The good news was the Boston Bruins eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks in with a Game 4 win in their NHL Semi-Final playoff series, the bad news was the Boston Red Sox dropped another game to the lowly Milwaukee Brewers. Gene Brabender almost went the distance for Milwaukee, allowing 3 runs in 8 2/3 innings. Sox starter Ray Culp (1-3, 3.86 ERA) matched Brabender as best as he could but left the game trailing 2-1 after 7 innings. Ken Brett threw up on himself in the top of the eighth, allowing 3 runs to put the game out of reach. The Sox did rally in the bottom of the ninth with a Gerry Moses home run and had the tying run at the plate, but Bob Locker got the final out to end the game and save it for Milwaukee 5-3 at Fenway Park.
Culp cruised in the top of the first inning as Tommy Harper flied out to left to start. Russ Snyder and Steve Hovley both popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally right out of the gate in the bottom of the first as Mike Andrews walked. Reggie Smith walked but Carl Yastrzemski grounded into a double play and George Scott grounded out to second to end the inning.
Danny Walton lined out to center to start the top of the second and Mike Hegan grounded out to second. Jerry McNertney singled to left but Max Alvis hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second as Rico Petrocelli grounded out to third to start. Tony Conigliaro grounded back to the mound and Luis Alvarado was retired on a nubber in front of the plate to end the inning.
Kubiak walked to start the top of the third and Brabender sacrificed him to second. Harper popped up to short and Snyder took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the third as Gerry Moses flied out to left to start. Culp grounded out to second but Andrews and Smith both walked. Yaz walked to load the bases and Scott hit a grounder to third to score Andrews when Smith beat the force to re-load the bases. With a chance to do damage, Petrocelli struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Brewers answered in the top of the fourth as Hovley singled to center to begin. Walton walked and Hegan singled in the hole at second to load the bases. McNertney scored Hovley to tie the game but Walton was thrown out at third on the strikeout by Alvis to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
McNertney drives in a run and apparently Topps didn't get the memo the Pilots moved
Tony C singled to left to start the bottom of the fourth but Alvarado struck out swinging. Moses forced Conigliaro at second and Culp took strike three to end the inning.
Kubiak singled to center to start the top of the fifth but Brabender struck out swinging. Harper flied out to left and Snyder lined out to short to end the inning. Andrews struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth and Smith grounded out to second. Yaz also grounded out to second to end the inning.
Hovley grounded out to first to start the top of the sixth but Walton struck out swinging. Hegan flied out to center to end the inning. Scott struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth and Petrocelli grounded back to the mound. Tony C lined out to center to end the inning.
The Brewers struck in the top of the seventh as McNertney walked to start. Alvis forced him at second and moved to third when Kubiak singled in the hole at short. Somehow Culp uncorked a wild pitch to score Alvis to give the Brewers the lead. Brabender struck out swinging but Harper walked. Snyder grounded out to second to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 2-1. Culp was undone by a wild pitch and lack of run support as he allowed just 2 runs in 7 innings.
The Sox tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Alvarado grounded out to third to start. Moses singled to left and Dick Schofield pinch hit for Culp. Schofield struck out swinging and Andrews popped up to first to end the inning.
The Brewers iced the game when Ken Brett came in to pitch the top of the eighth. Mike Hershberger pinch hit for Hovley and doubled to left to start. Walton and Hegan both walked to load the bases and chase Brett. Ed Phillips came in and walked McNertney to score Hershberger. Alvis then singled home Walton and Hegan to ice the game. Kubiak popped up to short, Brabender struck out swinging and Harper whiffed to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 5-1.
Smith popped up to first to start the bottom of the eighth and Yaz grounded back to the mound. Scott grounded out to short to end the inning.
Phillips returned for the top of the ninth and Snyder got a base hit to center but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double by Smith. Hershberger flied out to center and Walton hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Wayne Comer took over in left to start the bottom of the ninth and Petrocelli grounded back to the mound to start. Tony C grounded out to third and Sox manager Eddie Kasko sent in Tommy Matchick to pinch hit for Alvarado. Matchick walked and Moses struck his second home run of the year to cut the lead. How big was the 2 run single by Alvis now? That was it for Brabender as Bob Locker came in to get the final out. Mike Derrick pinch hit for Phillips and got a base hit to left. Representing the tying run, Andrews forced Derrick at second to end the game. The Sox rally fell short and they lost 5-3.
Jackass of the Night is Ken Brett. He put all 3 runners on that came around to score without recording an out.
The Good:
Reggie Smith walked twice in four plate appearances and had an outfield assist.
Tommy Matchick walked and scored a run.
Gerry Moses was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run.
Mike Derrick singled as a pinch hitter.
One of the rare times the losing pitcher ends up on the Good list but Ray Culp tossed 7 strong innings and allowed just 2 runs.
The Bad:
Rico Petrocelli was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Luis Alvarado was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Dick Schofield struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice and scored a run.
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 3 but walked.
George Scott was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Tony Conigliaro was just 1 for 4.
Ed Phillips allowed 3 inherited runners to score but none of his own in 2 innings.
Final Thoughts:
If its not one thing, its another for the Red Sox this season. Some days the starting pitching sucks, some days they can't hit, some days the bullpen blows it. Today it was the bullpen with Ken Brett putting 3 guys on and Phillips allowing them all to score. That last hit by Alvis was the difference in the game and its a shame because of hell well Brett pitched in Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader. The offense did almost nothing until the ninth inning as well and the Sox are falling too far behind in the AL East race early. The Sox needed to have a good April for when they make their move but they failed miserably. The Sox would have to win 3 out of their last 4 games to even be looked at as mediocre. How's a team like this supposed to go on a winning streak if they can't play consistently? Culp took the loss but didn't deserve it if the bullpen had done their job. The Sox now welcome the Oakland A's for a four game set to end the month of April. Vicente Romo (1-0) gets the start for the Red Sox against Catfish Hunter of the Athletics tomorrow afternoon. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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