It was a great night for Boston sports. The Boston Bruins defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of their NHL Semifinal series, the Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals and the Boston Red Sox knocked off the Kansas City Royals in 13 innings. For eight innings it looked like the Sox were cruising toward a win against the Royals as they led 4-2. The Sox got 4 runs off old pal Marty Pattin while Roger Moret held the Royals to two runs in 7 1/3 innings. Then in the bottom of the ninth Hal McRae hit a two run home run off Dick Drago to send the game to extras. In the top of the 13th, Cecil Cooper hit a home run off Doug Bird to put the Sox ahead. Drago was still in the game and he finished off the Royals for some redemption in the bottom of the frame. The Sox had beaten the Royals 5-4 in 13 innings at Royals Stadium.
Pattin got the ball in the top of the first inning as Rick Miller flied out to center to start. Doug Griffin also flied out to center and Cecil Cooper struck out swinging to end the inning. Moret got the start in the bottom of the first and Freddie Patek flied out to left to start. Cookie Rojas got a base hit to center and Amos Otis grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Carl Yastrzemski got a base hit to center to begin the top of the second inning but Bernie Carbo popped up to short. Dwight Evans flied out to left but Carlton Fisk forced Yaz at second to end the inning. The Royals struck first in the bottom of the second as John Mayberry singled to right and Fran Healy hit a home run all the way to Quebec to put the Royals on top. Jim Wohlford popped up to third but Hal McRae singled to center. McRae stole second but Paul Schaal walked. Al Cowens struck out swinging and Patek popped up to first to end the inning with the Royals up 2-0.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third as Dick McAuliffe flied out to center to start. Guerrero struck out swinging but Miller launched his first home run of the year to cut the lead. Griffin popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.
Rojas got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the third but Otis hit into another double play. Mayberry lined out to right to end the inning.
Cooper lined out to right to begin the top of the fourth and Yaz flied out to center. Carbo grounded out to second to end the inning. Healy grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth and Wohlford got a base hit to center. Moret threw the pickoff throw away and Wohlford moved all the way to third on the error, but McRae struck out swinging. Schaal grounded out to second to end the inning.
Evans lined out to left to begin the top of the fifth and Fisk grounded out to third. McAuliffe took strike three to end the inning. Cowens popped up to third to open the bottom of the fifth but Patek singled in the hole at second. Rojas grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the sixth as Guerrero got a base hit to left to begin. Guerrero swiped second but Miller struck out swinging. Griffin got a base hit to center to score Guerrero with the tying run but Cooper flied out to left. Yaz drew a walk but Carbo grounded out to first to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Otis flied out to right to start the bottom of the sixth before Mayberry flied out to left. Healy popped up to first to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the seventh as Evans smashed his second home run of the year to put the Sox on top. Fisk walked and McAuliffe dropped down a bunt, only for Fisk to slide in safe at second anyway. Guerrero grounded into a double play but Miller walked to put runners at the corners. Griffin forced Miller at second to end the inning with the Sox up 3-2.
Wohlford grounded out to third to start the bottom of the seventh but McRae walked. McRae stole second but Schaal popped up to second. Cowens grounded out to short to end the inning.
Cooper flied out to left to begin the top of the eighth and Yaz did the same. Carbo doubled to center and moved to third on the infield single to short by Evans to chase Pattin. Doug Bird came in and Evans took off for second. Healy threw to second and Carbo made a mad dash home. Evans was safe at second and Carbo was safe at home for a double steal. Evans tried to be greedy and steal third but was thrown out to end the inning with the Sox up 4-2.
Patek flied out to right to start the bottom of the eighth but Rojas singled to left. Otis singled to left and Sox manager Darrell Johnson had seen enough of Moret. Roger allowed 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings, putting the Sox in line for the win. Bill Lee came in just to face one batter, getting Mayberry to ground out to first. The runners moved over but Dick Drago got Healy to ground out to first to end the inning.
Good work Moret
Fisk struck out swinging to start the top of the ninth but McAuliffe got a base hit to center. Guerrero flied into a double play to end the inning. Drago came back to close out the bottom of the ninth and failed miserably. Wohlford singled to center and McRae hit a home run all the way to Russia to tie the game. Schaal grounded back to the mound and Vada Pinson pinch hit for Cowens. Pinson struck out swinging and Patek flied out to right to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.
Miller took strike three to start the top of the tenth before Griffin flied out to left. Cooper popped up to third to end the inning. Rojas grounded out to short to start the bottom of the tenth and Otis grounded out to third. Mayberry walked but Healy grounded out to third to end the inning.
Yaz grounded out to second to open the top of the eleventh and Carbo did the same. Evans doubled to center but Fisk grounded out to third to end the inning. Wohlford grounded out to second to begin the bottom of the eleventh and McRae grounded back to the mound. Schaal lined out to right to end the inning.
McAuliffe got a base hit in the hole at second to start the top of the 12th but Guerrero grounded into a double play. Miller got a base hit to center but Griffin flied out to right to end the inning. Things looked bleak in the bottom of the 12th when Pinson doubled to left to start. Patek dropped down a bunt to move Pinson to third but Rojas grounded out to second with the infield in. Amos and Mayberry were intentionally walked to load the bases and Healy struck out swinging to end the inning.
Gave up the lead but held the fort after
The Sox finally broke the tie in the top of the 13th as Cooper belted a solo home run to put the Sox up instantly. Yaz grounded back to the mound, Carbo struck out swinging and Evans struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 5-4.
Cooper gets it done
Drago returned to close out the bottom of the 13th and Wohlford grounded out to short to start. McRae grounded out to third and Tony Solaita pinch hit for Schaal. Solaita doubled to left and Frank White pinch ran for him. Pinson struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-4 in 13 innings.
Hero of The Night is Cecil Cooper. His home run in the 13th inning was the decisive blow in the game.
The Good:
Rick Miller was 2 for 5 with a walk and a home run.
Dwight Evans was 3 for 6 with a home run and a stolen base.
Dick McAuliffe was 2 for 4.
Roger Moret allowed 2 runs in 7 1/3 innings giving up 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out two.
Bill Lee retired the only man he faced.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Doug Griffin was just 1 for 6 but drove in a run.
Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 5 with a walk.
Bernie Carbo was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout but scored a run and a stolen base.
Carlton Fisk was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and a walk.
Mario Guerrero was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but stole a base and scored a run.
Dick Drago blew the save in the ninth but earned the win with 5 1/3 innings pitched.
Final Thoughts:
That was a marathon and one of the most frustrating games of the season. The Sox had the game won going into the ninth but Drago blew it....then proceeded to be lights out almost the rest of the game. The Sox bats were timely until the ninth inning then went asleep the rest of the game except for one swing by Cooper. Cecil really saved the Sox bacon in this one, otherwise who knows how long the game would have went. Its good to see Fisk back so the Sox bats are starting to return back to normal. Let's hope the pitching holds up as the season progresses. The Sox now return home for a series against the California Angels beginning tomorrow night. Luis Tiant (1-3) takes on Bill Singer of the Angels and the game begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment