 runs to the Reds. When it was all said and done, the Reds moved just one win away from the world championship with a 6-2 victory over the Sox at Riverfront Stadium.

                        Reds win Game 5

Gullet got the ball in the top of the first inning and the Sox immediately tagged him. Juan Beniquez hit a routine grounder to second to begin but Denny Doyle tripled into the right field corner. Carl Yastrzemski scored Doyle with a sac fly to put the Sox on top. Ironically the Sox would have just 4 hits the rest of the game. Carlton Fisk looked at strike three on the outside corner to end the inning but the Sox were up 1-0.

                       Sox strike first

Cleveland got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Pete Rose greeted him by poking a base hit to right. Ken Griffey was rung up on a check swing for strike three but Joe Morgan singled Rose to third. Morgan swiped second when Johnny Bench lofted a fly ball to left field. Beniquez fired home and Rose was OUT AT THE PLATE! Great play by Beniquez to end the inning with the Sox still ahead.

                        YERRR OUT!!

Fred Lynn popped up to third to begin the top of the second before Rico Petrocelli whiffed. Dwight Evans lined a broken bat liner to left to end the inning. Cleveland cruised in the bottom of the second inning as Tony Perez whiffed. George Foster hit one up the elevator shaft before Dave Concepcion grounded out to short to end the inning. 

Rick Burleson popped up to second and Morgan called off the entire infield to make the catch to open the top of the third inning. Cleveland struck out swinging before Beniquez lined out to a running Morgan to end the inning. Cesar Geronimo led off the bottom of the third by popping up to center. Gullet whiffed but Rose walked. Doyle made a leaping grab to rob Morgan of a base hit to end the inning.

Gullet continued his dominance in the top of the fourth inning as Doyle was retired on a chopper in front of the plate to start. Yaz lined out to a running Geronimo before Fisk whiffed to end the inning. The Reds struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning although Morgan popped up to right to begin. Bench hit an absolute rocket but right to Petrocelli for the out. Perez hit another bullet but this one went over the left field fence for a home run to tie the game. Foster popped up to first to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.

                      Perez ties it up

Gullet continued to cruise in the top of the fifth inning as Lynn whiffed to start. Petrocelli popped up to center before Evans flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning. The Reds took command in the bottom of the fifth although Concepcion grounded out to third to begin. Geronimo grounded out to second but somehow Gullet lined a base hit up the middle. Rose made Cleveland pay by doubling down the left field line to score Gullet with the go-ahead run. Griffey popped up to third to end the inning but the Reds now led 2-1.

                        Reds take the lead

Gullet got Burleson to fly out to right to begin the top of the sixth before Cleveland himself struck out. Beniquez broke up the streak of 15 in a row set down by Gullet by drawing a walk. Doyle grounded out to first to end the inning. The Reds iced the game quickly in the bottom of the sixth as Morgan walked on a borderline full count pitch to start. Bench singled Morgan to third and Perez crushed his second homer of the game to put the game out of reach. That was it for Cleveland who made two mistakes to Perez but left after allowing 5 runs in 5 plus innings.

                Cleveland gets hammered

Jim Willoughby came in and Foster lined one back to him to start. Concepcion was plunked on the hands and swiped second before moving to third on the grounder by Geronimo. Gullet whiffed to end the inning but the game was all but over 5-1.

Gullet cruised in the top of the seventh inning as Yaz popped up to first in foul territory to start. Fisk lined out to left before Evans popped up to center to end the inning. Willoughby matched Gullet in the bottom of the seventh as Rose flied out to left to begin. Griffey hit a routine grounder to Doyle who gloved it over the head of Yaz at first, technically a single by Ken. Morgan hit a rocket but right to Burleson who flipped it to first to double off Griffey to end the inning. The Sox defense came to play tonight, unfortunately so did Tony Perez.

Gullet carried his one hitter into the top of the eighth inning and Petrocelli flied out to center to start. Evans somehow singled up the middle but Burleson popped up to center. Doug Griffin pinch hit for Willoughby and lined out to a running Morgan to end the inning. Dick Pole came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and managed to walk both Bench and Perez. Sox manager Darrell Johnson had seen enough and brought in Diego Segui to pitch to Foster. George flied out to right but Bench tagged up and moved to third. Concepcion scored Bench with a sac fly to wrap up the scoring for the Reds. Geronimo flied out to center to end the inning with the Reds up 6-1.

Gullet came out to finish his job but the Sox refused to go quietly in the top of the ninth. Beniquez whiffed and Doyle grounded out to second but Yaz lined a single to right past Morgan. Fisk poked a single to right which brought out Reds manager Sparky Anderson. The crowd booed expecting Sparky to take out Gullet but surprisingly he left him in. Lynn made Sparky pay by lining a double down the right field line to score Yaz. How big was the 3 run bomb now? Finally Anderson pulled Gullet for Rawly Eastwick to close out the game. Petrocelli whiffed to end the game and send the Reds one win away from the championship with a 6-2 win over the Sox.

Jackass of the Night is Reggie Cleveland. He got lit up for 5 runs in 5 plus innings to take the loss.

                       Reggie Jackass

The Good:

Carl Yastzremski was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Dwight Evans was 1 for 3.

Jim Willoughby tossed 2 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Rick Burleson was 0 for 3.

Doug Griffin was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Dick Pole allowed a run by walking 2 batter

The Ugly:

Juan Beniquez was 0 for 3 but walked.

Denny Doyle was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Carlton Fisk was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Fred Lynn was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Deigo Segui allowed an inherited runner to score in an inning of work.

Final Thoughts:

If this is the end, the Red Sox better go down swinging in Game 6. The Sox have fought bravely against a team of all-stars but they may not be good enough. After Luis Tiant an Bill Lee, the rest of the pitchers haven't been able to shut down the Big Red Machine. Both Cleveland and Rick Wise faltered as did reliever Dick Drago. Rose, Bench, Perez and Morgan could be in the Hall of Fame someday and the Sox just can't match their talent without Rice. Tonight's game was proof as they couldn't crack Gullet. Still, the series is not over and Fenway Park will be where the series is decided. After an off-day tomorrow, Game 6 is this Saturday afternoon where Bill Lee goes for the Sox up against Jack Billingham at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Reds Take Game 3 Amidst Controversy (10/14/75)

The Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds have taken Game 3 of the 1975 World series and a 2 games to 1 lead but not without some controversy. The Reds took a 5-1 lead but the Sox rallied with an rbi from Fred Lynn and home runs from Bernie Carbo and Dwight Evans to send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth with Cesar Geronimo on first Ed Armbrister dropped down a bunt but failed to get out of the way of Carlton Fisk. Fisk had to bump Ed out of the way and hurry a throw to center that got away. Interference was NOT called and two batters later Joe Morgan ended the game with a rocket to center to give the Reds a 6-5 Game 3 victory at Riverfront Stadium.

                                            "Get out of the way you idiot!" - Fisk

Gary Nolan got the start for the Reds in the top of the first inning and Cecil Cooper grounded out to first to start. Denny Doyle also grounded out to first before Carl Yastrzemski grounded out to second to end the inning. Rick Wise took the mound in the bottom of the first and Pete Rose greeted him with a routine ground out to second. Ken Griffey also grounded out to second before Joe Morgan flied out to center to end the inning.

The Sox wasted no time scoring in the top of the second as Carlton Fisk put the Sox on top with a solo blast to left to begin. Fred Lynn flied out to center but Rico Petrocelli hit a seeing eye single in the hole at short. Dwight Evans flied out into the right field corner before Rick Burleson grounded into a force to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                     Fisk checks the bat for termites before hitting one out

Could Wise pitch with the lead in the bottom of the second? YES! Tony Perez flied out to center before Johnny Bench grounded out to deep third. George Foster drew a full count walk and took off for second. Doyle went OLE! on Fisk's throw and Foster went to third on the error charged to Fisk. Dave Concepcion lined out to a running Evans to end the inning.

Wise himself led off the top of the third with a fly out to left. Cooper popped up to left before Doyle popped up to third to end the inning. Cesar Geronimo led off the bottom of the third by grounding out to second to start. Nolan grounded out to first and Rose grounded out to second to end the inning.

Yaz hit a grounder to first to start the top of the fourth but Fisk drew a walk. Lynn singled to right that advanced Fisk to third but was thrown out at first after overruning the bag. Morgan robbed Petrocelli of an rbi single to end the inning. The Reds struck back in the bottom of the fourth although Griffey flied out to center to begin. Morgan also flied out to center but Perez walked and stole second. Bench then crushed a 2 run bomb halfway to Columbus to give the Reds the lead. Foster grounded out to Petrocelli to end the inning but the Reds were up 2-1.

                                              Bench puts the Reds on top

Pat Darcy took over for the top of the fifth as the scoreboard at Riverfront Stadium said that Nolan left the game due to a stiff neck. Evans grounded out to short to start but Burleson singled in the hole at short. Burleson was erased on the force by Wise before Cooper grounded out to second to end the inning. Wise suddenly fell victim to the longball as both Concepcion and Geronimo struck back to back jacks to put the Reds up by 3 runs just like that. Wise struck out Darcy but Rose chased Wise by motoring around for a triple on a jack to the centerfield wall. Wise had lasted just 4 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs including 3 home runs. Jim Burton was brought in and he walked Griffey to put runners at the corners before Morgan hit a sac fly to center to score Rose with another run. Griffey swiped second and Sox manager Darrell Johnson had enough of Burton. Reggie Cleveland was brought in to strike out Perez to end the inning with the Reds ahead 5-1.

                                                     The Reds poured it on

The Sox needed to rally and they started in the top of the sixth although Doyle popped up to Rose in foul territory to start. Yaz and Fisk drew back to back walks before a wild pitch moved both guys into scoring position. Lynn scored Yaz with a sac fly to cut into the lead before Petrocelli grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.

Cleveland held the fort in the bottom of the sixth and whiffed Bench to start. Foster flied out to left and Concepcion grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Sox got another run in the top of the seventh as Evans lined a base hit up the middle to start. Clay Carroll came in for Darcy and got Burleson to bang into a double play. Bernie Carbo pinch hit for Cleveland and clubbed a solo home run to left to cut into the lead. That was it for Caroll as Will McEnaney came in to pitch to Cooper. Cecil popped up to short to end the inning but it was 5-3 Reds.

Jim Willoughby came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and got Geronimo to fly out to deep center to begin. McEnaney himself beat out an infield single to second when Cooper dropped the throw by Doyle, but was doubled off first when Rose hit a scorcher to third for a double play to end the inning.

McEnaney cruised in the top of the eighth as Doyle grounded out to first to start. Yaz whiffed and Fisk was retired on a swinging bunt in front of the mound to end the inning. Willoughby returned for the bottom of the eighth and got Griffey to ground out to second to start. Morgan grounded out to second and Perez whiffed to end the inning.

Down to their final 3 outs the Sox needed to rally but it didn't look good when Lynn whiffed to start the top of the ninth. Petrocelli and Reds manager Sparky Anderson pulled McEnaney to have the right hander Rawley Eastwick pitch to Dwight Evans. The gamble backfired as Evans belted a two run home run to left to tie the game. Burleson dropped a single to center to put the go-ahead run on and moved to second on the Willoughby sacrifice bunt. That was it as Cooper flied out to center to end the inning but it was tied 5-5.

                                                       Evans ties it up

Willoughby returned for the bottom of the ninth and made the Reds beat the ball in the dirt. Bench grounded out to third, Foster grounded out to short and Concepcion grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Sox had a chance to take the lead in the top of the tenth when Doyle beat out an infield single up the middle to begin. Yaz blasted one deep to center but Geronimo caught it at the wall. 5 more feet it was gone. Fisk banged into a double play to end the inning. The Reds finally ended it in the bottom of the 10th but not without some help from the umpires. Geronimo singled up the middle before Ed Armbrister pinch hit for Eastwick. Armbrister dropped down a bunt but failed to get out of Fisk's way, Fisk had to throw Ed out of the way and hurry a throw to second that sailed into center. Geronimo made it to third and Armbrister to second as the entire Sox team went berserk. Sox manager Darrell Johnson kicked and screamed that Armbrister interfered with Fisk and Fisk himself had to be restrained from attacking the umpire. With the comissioner of baseball Bowie Kuhn sitting right behind home plate, the umpires shrugged and said play ball. Roger Moret replaced Willoughby and intentionally walked Rose to load the bases with nobody out. Merv Rettenmund pinch hit for Griffey but Moret did manage to strike him out. Morgan ended the game with a base hit to deep center to give the Reds the victory. The Sox fought hard but couldn't beat the umps and the Reds as Cincinnati hung on to win Game 3 by a score of 6-5.

                                                  Good grief


Jackass of the Night is unfortunately Roger Moret. He was brought in with men on second and third with nobody out then gave up a walk (intentional) and a base hit to end the game.

                                                            Moret the Jackass


The Good:

Fred Lynn was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Dwight Evans was 2 for 4 with a 2 run homer in the ninth.

Rick Burelson was 2 for 4.

Bernie Carbo hit a pinch hit home run in the 7th inning.

Reggie Cleveland tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Cecil Cooper was 0 for 5.

Rick Wise lasted just 4 1/3 innings and allowed 5 runs including 3 home runs.



The Ugly:

Denny Doyle was just 1 for 5.

Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.

Carlton Fisk was 1 for 3 with 2 walks including a solo home run but made 2 costly errors including the Armbrister play.

Jim Burton allowed an inherited runner to score, walked a man and allowed a stolen base in 1/3 of an inning but allowed none of his own runs.

Jim Willoughby took the loss but allowed just the controversial run in 3 innings of work.




Final Thoughts:

God damned National League umpires. The Big Red Machine doesn't need any help from the umpires to win games but tonight they got a huge assist. The Armbrister play is going to be talked about for a long time and with good reason. How in the world do you stand right in front of the catcher and NOT get called for interference? Still, the play didn't end the game and Moret still had to get Morgan out so no sense blaming the game entirely on that play. Wise pitched like crap and it took a clutch home run by Evans just to send it to extra innings. This World Series is shaping up to be one of the greats because the first 3 games were great nailbiters. The Sox need to rally tomorrow night and they better with Louis Tiant taking the mound opposite Fred Norman at 8 PM Eastern time at Riverfront Stadium.

Sox Down Yankees, Snap Streak (9/2/75)

The march to the AL East title is back on for the Boston Red Sox. After suffering a three game losing streak, the Sox got back on track by taking down the New York Yankees. The win put the Sox up 6 games with 27 to play. Reggie Cleveland (10-9, 5.02 ERA) tossed 7 2/3 gutty innings, holding the Yankees to four runs. Carlton Fisk and Cecil Cooper led the charge on offense, driving in 5 of the 7 runs the Sox scored between the two of them. When the dust settled the Sox had taken the game 7-4 at Fenway Park.

                                                  KISS approves of the win

Cleveland hung tough in the top of the first inning as Bobby Bonds led off by taking strike three. Sandy Alomar grounded out to second but Roy White got a base hit. Thurman Munson grounded into a force to end the inning. Pat Dobson got the ball for the Yankees in the bottom of the first and Cecil Cooper grounded out to second to start. Denny Doyle got a base hit but Carl Yastrzesmki banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Yankees struck first in the top of the second inning although Graig Nettles flied out to right to start. Chris Chambliss hit a home run all the way to the Azores to give the Yankees the lead. Ed Hermann struck out and Rick Bladt flied out to center to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

                                                        Can anybody get him out?

Lynn grounded out to first to start the bottom of the second but Jim Rice got a base hit. Carlton Fisk flied out to center but Rice swiped second. Dwight Evans struck out to end the inning.

Cleveland cruised in the top of the third inning as Fred Stanley flied out to right to start. Bonds struck out and Alomar flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third as Rick Burleson grounded out to third, but Bob Heise singled. Cooper doubled Heise home to tie the game and Doyle singled Cooper home to give the Sox the lead. Yaz and Lynn walked to load the bases but Rice struck out. Fisk singled home Doyle and Yaz but Lynn was thrown out at third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.

                                                           YERRR OUT!!

White flied out to right to start the top of the fourth but Munson flied out to center. Nettles popped up to left to end the inning. The Sox knocked out Dobson in the bottom of the fourth as Evans and Burleson stoked back to back singles. Heise sacrificed both runners over with a bunt and Yankees manager Billy Martin brought in Sparky Lyle to face Cooper. Cecil hit a sac fly to score Evans with another run. Doyle grounded back to the mound to end the inning but the Sox were up 5-1.

                                                     Herculean sac fly by Cooper

Chambliss grounded out to first to start the top of the fifth and Hermann grounded out to third. Bladt popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth although Yaz struck out to start. Lynn doubled and moved to third on the grounder by Rice before Fisk singled him home. Evans flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox were up 6-1.

                                                               Fisk drives in a run

Stanley singled to start the top of the sixth but Bonds banged into a double play. Alomar singled and White doubled him to third, but Munson flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox tacked it on in the bottom of the sixth as Burleson doubled to start. Heise struck out but Cooper got a base hit and Burleson tried for home. Chambliss threw the ball away and it allowed Burleson to score. Doug Griffin pinch hit for Doyle and forced Burleson at second before Yaz grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 7-1.

                                                           Burleson scores a run

Cleveland walked Nettles to open the top of the seventh but Chambliss flied out to left. Hermann struck out and Bladt forced Nettles at second to end the inning. Lynn struck out to start the bottom of the seventh but Rice got a base hit. Fisk struck out and Evans flied out to right to end the inning.

The Yankees finally knocked out Cleveland in the top of the eighth although Walt Williams pinch hit for Stanley to start. Williams struck out but Bonds singled. Alomar flied out to center but White singled. Munson then cracked a 3 run bomb all the way to the Potomac River to cut the lead. Sox manager Darrell Johnson stormed out of the dugout screaming and threw a roundhouse right at Cleveland. Reggie ducked under it and chased Johnson into the dugout. Rookie Jim Burton jumped out of the stands to take over on the mound and walked Nettles. Chambliss took strike three to end the inning with Cleveland going 7 2/3 innings while allowing just 4 runs.

                                                      Not great but it'll do

Rick Sawyer took over on the mound with Ed Brinkman playing short for the bottom of the eighth. Burleson popped up to second, Heise grounded out to second and Cooper also grounded out to second to end the inning.

Dick Drago came on for the top of the ninth to close out the game with Rick Dempsey pinch hitting for Hermann to start. Dempsey grounded out to second but Rich Coggins pinch hit for Bladt got a base hit. Lou Piniella pinch hit for Brinkman and forced Coggins at second. Bonds grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-4.

Hero of the Night is Cecil Cooper. He drove in 2 big runs which turned out to be the difference in the game and a third was taken away on the error by Chambliss.

                                                                  Cecil the Hero



The Good:

Denny Doyle was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Fred Lynn was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Jim Rice was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Carlton Fisk was 2 for 4 with 3 rbis.

Rick Burleson was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Bob Heise was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Jim Burton got the final out of the eighth inning.

Dick Drago earned his 9th save with a scoreless ninth.



The Bad:

Doug Griffin was 0 for 1 at the plate.



The Ugly:

Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.

Reggie Cleveland got the win with 7 2/3 innings but allowed 4 runs.




Final Thoughts:

The Sox need to bear down if they have any hope of taking the AL East this season. This is the time of year the Sox suffer a freak injury or a series of mishaps like the previous three seasons. The Sox have 27 games left and they need to fire on all cylinders if they hope to play in October. Lynn and Rice have had a hell of a year and Rick Wise has a chance to win 20 games. Reggie Cleveland pitched in big time today and the Sox need to keep their momentum going the rest of the month. The win improved the Sox to 80-55, 6 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox start the most important series to date when they head to Baltimore to play the Orioles for AL East supremacy. Rick Wise (17-8) goes for the Sox against Orioles ace Jim Palmer in a monster match. The game begins at 7:30 PM at Memorial Stadium.

Angels Crush Cleveland, Sox (4/30/74)

The good news was the Boston Bruins eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of their NHL Semifinal series but the bad news was the Boston Celtics lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals and the Boston Red Sox got destroyed by the California Angels. Reggie Cleveland (1-3, 4.55 ERA) got lit up for 9 runs by a relentless Angels offense before he was knocked out in the fourth inning. The Angels teed off on Diego Segui and Lance Clemmons for a combined seven more runs. Even worse, Doug Griffin was sent to the hospital when he got hit in the head by a Nolan Ryan fastball. The Boston bats got to Angels Ryan for 6 runs after that, but he still went the distance in this one. Cecil Cooper hit a two run home run but that was one of very few highlights as the Angels wont the game 16-6 at Fenway Park.

                                                                 "DAMN THOSE ANGELS!"

The Angels wasted no time getting to Cleveland in the top of the first as Mickey Rivers singled to rigth to start. Denny Doyle got a base hit to left but Bobby Valentine popped up to second. Frank Robinson drew a walk to load the bases and Bob Oliver hit a sac fly to center to score Rivers. Morris Nettles grounded out to first to end the inning with the Angels up 1-0.

                                                                 Angels strike first

Tragedy struck in the bottom of the first with Ryan on the mound. Rick Miller singled to right but Doug Griffin was hit in the head by Nolan's fastball and had to be rushed to the hospital, shades of Tony Conigliaro. John Kennedy ran for Doug but Cecil Cooper struck out swinging. Carl Yastrzemski was hit with a pitch as well and Carl got hot at Ryan. The bases were loaded but Rico Petrocelli struck out swinging. Dwight Evans got a base hit to center to score Kennedy and Miller, but Yastrzemski was caught up at second to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.

                                                            Get well soon, Doug

The Angels took command in the top of the second as Tommy McCraw got a base hit to center to start. McCraw moved to second on a grounder to short by Ellie Rodrguez, then to third on a grounder back to Cleveland by Dave Chalk. Rivers tripled into the centerfield triangle to score McCraw and Doyle ripped a base hit to center to score Rivers. Valentine forced Rivers at second to end the inning with the Angels up 3-2.

                                                           Doyle drives in a run

Dick McAuliffe walked to start the bottom of the second but Carlton Fisk flied out to center. Mario Guerrero flied out to center and Miller took strike three to end the inning. 

The Angels poured it on in the top of the third as Robinson doubled to right to start. Oliver flied out to right but Nettles walked. McCraw hit a double play ball to short but Kennedy dropped the throw for an error to score Robinson. Rodriguez got a base hit to left to score Nettles with another run. Chalk grounded into a double play to end the inning but it was 5-2 Angels.

                                                               Catch the ball John!

Kenny popped up to short to start the bottom of the third before Cooper struck out swinging. Yaz walked but Petrocelli struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Angels finished off Cleveland in the top of the fourth as Rivers walked to start. Rivers stole second and moved to third on a Doyle base hit to right. Valentine hit one up the elevator shaft but Robinson walked to load the bases. A balk was called on Reggie to score Rivers and Oliver doubled home both remaining runners to signal the end for Cleveland. He got hammered for 9 hits, 9 runs and 4 walks and Diego Segui took his place on the mound. Nettles grounded out to short to move Oliver to third but McCraw walked. Rodriguez doubled to left to score both runners and Chalk also doubled off the Monster to score Ellie. Rivers flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels up 11-2.

                                                              "Aye carumba!" - Segui

Joe Lahoud took over for Valentine to begin the bottom of the fourth and Evans walked to start. McAuliffe got a base hit to right and Fisk walked to load the bases. Guerrero hit a sac fly to right to score Evans and Miller walked to re-load the bases. Kennedy grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 11-3.

                                                                  RBI for Guerrero

Doyle grounded back to the mound to start the top of the fifth but Lahoud struck out swinging. Robinson popped up to short to end the inning. Cooper struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth and Yaz popped up to short. Petrocelli took strike three to end the inning.

Juan Beniquez took over for Yaz to start the top of the sixth and Oliver got a base hit to center. Nettles forced Oliver at second and moved to second himself on a grounder to third by McCraw. Rodriguez struck out swinging to end the inning. Evans struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth but McAuliffe walked. Fisk struck out swinging and Guerrero grounded out to short to end the inning,

Bob Montgomery took over behind the plate with Lance Clemons now on the mound for the top of the seventh. Chalk hit a routine grounder to McAuliffe who threw himself on the ball and swam on it for an error. Chalk moved to second on a grounder to second by Rivers and scored on the Doyle base hit to center. Lahoud forced Doyle at second then took second on a wild pitch. Robinson was intentionally walked and Oliver flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels up 12-3.

                                                           Rivers scores another run

Miller took strike three to begin the bottom of the seventh but Kennedy walked. Cooper flied out to left and Beniquez watched strike three go by to end the inning.

The Angels were relentless in the top of the eighth as Nettles got a base hit to left to start. McCraw flied out to right but Rodriguez forced Nettles at second. Chalk then hit a home run all the way to Shelbyville, Kentucky to increase the lead. Rivers grounded out to third to end the inning with the Angels up 14-3.

                                                          "Make it stop!" - Clemons

The Sox got a run in the bottom of the eighth as Petrocelli struck out swinging to start. Evans also went down hacking but McAuliffe hit his first home run of the season. Montgomery struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 14-4.

                                                             Home run McAuliffe

The Angels scored AGAIN in the top of the ninth as Doyle got another base hit in the hole at second. A wild pitch moved him to second and took third on a grounder to first by Lahoud. Robinson drilled a base hit to left to score Doyle and took second on a wild pitch. Oliver tripled to center to score Robinson but Nettles struck out swinging. McCraw walked but Rodriguez flied out to right to end the inning with the Angels up 16-4.

                                                     Robinson adds to the misery

Ryan came back to complete the game in the bottom of the ninth and Guerrero got a base hit to center to begin. Miller flied out to left and Kennedy struck out swinging, but Cooper belted his third home run of the year to cut the lead. Beniquez popped up to first to end the game. The Angels had won it 16-6.

Jackass of the Night is Reggie Cleveland. He allowed 9 hits, 4 walks and 9 runs in just 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.

                                                                 Jackass Cleveland

The Good:

Doug Griffin was hit by a pitch in the first inning.

Carl Yastrzemski walked and was hit with a pitch before leaving.

Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with a walk, 2 rbis and a run scored.

Dick McAuliffe was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and a home run.

Mario Guerrero was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

The Bad:

Juan Beniquez was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 with the golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.

Bob Montgomery struck out in his only plate appearance.

Diego Segui allowed 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Lance Clemons allowed 5 runs in 3 innings.

The Ugly:

Rick Miller was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

John Kennedy was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error but walked and scored a run.

Cecil Cooper was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but hit a 2 run home run.

Carlton Fisk was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.

Final Thoughts:

That was bawful in more ways than one. Its bad enough to get your ass kicked, its another to lose Griffin like that Tony Conigliaro style. He's currently in ICU but it looks like he's going to pull through. The worst part was Tony C was hit by Jack Hamilton of the Angels so Yastrzemski and Petrocelli definitely had a little PTSD in this one. The Angels bats couldn't miss as they pounded out 18 hits as a unit against Sox pitching. Cleveland and Segui had pitched relatively well this year so it was just one of those days. Its bad enough Rick Wise has felt shoulder pain since that snowy game he pitched in but losing Griffin like this hurts big time the way he was hitting. The Sox have been banged up this month as it is with injuries to Fisk and Petrocelli but things are getting worse. The Sox end the month of April with a 10-12 record, 2.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to rebound tomorrow afternoon against the Angels when Bill Lee (2-2) takes on Bill Stoneman of California. The game begins at 3:30 PM at Fenway Park.

Jenkins Outduels Cleveland, Sox (4/24/74)

The good news was the Boston Celtics eliminated the New York Knicks in Game 5 of their NBA East Finals series but the bad news was the Boston Red Sox lost to the Texas Rangers. Rangers ace Fergie Jenkins was almost unhittable for Texas, tossing a complete game 6 hitter against the hapless bats. Reggie Cleveland (1-2, 2.39 ERA) was the hard luck loser in this one, pitching his own complete game. Alex Johnson drove in Texas' first run in the bottom of the first but Rico Petrocelli tied it in the top of the seventh. Cleveland then got tagged by a two run Lenny Randle double in the bottom of the seventh to put the Rangers up for good. The Sox got the tying run on in the eighth but couldn't knock it in as the Rangers had won the game 3-1 at Arlington Stadium.

                                                      "THEY COULDN'T HIT JENKINS!"

Jenkins got the ball in the top of the first as Tommy Harper flied out to left to start. Cecil Cooper took strike three and Bernie Carbo grounded back to the mound to end the inning. The Rangers struck first against Cleveland in the bottom of the first as Dave Nelson singled in the hole at short to start. Toby Harrah grounded out to first to move Nelson to second then Dave took third on a passed ball. Alex Johnson beat out a roller to third to score Nelson to put Texas on top. Johnson was thrown out at second trying to steal and Jeff Burroughs grounded out to third to end the inning with Texas up 1-0.

                                                                 Rangers strike first

Carl Yastrzemski doubled to left to open the top of the second but Rico Petrocelli struck out swinging. Juan Beniquez flied out to left and Bob Montgomery grounded out to third to end the inning. Tom Grieve struck out swinging to start the bottom of the second and Jim Spencer flied out to center. Joe Lovitto grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Doug Griffin got a base hit to left to start the top of the third but was thrown out at second trying to steal. Mario Guerrero flied out to left and Harper popped up to first to end the inning. Lenny Randle grounded out to second to start the bottom of the third before Jim Sundberg also grounded out to second. Nelson caught the Sox asleep with a bunt down the third base line and moved to second when Cooper botched the pickoff throw for an error. Harrah grounded out to second to end the inning.

Cooper flied out to center to begin the top of the fourth before Carbo grounded back to the mound and Yaz struck out swinging to end the inning. Johnson flied out to center to open the bottom of the fourth before Burroughs grounded out to second. Grieve walked but Spencer grounded out to second to end the inning.

Petrocelli flied out to left to begin the top of the fifth before Beniquez popped up to center. Montgomery lined out to center to end the inning. The Rangers beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fifth as Lovitto grounded back to the mound to start. Randle and Sundberg both grounded out to short to end the inning.

Griffin popped up to third to begin the top of the sixth and Guerrero popped up to second. Harper struck out swinging to end the inning. Nelson popped up to second to begin the bottom of the sixth and Harrah lined out to short. Johnson grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

The Sox struck back in the top of the seventh as Cooper doubled to left to begin. Cooper moved to third on the Carbo grounder to second and Yaz was intentionally walked. Petrocelli got a base hit to left to score Cooper but Yaz was thrown out at third to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                                RBI for Rico

The Rangers iced the game in the bottom of the seventh as Burroughs lined out to left to start. Grieve grounded out to short and Spencer doubled to center. Lovitto was intentionally walked but Randle hit a pop up to center. Harper and Yaz failed to call each other off and the ball dropped between them for a double to score both runners. Sundberg grounded out to short to end the inning with the Rangers up 3-1

                                                             "Dammit Yaz, I had it" - Harper

  

Larry Brown took over at third to start the top of the eighth but Montgomery got a base hit to center to start. Griffin popped up to center but Danny Cater pinch hit for Guerrero. Cater got a base hit to left and Dick McAuliffe pinch ran for him. Harper popped up to short and Cooper grounded out to second to end the inning. Cleveland returned for one final inning in the bottom of the eighth as Nelson caught the Sox asleep again with a bunt single to third then moved to second on the bunt by Harrah. Johnson walked but Burroughs beat out a double play ball. Grieve flied out to right to end the inning. Cleveland was game as he went 8 innings, allowing 3 runs of 6 hits and 3 walks.

                                                                Cleveland did well

Jenkins returned to close out the top of the ninth and Carbo grounded out to first to start. Yaz grounded out to second and Petrocelli struck out swinging to end the game. The Rangers had won it 3-1.

                                                                Rangers win

Jackass of The Night is Tommy Harper. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout including popping up with the tying runs on.

                                                               Jackass Harper

The Good:

Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Doug Griffin was 1 for 3.

Danny Cater singled as a pinch hitter.

One of the rare times the winning pitcher ends up on the Good list but Reggie Cleveland allowed 2 earned runs (3 total) in 8 strong innings. He gave up 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out a batter.

The Bad:

Bernie Carbo was 0 for 4.

Juan Beniquez was 0 for 3.

Mario Guerrero was 0 for 2.

The Ugly:

Cecil Cooper was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Rico Petrocelli was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run.

Bob Montgomery was 1 for 3 but allowed a crucial passed ball.

Honorable Mention:

Dick McAuliffe ran for Cater in the eighth inning.

Final Thoughts:

Fergie is one of the best pitchers in the game and the Sox are missing Carlton Fisk but at some point the Sox are going to have to beat great pitchers. Cleveland pitched great but took the loss because the offense totally evaporated. As mentioned before, the bottom of the order is becoming a black hole. Beniquez is hitting .229, Montgomery at .195 and Guerrero at .224. The biggest surprise is Harper at .189. He may turn it around but when you have four out of nine hitters as automatic outs, that's not good. Getting Fisk back would be nice but the others have to step it up. Physical mistakes like the passed ball and Cooper's error didn't help either. The Sox did get men on base but just couldn't drive them in. Hopefully the Sox can turn it around moving forward. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow tonight against the Rangers when Luis Tiant (2-1) goes one on one with Jim Bibby. The game begins at 10:00 PM Eastern time at Arlington Stadium.