Oh sure, NOW the Boston Red Sox get hot? With the Baltimore Orioles already clinching the division, the Red Sox have ripped off six consecutive wins. Tonight the Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians on the back of Sonny Siebert (14-8, 3.44 ERA). Siebert dazzled the Indians for 7 1/3 innings while allowing just 1 run. The Sox offense got just two runs off home runs by Carl Yastrzemski and Rico Petrocelli against Indians starter Rich Hand but that happened to be enough to win. It was a good pitcher's duel and the Sox came out on the right end of it by taking the game 2-1 at Fenway Park.
Siebert got the ball in the top of the first inning and Ted Uhlaender struck out to start. Graig Nettles grounded out to second but Vada Pinson singled to center. Roy Foster flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Hand in the bottom of the first inning although Mike Andrews hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Reggie Smith popped up to third in foul territory but Carl Yastrzemski crushed his 40th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Tony Conigliaro struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Indians fought back in the top of the second as Duke Sims grounded out to second to start. Chuck Hinton walked but was forced at second by John Lowenstein. Lowenstein took off for second and Sox catcher Bob Montgomery threw the ball to the first base umpire for some inane reason, which allowed John to take third on the error. Eddie Leon singled home Lowenstein to tie the game and Hand hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Sox jumped back in the lead in the bottom of the second when Petrocelli cracked his 28th home run of the season to start. George Scott lined out to center, Billy Conigliaro also lined out to center and Montgomery struck out to end the inning with Boston ahead 2-1.
Siebert settled down in the top of the third as Uhlaender popped up to short to start. Nettles grounded out to second and Pinson lined back to Siebert to end the inning. Boston failed to rally in the bottom of the third as Siebert singled to left to start. Sonny moved to second on the Andrews grounder and Smith flied out to center. Yaz was intentionally walked but Tony C grounded into a force to end the inning.
Foster flied out to left to start the top of the fourth before Sims grounded out to first. Hinton walked but was thrown out at second trying to steal by Montgomery to end the inning. The Sox blew another rally in the bottom of the fourth as Petrocelli singled to third to start. Scott walked but Billy C struck out and Montgomery banged into a double play to end the inning.
Lowenstein doubled to center to start the top of the fifth before moving to third on the liner to right by Leon. Hand struck out and Uhlaender flied out to right to end the inning. Hand cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Siebert grounded out to second to start. Andrews grounded out to short and Smith popped up to second to end the inning.
Things got hairy in the top of the sixth although Nettles flied out to right to start. Pinson singled to third but Foster flied out to center. Pinson swiped second and Sims walked, but Hinton grounded into a force to end the inning. Yaz flied out to left to begin the bottom of the sixth before Tony C popped up to second. Petrocelli grounded out to short to end the inning.
Lowenstein flied out to left to begin the top of the seventh but Leon singled to left. Ted Ford pinch hit for Hand and struck out but Uhlaender singled Leon to third. Nettles grounded out to second to end the inning. Vince Colbert came on for the bottom of the seventh and Scott got a base hit to left to start. Billy C banged into a double play and Montgomery grounded out to third to end the inning.
Siebert returned briefly for the top of the eighth to get Pinson to fly out to center. Foster and Sims struck back to back base hits to chase Siebert. Sonny was game for 7 1/3 innings and allowing just 1 run. Bobby Bolin came in and got Hinton to hit one up the elevator shaft. Lowenstein popped up to short to end the inning.
Bolin stepped to the plate to start the bottom of the eighth and grounded out to short to start. Andrews walked but Smith flied out to center. Yaz grounded out to first to end the inning.
Bolin came back to close out the top of the ninth and Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson pinch hit for Leon to draw a walk. Steve Hargen pinch ran for Ken and Buddy Bradford pinch hit for Colbert. Bradford popped up to short but Hargan moved to second on the grounder by Uhlaender. Nettles struck out to end the game. The Sox had won their 6th straight game with a 2-1 victory.
Hero of the Night is Sonny Siebert. He dazzled the Indians by allowing just 1 run in 7 2/3 innings. He won his 14th game of the season. He was also 1 for 2 at the plate.
The Good:
Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 3 with a walk including his 40th home run of the season.
Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 3 with a home run.
George Scott was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Bobby Bolin earned his second save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Reggie Smith was 0 for 4.
Tony Conigliaro was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Billy Conigliaro was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Bob Montgomery was 0 for 3 with a strikeout and an error.
The Ugly:
Mike Andrews was 0 for 3 with a walk.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox may be out of it but finishing strong in September gives hope for the future. Sonny Siebert had the season the Sox hoped Jim Lonborg could have given them. If Lonborg had stayed healthy and had 10 more wins at this point, the Sox would at least be in contention with Baltimore. Still, Siebert had a heck of a season and he pitched a great game. The offense didn't do much against Hand but home runs by Yaz and Petrocelli are always exciting. Its a shame so many things went wrong this season because the offense was so much fun to watch. Hopefully the Sox can make a few moves to shore up the pitching next season to complete with the Orioles. The win improved the Sox to 81-73, 18.5 games behind the Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox to make it 7 in a row when they send Gary Peters (14-11) to the mound up against 20 game winner Sam McDowell of the Indians. The showdown begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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