Milwaukee starter Jim Colborn got the ball in the top of the first inning and Rick Burleson singled to right....only to get thrown out trying to steal. Steve Dillard took strike three before Rick Miller went down swinging to end the inning. Krueger got the ball in the bottom of the first and Robin Yount grounded out to third to start. Charlie Moore popped up to short but George Scott singled. Hank Aaron walked but Sixto Lezcano took strike three to end the inning.
Carl Yastrzemski flied out to left to start the top of the second before Carlton Fisk struck out swinging. Cecil Cooper grounded out to first to end the inning. Dan Thomas grounded out to short to open the bottom of the second before Steve Bowling flied out to right. Gary Sutherland singled but Jack Heidemann struck out to end the inning.
Jim Rice singled to third to start the top of the third but Dwight Evans flied out to right. Butch Hobson flied out to left before Burleson grounded into a force to end the inning. Yount flied out to right to start the bottom of the third before Moore grounded out to third. Scott singled to left but was erased on the Aaron force to end the inning.
Dillard's bunt attempt was snuffed out to begin the top of the fourth but Miller singled and stole second. Yaz struck out and Fisk lined out to center to end the inning. The Brewers struck first in the bottom of the fourth although Lezcano whiffed. Thomas then hit a 90,000 foot home run to give the Brewers the lead. Bowling popped up to right before Sutherland struck out to end the inning with the Brewers up 1-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fifth as Cooper flied out to left to start. Rice whiffed and Evans grounded out to short to end the inning. The Brewers threatened in the bottom of the fifth although Heidemann flied out to center to start. Yount caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single and Moore singled him to third. Scott struck out and Aaron flied out to left to end the inning. Good work by Krueger to keep the Brewers off the board.
Hobson flied out to right to begin the top of the sixth before Burleson popped up to second. Dillard flied out to left to end the inning. Lezcano grounded out to short to start the bottom of the sixth before Thomas singled. Thomas moved to second on the Bowling grounder before Sutherland lined out to third to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the seventh when Miller and Yaz drew back to back walks to begin, but Fisk damn near hit into a triple play, barely beating out the throw to first. Cooper singled Fisk to third but Rice flied out to left to end the inning. The Brewers looked to have iced the game in the bottom of the seventh although Heidemann flied out to center to begin. Yount flied out to right but Moore doubled over the head of Evans. Old pal Scott blasted a 200,000 foot home run to increase their lead. Aaron grounded out to short to end the inning but the Brewers were up 3-0.
The Sox mounted their comeback beginning in the top of the eighth as Evans walked to chase Colborn. Danny Frisella came in and Hobson singled. Burleson singled to load the bases with nobody out but Dillard popped up to second. Miller managed to hit a sac fly to center to score Evans and Yaz singled home Hobson. Fisk popped up to short to end the inning but the Sox were back in it down 3-2.
Krueger returned for the bottom of the eighth and Lezcano singled to start. Thomas whiffed before Lezcano was thrown out by Fisk trying to steal. Bowling popped up to first to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the ninth as Cooper and Rice stroked back to back singles to start. Bill Castro came in to face Evans and things looked bleak when Dwight grounded into a double play. All of a sudden Hobson smashed his 6th home run of the season to put the Sox in front. Burleson grounded out to short to end the inning with Boston ahead 4-3.
Tom Murphy came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth with Mike Hegan pinch hitting for Sutherland. Hegan grounded out to second and old pal Bernie Carbo pinch hit for Heidemann just to strike out. Yount flied out to right to end the game. The Sox had somehow won it 4-3.
Hero of the Night is Butch Hobson. His home run won the game for the Sox.
The Good:
Rick Miller was 1 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
Carl Yastrzemski was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Cecil Cooper was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Jim Rice was 2 for 4.
Rick Krueger earned the win by allowing 3 runs in 8 innings of work while striking out 6.
Tom Murphy earned his 7th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Steve Dillard was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Carlton Fisk was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Rick Burleson was just 1 for 4 but walked.
Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Final Thoughts:
Good win but nobody cares at this point. Its too bad the Sox had a massive World Series hangover and the year turned out the way it did. Still, prospects look bright as Butch Hobson looks like he can replace Rico Petrocelli at third base. Ferguson Jenkins should have a better year next year and the Sox should be back in contention. Its too bad the Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi trade didn't go through because this team would have been MUCH different. As for this game, kudos to Krueger and Hobson to win this one. The win improved the Sox to 70-76, nowhere near first place. The Sox now travel to Detroit for a set with the Tigers. Luis Tiant (18-11) goes one on one with the eccentric rookie Mark Fidrych at 7:05 PM at Tiger Stadium.
