Lee took the mound in the top of the first and Pete Rose led off by striking out swinging on a screwball in the dirt to begin. Joe Morgan grounded out to second before Johnny Bench popped up to center to end the inning. Jack Billingham got the start for the Reds and the Sox tagged him for an early lead. Cecil Cooper took advantage of George Foster slipping in left for a double. Denny Doyle beat out an infield single to advance Cooper to third before Carl Yastrzemski hit a ground ball back to the mound. Billingham threw to second to force Doyle but Cooper foolishly stopped halfway home and was thrown out in a rundown. Yaz made it to second and Carlton Fisk scored him with a base hit to right to give the Sox the lead. Fred Lynn grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox led 1-0.
Lee cruised in the top of the second as Tony Perez whiffed to start. Foster struck out swinging and Dave Concepcion grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Rico Petrocelli whiffed on a curveball to begin. Dwight Evans got plunked and Rick Burleson singled up the middle, but Evans was thrown out at third on a double steal even though Rick made it to second. Lee himself whiffed to end the inning.
Ken Griffey led off the top of the third by grounding out to first to begin. Cesar Geronimo whiffed and Billingham grounded out to short to end the inning. Cooper led off the bottom of the third by grounding out to second to start before Doyle also grounded out to second. Yaz walked but Fisk foul tipped into Bench's mitt for strike three to end the inning.
The Reds struck back in the top of the fourth although Rose grounded out to second to begin. Morgan drew a walk and Bench singled him to third. Perez beat out a double play ball and Morgan scored to tie the game. Foster poked a single to left but Concepcion popped up to a running Lynn to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Lynn flied out to left to begin. Petrocelli grounded out to short and Evans whiffed to end the inning.
Lee took no prisoners in the top of the fifth as Griffey grounded out to first to start. Geronimo flied out to right and Billingham grounded out to second to end the inning. Billingham matched Lee in the bottom of the fifth as Burleson whiffed to start. Lee almost beat out a bunt single but Bench gunned him down at first. Cooper grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Lee came back for the top of the sixth and Rose led off with a single to left. Rose was erased on a force by Morgan before Joe was thrown out at second trying to steal. Lynn made a great diving catch to rob Bench of a bloop single to end the inning. The Sox took the lead in the bottom of the sixth although Doyle grounded out to second to start. Yaz singled to right and Concepcion bobbled a Fisk grounder for an error. Lynn popped up to right but Fisk singled up to middle to score Yaz to give Boston the lead. Evans drew a walk and that was it for Billingham. Pedro Borbon came in and Burleson flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Lee returned for the top of the seventh and Perez walked to start. Foster flied out to center and Concepcion popped up to right before Griffey was rung up on a check swing strike three to end the inning. Will McEnaney came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Lee whiffed to start. Cooper grounded out to short before Doyle watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Lee came out for the top of the eighth and Geronimo lined out to center to start. Merv Rettenmund pinch hit for McEnaney and popped up to first in foul territory. Rose singled over the head of Doyle into right but Morgan grounded out to second to end the inning. Rawly Eastwick came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Yaz flied out to the centerfield wall to start. Fisk walked but Lynn popped up to center. Petrocelli poked a single to right but Evans looked at strike three on the inside corner to end the inning.
Lee had just 3 outs to go for a complete game victory but Bench doubled into the right field corner to start. Sox manager Darrell Johnson wanted Dick Drago to pitch to Perez and that was it for Lee. He went 8 plus innings allowing just 5 hits.
Drago got Perez to ground out to short but Bench moved to third. Foster popped up to shallow left for the second out but Concepcion hit a roller up the middle that Doyle couldn't make a play on, scoring Bench with the tying run. Concepcion swiped second and Griffey scored him with a double to the left field wall to give the Reds the lead. Geronimo was intentionally walked but Eastwick grounded into a force to end the inning with the Reds ahead 3-2.
Eastwick came back to close out the bottom of the ninth and Burleson popped up to Griffey in foul territory to start. Bernie Carbo pinch hit for Drago but lined out to left. Cooper popped up to short to end the game. The Reds had stunned the Sox to tie up the series with a 3-2 win, sending the series back to Cincinnati.
Jackass of the Night is Dick Drago. He was trusted to protect the one run lead and he not only gave up the tying run but the go-ahead run as well.
The Good:
Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Carlton Fisk was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Rico Petrocelli was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Bill Lee pitched great, allowing 2 runs in 8 plus innings of work scattering 5 hits and 2 walks.
The Bad:
Fred Lynn was 0 for 4.
Bernie Carbo was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Cecil Cooper was just 1 for 5.
Denny Doyle was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Dwight Evans was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch and walked.
Rick Burleson was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
Well that was a big kick in the ass. The Reds were down to their last out and still came back to win. Give credit for them for not giving up in the ninth. Its too bad the Sox couldn't get it done in the ninth but it shouldn't have come to that. They ran themselves into outs again that could have turned into runs if they stayed patient. Still, Drago should have got it done in the ninth but he didn't. Its a shame because Lee and Luis Tiant have now allowed a combined 2 runs in 17 innings but only one win to show for it. The Big Red Machine have yet to erupt yet but that could happen in Game 3 as the series shifts back to Cincinnati. Rick Wise goes for the Sox up against Gary Nolan of the Reds. The game begins at 8:00 PM at Riverfront Stadium.
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