The good news was the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their NBA East Finals series but the bad news was the New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox. It was a great pitcher's duel between Mel Stottlemyre of the Yankees and Luis Tiant (0-1, 5.85 ERA), its just too bad the Yankees had to win. Mike Hegan drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the second inning to put the Yankees on top but Tommy Harper tied it in the top of the fifth inning. Graig Nettles drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth and that was all the offense New York would need. The Sox would get the tying run on in the final three innings but couldn't drive it in as the Yankees took the game 2-1 at Yankee Stadium.
Stottlemyre got the ball in the top of the first inning and Tommy Harper took trike three to start. Rick Miller got a base hit to left but Bernie Carbo grounded into a double play to end the inning. Tiant got the ball in the bottom of the first as Roy White took strike three to start. Mike Hegan singled to right but Thurman Munson struck out swinging. Bobby Murcer walked and Ron Blomburg popped up to second to end the inning.
Gene Michael booted a grounder by Carl Yastrzemski to start the top of the second but Bob Montgomery flied out to right. Cecil Cooper flied out to left and Dick McAuliffe grounded out to second to end the inning. The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the second as Graig Nettles got a base hit to center to start. Lou Piniella took strike three and Michael flied out to center, but Jim Mason singled to center. White was hit with a pitch and Hegan walked to score Nettles. Munson hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with the Yankees 1-0.
Doug Griffin flied out to right to start the top of the third before Mario Guerrero grounded out to short. Harper walked but Miller grounded out to third to end the inning. Murcer singled to center to begin the bottom of the third but Blomberg took strike three. Nettles singled to center but Piniella and Michael both froze for strike three to end the inning.
Carbo flied out to left to start the top of the fourth and Yaz grounded out to first. Montgomery grounded out to short to end the inning. Mason grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fourth before White flied out to right. Hegan hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth as Cooper singled to center to start. McAuliffe flied out to left but Griffin knocked a base hit to center. Guerrero flied out to left but Harper got a base hit to right. Cooper scored easily but Griffin was thrown out at home to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Yankees responded in the bottom of the fifth as Munson grounded out to second to start. Murcer singled to center but Montgomery threw a pickoff throw away for an error to move Bobby to second. Blomberg flied out to center but Nettles singled to center to score Murcer. Piniella doubled to center but Nettles was thrown out at home to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 2-1.
Miller flied out to left to start the top of the sixth before Carbo struck out swinging. Yaz singled to right but Montgomery struck out swinging to end the inning. Michael singled to right to start the bottom of the sixth but Montgomery mishandled a bunt by Mason. White popped up to second, Hegan took strike three and Munson forced Michael at third to end the inning.
Cooper flied out to left to start the top of the seventh before McAuliffe grounded out to second. Griffin singled to left but Guerrero was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning. Murcer grounded out to second to open the bottom of the seventh and Blomberg hit one up the elevator shaft. Nettles grounded out to second to end the inning.
Harper grounded back to the mound to start the top of the eighth before Miller flied out to right. Carbo walked but Yaz forced him at second to end the inning. Tiant returned for the bottom of the eighth and Piniella flied out to right to start. Michael grounded back to the mound and Mason struck out swinging to end the inning. Tiant ended up throwing a complete game allowing 2 runs off 9 hits. He deserved better.
Elliott Maddox came in for Piniella to start the top of the ninth and Montgomery grounded out to second to begin. Cooper grounded back to the mound but McAuliffe singled to left to put the tying run on. Juan Beniquez pinch hit for Griffin and flied out to left to end the game. The Yankees had won it 2-1.
Jackass of The Night is Bob Montgomery. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and made a critical error to allow the go-ahead run to score.
The Good:
Tommy Harper was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Doug Griffin was 2 for 3.
One of the rare times the winning pitcher ended up on the good list as Luis Tiant threw a complete game 9 hitter. He allowed 2 runs and struck out 8.
The Bad:
Juan Beniquez flied out to end the game.
Mario Guerrero was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Rick Miller was just 1 for 4.
Bernie Carbo was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.
Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 4.
Cecil Cooper was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Dick McAuliffe was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
That game was a kick in the ass and could have been won. Stottlemyre was damn good but the Sox had their chances with men on base. The Sox couldn't get a clutch hit to save their lives and that error by Montgomery was a killer. Griffin getting thrown out at home didn't help either. Its a shame because Tiant pitched very well as well for the first time all season. That was essentially the only highlight, even in defeat, is Luis getting back on track. A three headed monster of Tiant, Bill Lee and Rick Wise might actually be good this season. Hopefully the bats get back on track tomorrow against the Yankees as well. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon against the Yankees when Bill Lee (1-1) takes on Pat Dobson of New York. The game begins at 2:00 PM at Shea Stadium....yes you heard that right.
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