Sox Hold Off Indians (4/20/74)

That was too close for comfort but the Boston Red Sox made it two in a row over the Cleveland Indians in tonight's game. Luis Tiant (1-1, 5.28 ERA) went the distance allowing 9 hits, a walk and four runs through the course of the game. The Sox rallied for 3 runs in the bottom of the first off Bob Johnson of Cleveland and increasing the lead to 4-0 until Buddy Bell hit a three run home run in the seventh. Rico Petrocelli drove in Juan Beniquez in the bottom of the seventh for a big insurance run and the Sox would need it. Charlie Spikes hit a home run in the top of the ninth but Tiant held on and the Sox had beaten the Indians 5-4 at Fenway Park.

                                                       Lynda Carter approves of the win

Tiant got the ball in the top of the first inning and John Lowenstein singled to right to start. Lowenstein was immediately picked off and Remy Hermoso grounded out to short. George Hendrick took strike three to end the inning. The Sox jumped on Johnson immediately in the bottom of the first as Tommy Harper beat out a roller to third. Harper swiped second but Juan Beniquez grounded out to third. Bernie Carbo doubled to right to score Harper and Carl Yastrzemski was intentionally walked in the first inning. Rico Petrocelli made the Indians pay with a base hit to center to score Carbo. Dwight Evans flied out to left but Doug Griffin doubled to left to score Yaz. Bob Didier of all people was intentionally walked and Mario Guerrero forced Griffin at third to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                     Has Ken Aspromonte been drinking?

John Ellis hit one up the elevator shaft to start the top of the second but Chris Chambliss singled to right. Charles Spikes struck out swinging and Dave Duncan hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Harper grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second and Beniquez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate. Carbo got a base hit to right but Yaz lined out to right to end the inning.

Buddy Bell grounded out to third to start the top of the third and Frank Duffy struck out swinging. Lowenstein popped up to first to end the inning. Petrocelli popped up to right to start the bottom of the third but Evans managed to triple into the centerfield triangle. Griffin got a base hit to right to score Evans but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Didier grounded out to second to end the inning with Boston ahead 4-0.

                                                       You're out, you dummy!

Hermoso's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Petrocelli to start the top of the fourth and Hendrick grounded out to first. Ellis popped up to short to end the inning. Guerrero doubled off the Monster to start the bottom of the fourth and Harper popped up to right. Beniquez lined out to third and Carbo struck out swinging to end the inning.

Chambliss doubled to right to start the top of the fifth but Spikes struck out swinging. Duncan walked but Bell struck out swinging. Duffy popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning. Yaz grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth but Petrocelli popped up to short. Evans grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Lowenstein singled to center to open the top of the sixth but Jack Brohamer pinch hit for Hermoso. Brohamer singled to right but Hendrick struck out swinging. Ellis grounded into a double play to end the inning. Griffin singled to right to begin the bottom of the sixth but Didier popped up to center. Griffin was thrown out trying to steal second and Guerrero grounded out to third to end the inning.

All of a sudden the Indians rallied in the top of the seventh as Chambliss singled to right to start. Spikes beat out a roller to short but Duncan struck out swinging. Bell then hit a three run home run all the way to the Soviet Union to cut the lead. Leron Lee pinch hit for Duffy and struck out swinging before Lowenstein flied out to right to end the inning with the Indians down 4-3.

                                                           Bell brings the Indians closer

Jack Heidemann took over for Lee to start the bottom of the seventh and Harper grounded out to third to start. Beniquez walked but Carbo struck out swinging again. Yaz walked and Petrocelli dumped a base hit to center to score Beniquez. Cecil Upshaw came in to pitch and Dick McAuliffe ran for Rico. Evans grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox up 5-3.

                                                       Petrocelli drives in a run

Brohamer grounded out to second to start the top of the eighth and Hendrick struck out swinging. Ellis flied out to left to end the inning. Griffin grounded out to third to begin the bottom of the eighth and Didier popped up to first in foul territory. Guerrero singled to left but Harper forced him at second to end the inning.

Tiant came back to finish the job in the top of the ninth and Chambliss grounded out to center. Spikes hit a home run all the way to San Jose to cut the lead but Duncan grounded out to short. Bell flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had won it 5-4.

                                                         "Had them all the way" - Tiant

Hero of The Night is Rico Petrocelli. He drove in two big runs including the decisive run in the seventh.

                                                             Hero Petrocelli

The Good:

Bernie Carbo was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

Carl Yastrzemski walked twice and scored a run in four plate appearances.

Doug Griffin was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis.

Mario Guerrero was 2 for 4.

Luis Tiant went the distance to earn the win, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits and a walk while striking out 9.

The Bad:

None

The Ugly:

Tommy Harper was just 1 for 5 but stole a base and scored a run.

Juan Beniquez was 0 for 3 but walked and scored a run.

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

Bob Didier was 0 for 3 but walked.

Honorable Mention:

Dick McAuliffe pinch ran for Petrocelli and played third base.

Final Thoughts:

That was a good win by the Sox and badly needed with Carlton Fisk and Bob Montgomery out. Tiant went the distance to save the bullpen and hats of to the offense who did just enough to win. Things got a little hairy at the end but the Petrocelli rbi late ended up being the difference in the game. The Indians don't appear to be headed for greatness this season so its imperative to beat them this season. Tiant did his job in this one but the Sox need to keep the momentum going, especially this early in the season. The Sox look to sweep the Indians out of Boston tomorrow afternoon when they send Bill Lee to the mound against Jim Perry of Cleveland. The game begins at 2:05 PM at Fenway Park.