boston red sox diary of a winner. 1975 play by play and

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Tom Yawkey with Vice-President General Manager Dick O’Connell, Mgr. Darrell Johnson

DIARY OF A WINNER A game-by-game history of the Boston

Red Sox in the regular 1975 season.

A SHAMROCK PUBLICATION

© 1975, Shamrock Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Additional copies may be obtained by sending $2.50 to cover handling and mail¬ ing costs to: Shamrock Publishing Co., Inc. P.O. Box 9100, Boston, Mass. 02114 - ’

Designed by Martin Riskin Edited by D. Leo Monahan Photography by Dick Raphael Production by Herb Ralby

Final Standings American League

East Division W L Pet. GB

BOSTON 95 65 .594 —

Baltimore 90 69 .566 4% New York 83 77 .519 12 Cleveland 79 80 .497 15% Milwaukee 68 94 .420 28 Detroit 57 102 .358 37%

West Division W L Pet. GB

Oakland 98 64 .605 —

Kansas City 91 71 .562 7 Texas 79 83 .488 19 Minnesota 76 83 .478 20% Chicago 75 86 .466 22% California 72 89 .447 25%

It was, well, unexpected is as good a word as any. Nobody expected the 75 Red Sox to be so dazzling, so exciting and, yes, so successful. At least nobody picked 'em.

Baltimore was the “iron.” The Yankees with ‘Catfish’ Hunter and Bobby Bonds were the threat. The Red Sox? Third maybe, said the ex¬ perts, except they didn’t figure on a couple of rookies named Fred Lynn and Jim Rice or the comeback of Rick Wise or another year of magic from El Tiante or still another “comeback” by star-crossed catcher Carlton ‘Pudge’ Fisk.

Owner Tom Yawkey had a pleased look as he walked around his beauty of a ballpark on Sept. 28, shrugging off congratulations and passing trib¬ utes along to his players, his Vice-President Gen¬ eral Manager Dick O’Connell, his Manager Darrell Johnson, his captain Carl Yastrzemski, well every¬ body but himself.

“I’m thrilled,” said Yawkey, “but not so much for myself as these guys in the clubhouse. They battled all the way.”

Indeed they did, in a roller-coaster ride that attracted 1,748,605 to Fenway Park, best damn ballpark in the world. The “Yawkey Yard” they call it and it’s a showplace with real honest-to- God grass and no distracting signs on the walls and, of course, the famed and ever-ominous Left Field Wall.

It was a season to remember and to savor — and what made it ever so much more pleasing was that it was unexpected. Two rookies drive in 105 (Lynn) and 102 (Rice) runs. One of ’em was destined to become the first rookie ever to win the MVP Award.

A sore-armed pitcher named Rick Wise, dis¬ counted by all save a confident front office, fin¬ ished 19-12 and missed a no-hitter. Another, Reg¬ gie Cleveland rebound with a 13-9 record, says he’s going to beat the dratted Yankees — and goes out and does just that.

And then there was herky-jerky Jim Willoughby, rescued from the minor league slag heap at Tulsa, Okla. weaving wonderful tapestries from the bullpen.

All along the way there was El Tiante, Luis Tiant, Jr., son of a famed Cuban pitcher who had an emotional reunion with his dad and was there — always there — in the big games.

Indeed, it was El Tiante and Cleveland who just about clinched the East Division champion¬ ship the Friday before season’s end with back-to- back 4-0 shutouts of the Indians. That was the double-barreled blast that shredded Earl Weaver and his defending Orioles.

They’re from Lewiston, Providence ... all over New England

It was a wild and wonderful season, filled with exciting showdowns — Tiant vs. Palmer at Fen¬ way, the sweep in Baltimore amidst cries and stories of “choke”, Lynn’s amazing catch to save Bill Lee’s shutout in the July doubleheader sweep of the Yankees in Shea Stadium, the rainouts and washouts and held-up games.

This was a team with dash and verve and, yes, pizzazz. It was bold and brash and just young enough not to be intimidated by reputations like those of Palmer and ‘Catfish’ and Vida Blue and the rest.

It stormed into Oakland for a long-remembered series. It fought umpires. It fought other teams — Bernie Carbo vs. Buddy Bell, remember? It battled with a gamecock called “Rooster” at shortstop, Rick Burleson by name.

And then there was Denny Doyle, a little lep¬ rechaun of a man with mischievous eyes and winning ways ... in more ways even than you can imagine. Doyle hit a homer in his very first appearance and he stroked a game-winning hit in Chicago to split a key doubleheader and whacked another winning bingle off the first base bag in Detroit.

2

This was a team, my friend, Boston was happy — no, jubilant — to clutch to its bosom. Every¬ body was a hero a different day — Dwight Evans clubbing key homers or throwing out runners with that howitzer of an arm; Rico PetrocelIi providing a steady hand at third base, and not appreciated until ailments took him to the sidelines.

Cecil Cooper became the most feared DH in the game once Jim Rice deserted the role. Juan Beniquez chipped in with valuable contributions. Doug Griffin went on a pinch-hitting rampage. Bob Montgomery and Tim Blackwell and Rick Millerand utility Bob Heise, well, all of ’em, made contributions.

Captain Carl was the leader, on and off the field, starting from Day One when he lectured the troops and told them what was expected. And they listened, then acted on that advice.

This was a team with a bullpen where one night it was Dick Pole coming out to throw smoke, or, in the stretch run, Dick Drago. It was reed-thin Roger Moret with his flaming fast ball or the crafty Tiant mesmerizing batters with all the moves and motions and grimaces at his com¬ mand.

It was a team that did Boston proud, a team that served the city nobly and a team, day after day, play after play, that kept New England’s baseball buffs on the edge of their seats. There were so many thrills and chills and spills. Let’s see, why don’t we start at the beginning?

A few of the 1,748,605 who saw regular-season games

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7 Boston 9 — 6 8 5 12 7 10 10 11 6 8 California 6 6 — 7 3 6 4 7 7 7 7 9 Chicago 4 4 9 — 7 5 9 8 9 6 9 5 Cleveland 8 11 9 5 — 12 6 9 3 8 2 5 Detroit 4 5 5 7 5 — 6 7 4 6 6 1 Kansas City 5 5 14 9 6 6 — 7 11 7 6 13

Milwaukee 4 8 5 4 9 10 5 — 2 9 5 6 Minnesota 6 2 10 7 6 11 7 9 — 4 6 8

New York 10 5 5 6 7 12 4 10 8 — 6 8

Oakland 8 6 10 9 10 6 10 9 12 6 — 9

Texas 5 4 9 12 7 11 4 6 10 4 5 — Read Across For Wins, Down For Losses.

3

“Pudge” Fisk is deep in thought

Sunday, Sept. 28 Owner Tom Yawkey, pleased and proud,

hosted the players at a quiet victory celebra¬ tion in the penthouse atop the grandstand. "I’m thrilled for the players," he said. "They battled all the way. They earned it and I’m happy for them. They didn't fold under pres¬ sure. A lot of people didn’t think they’d make it, but they fooled them.” They did, indeed, and they did it in a professional manner, no big speeches, no recriminations to the barbs of O's Earl Weaver. They plugged away day after day over a roller-coaster season. Perhaps Denny Doyle summed it best: "It has been like something from a storybook. The way my season started and ended has been unreal. The whole city has taken to me and the team. I hope we can return that feeling.” There was a belated show of celebration among the 25, 991 at Fenway for the season’s finale, an 11-4 loss to the Indians. The scoreboard was stripped of its signs and some of the turf around home plate was disturbed. The game? Alan Ashby hit his first major league grand slam in the six-run fifth as the shock troops wrapped it up. Indians 020 060 030-1 1-15-1 Red Sox 103 000 000- 4-10-0 Beene, Raich (3), L. Anderson (6), Strickland (7) and Cerone; Pole, Kreuger (4), Willoughby (8) and Merrhant. WP-Raich (7-8). LP-Pole (4-6). HR-Lis (2), Ashby (4).

Saturday, Sept. 27 An anticlimax after the back-to-back shut¬

outs and the Red Sox were rather blase about it all after losing 5-2 to the Indians while the Orioles took a double dip to the Yankees. The clubhouse was empty when it became official around 7:30 p.m. as the news ticker announced the clinching of the 1975 A.L. East Division championship. None of the hysteria of 1967, the huddling around radios in the clubhouse, the wild celebra¬ tions all over town, mob scenes in Kenmore Square. No, everybody knew by this time it was over and it was just a question of the mathematics. General Manager Dick O’Connell and Darrell Johnson awaited the word on the Western Union ticker in the press room atop the stands. Johnson called it ‘‘a beautiful moment for me. I won pennants in the minors and played on three teams that won them, but this is different. It’s my biggest thrill in baseball.” O'Connell, the man who refused to panic when all about him people cried for changes, showed little emotion. This was the man who showed faith in people like Rick Wise and the young rookies Fred Lynn and Jim Rice. This was the man who brought in Denny Doyle from California and Jim Willoughby from the St. Louis chain. He trusted his scouts. He trust¬ ed his doctors with Wise and Carlton "Pudge” Fisk. "Just because people want changes,

doesn’t mean it's a good thing to make them,” he said. "Our scouts said the rookies would be good, although we certainly didn’t expect them to be this good that quick. The doctors said Wise’s arm would be OK and that Carlton Fisk’s knee and arm would mend properly. If you can’t believe your scouts and doctors, then you should get new ones.” Thr preparations already had been made for the Oakland playoff series- tickets, travel, etc. Now they went into oper¬ ation. Indians 011 000 120 — 5-12-1 Red Sox 000 200 000-2- 6-1

Waits and Ashby; Wise, Lee (8), Drago (8) and Fisk. WP-Waits (6-2). LP-Wise (19-12). HR- D. Johnson (19), Powell (27), Spikes(11).

• * *

Meanwhile, in New York’s Shea Stadium, the Yankees stunned the Orioles, 3-2 and 7-3, with Catfish Hunter posting his fourth victory over Baltimore in the opener, fanning 12 and recording his 30th complete game of the season. “Hunter’s always the same,” said O’s Earl Weaver. "You’ve got to beat him 1-0 or 2-1 if you’re going to beat him. He's tough.” Said Hunter: "I was really bearing down for this one. I knew it was my last game, so I really wanted to win it. I had good stuff and threw harder than usual.” Doc Medich, who had caused the Sox so much trouble all season, delivered the coup de grace in the nightcap. “I’ve had a bad year personally and the team had a bad year,” said Medich. “Knocking them out like this sort of makes up for some of that disappointment." O’s Tommy Davis summed it up: "We had to win them all and we didn’t. What else can you say?”

First Game Orioles 100 000 100 0-2- 6-2 Yankees 110 000 000 1 -3-10-0

Torrez, Jackson (10), D. Miller (10) and Duncan; Hunter and Munson. WP-Hunter. (23-14). LP-Torrez (20-9). HR-Bonds (31), B. Robinson (6).

Second Game Orioles 000 103 000-3- 8-2 Yankees 010 000 42X-7-1 1-0

Cuellar, PI Mitchell and Hendricks; Medich and Munson. WP-Medich (16-16). LP- Cuellar (14-12). HR-Bonds(32).

Friday, Sept. 26 Back-to-back 4-0 shutouts-the clincher,

or just about. Luis Tiant and Reggie Cleve land authored them at foggy Fenway where announcer Ned Martin informed crawling commuter cars along Storrow Drive and the Z-ways: "I just lost downtown Boston.” In deed, the skyline was obscured by the pea- soup fog that ended, or partly ended, eight straight soggy days that dumped 5.37 inches of rain on Greater Boston. “Partly sunny, temperatures near 70 tomorrow,” said the weatherman, but all was brightness and light as the O’s Yankees doubleheader was washed out and the Sox countdown on the Magic No. reached 2. Actually, it was all over but the shouting. Tiant, a magician again this night, pegged another master¬ piece-four hits, four strikeouts, a lone man reaching third base. Mates staked Loo-ie to an early 2-0 lead and he breezed in his inim¬ itable way. Cleveland, winning his fourth straight, his 9th in 12, won rare plaudits from the 22,054 as he completed the first back- to-back shutouts by Boston pitchers since Tom Brewer-Bob Porterfield vs. KC in 1956. Indeed, it was only the second time in 42 years. Dwight Evans’ belted a three-run homer in the 7th to ease Cleveland's chore. Only one runner reached thire vs. Cleveland, too. Whew. It’s just about over.

First Game Indians 000 000 000-0-4-1 Red Sox 200 100 01X-4-9-0

Eckersley, LaRoche (8) and J. Ellis, Cerone (8); Tiant and Fisk. WP-Tiant (18-14). LP- Eckersley (13-7). HR -Cooper (14).

Second Game Indians 000 000 000-0-5-0 Red Sox 000 100 30X-4-9-0

Hood and Ashby; Cleveland and Mont¬ gomery. WP-Cleveland (13-9). HR-Evans (13).

Thursday, Sept. 25 This is getting rediculous-more rain, and

still no clearing in sight. Forecast says rain through Saturday. Sox-lndians at Fenway made into a twi-night affair and the O’s were washed out against the Tigers. All kinds of complicated “if” arrangements.

Wednesday, Sept. 24 Yep, more rain and the A.L. East has all

kinds of possibilities, most of ’em enhancing Boston’s cause. Luis Tiant’s back gets a rest. Johnson gets a crack at using four right¬ handers in the Indians’ finale at Fenway. Maybe the Sox will be forced to return to New York for a Monday set. Maybe not. Meanwhile, the Orioles bombed the Tigers, 8-1, moved within 3Vfe-but they're running out of games. ‘‘I really don’t like our chances," said O’s outfielder Paul Blair. “But we’re not dead yet. O’s have won 15 of 18 with Palmer picking up his 22nd victory in Baltimore. What’s the forecast?More rain, naturally.

5

6 Captain Carl takes a bead on the pitcher

Tuesday, Sept. 23 Rain, rain, rain. A wild storm named Eloise

has plagued the down-to-the-wire fight between the Sox and Orioles. Shea Stadium was a quagmire, washing out the game and forcing a twi-nighter tomorrow. Mgr. Darrell Johnson wasn’t too concerned about the situation.

Monday, Sept. 22 A.L. East Standings

W L Pet. GB BOSTON 92 63 .594 —

Baltimore 88 66 .571 3 V2

New York 80 75 .516 12 Cleveland 75 77 .493 15 ¥2

Milwaukee 64 92 .410 28 V2

Detroit 57 98 .368 35

Mgr. Johnson huddled with his coaching staff and decided to play left-handed hitting Denny Doyle against rookie Yankee southpaw Ron Guidry at sodden Shea Stadium. It also was determined Bill Lee would go to the bullpen for the balance of the season. Well, Doyle did it again with his first Sox start against a southpaw-three RBI-as Rick Wise won No. 19 in a steady downpour. Deron Johnson stepped off a jet from Calif¬ ornia at 5 p.m. and went right to work with three singles and an RBI. Lynn took over the RBI lead with 104 and banged his 46th double, an A.L. record for rookies. “Doyle has been hot. We decided to give him a chance against the young lefty," said Mgr. Johnson. Dick Drago earned his 15th save, retiring the last two hitters. Sox saw three left-handers with Tippy Martinez and Sparky Lyle following Guidry. They’re 9-16 vs. south¬ paws on the road. Red Sox 010 003 011 —6 15-2 Yankees 200 000 011 -4- 9-0

Wise, Lee (8), Drago (9) and Fisk; Guidry, Pagan (6), Martinez (6), Lyle (8) and Munson. WP-Wise (19-11). LP-Guidry (0-1). HR- Munson (12).

Sunday, Sept. 21 Trouble. Jim Rice was hit by Vern Ruhle’s

inside fastball in the second inning, suf¬ fered a broken bone in his left hand and is out for the season. It was the fourth meta¬ carpal (knuckle) bone. This was a shocker and then it took Denny Doyle-yes, that guy again-to slash a two-run double off the first base bag to earn the Sox a 6-5 win and hold off the onrushing O’s, who beat the Brewers, 3-0. The Sox purchased Deron Johnson from Chicago’s White Sox as a late- season fill-in. It remained for Tiger second baseman Gary Sutherland to drop a pop fly to give Doyle a chance for his heroics. Yaz has been bothered by a shoulder separation, is .212 with four homers, 20 RBI since the All-Star game. Red Sox 020 000 112-6-7-0 Tigers 100 000 310 — 5-12-1

Moret, Drago (7) and Fisk; Ruhle, Glynn (2), Pentz (8), Grilli (9) and Freehan. WP-Drago (2-2). LP-Pentz (0-4).

Saturday, Sept. 20 Yep, the left-handers are cornin’ - and pot¬

bellied Mickey Lolich proved too much with a six-hitter that stymied the Sox and Luis Tiant, who lost 5-1. The O’s beat the Brewers so there's cause for concern with a wispy 3V2 game lead. Lolich, 35, had only one win (1-13) since July 6. Mickey had the Sox beating the ball on the ground (15 times) and was pretty nifty as the Tigers won just their 10th game since July 19. Luis Tiant was no mystery this day-seven hits, four walks in 3% innings. Jim Burton was OK in relief, fanning six. "I just couldn't get loosened up,” said Tiant, who played his 400th major league game. Fred Lynn sat out with a pulled groin muscle. Red Sox 100 000 000-1- 6-0 Tigers 101 200 01X-5-12-1

Tiant, Burton (4), Willoughby (8) and Fisk; Lolich and Humphrey. WP-Lolich (12-18). LP —Tiant (17-14).

Friday, Sept. 19 Whew! Sox blow a ‘4-0 first inning lead, Bill

Lee gets hammered and it takes Rico Petrocelli’s two-run single to squeeze a 7-5 win in Detroit in a game twice delayed by rain. Dick Pole and Dick Drago took over the hod-carrier roles after Lee failed for the fifth time to win his 18th game. Pole worked from three jackpots and Drago picked up his 14th save. Lynn’s first inning run made him the first American Leaguer since Yaz in ’70 to have 100 runs and RBI the same season. Game ended at 12:31 a.m. with the O’s 6-5 win already posted. So it’s still 4Vi in front, but people are getting nervous. Hang tough! Red Sox 400 020 100-7-10-0 Tigers 310 000 010-5-15-4

Lee, Pole (2), Burton (8) and Fisk; Bare, LaGrow (1), Glynn (4), Grilli (7) and Freehan. WP-Pole (4-5). LP -Glynn (0-1). HR-Ogilvie (9).

Thursday, Sept. 18 One last respite before the 10-game count¬

down with the Sox 4Vi in front. Mgr. Johnson’s long-range plans are for four right-handers to be ready for the closing Cleveland series. There is concern about Bill Lee’s cranky elbow. Sox expect to see left-handers, against whom they are 17-16.

Wednesday, Sept. 17 Yaz was mad. He obviously swung a bat in

anger after an anticlamatic 5-2 loss to the O’sinthefinal meeting between the con¬ tenders, even though a split was all the Sox needed-and Tiant got it the night before "I don’t think anyone expected anything different," philosophized Mgr. Johnson. "We didn’t expect them to roll over and play dead. We sent the Orioles out the way they came in with two more games out of the way. It would have been beautiful to have won, but I’ll take that.” The wire mesh at the end of Yaz’ locker carried the impression of a baseball bat. “I just redesigned the side of the locker,” said the subdued Yastrzemski. The dancer did his routine again atop the Baltimore dugout roof-until ushers moved in. The crowd of 31,799 watched two fans trot across the field in the 5th carrying a scarecrow they tossed into the O’s bench. Swoosh! Back out it came. Fred Lynn’s double in 7th was his 45th, tying the A.L. mark for first-year play¬ ers: Roy Johnson, Detroit, 1929; Hal Trosky; Cleveland, 1934. DH Tommy Davis homered and scored two runs. Rick Wise failed for third time to win No. 19. He hasn't had his good fast ball lately. Sox-O’s 9-9 for season, but an odd split: 6-3 apiece in the other team’s yard. Tsk, tsk, five errors, two throw¬ ing by Fisk. Orioles 001 130 000-5-13-2 Red Sox 100 000 100-2- 6-3

Torrez, Jackson (8), Miller (8) and Hen¬ dricks; Wise, Cleveland (5) and Fisk. WP - Torrez (19-8). LP-Wise (18-11). HR-T. Davis (6).

Tuesday, Sept. 16 “Loo-ie, Loo-ie," went the cries into the

heavy night air, and why not? This was El Tiante at his best, head-to-head with Mr. Palmer and in what most agreed was the pivotal game of the season and, yes, Luis Tiant was superb in a dazzling five-hitter. Rico Petrocelli and Carlton Fisk thumped homers into the screen and it was 2-0-and a 5V2 game lead. The Magic No. is 7 with 11 to play. "We never get runs here when I pitch,” lamented Palmer. “In the last two years here, I haven’t had more than three runs to work with. I think the biggest thing is that we don’t accept the fact that we're not always going to hit. We just don’t bunt.” Asked about Tiant, Palmer responded: “They can talk of anyone else on that staff they want to, but the man they need out there is Tiant." Yes, El Tiante had the magic, and Fisk was quick to observe: "When Luis goes out there, it’s just different than any other man. There isn’t a player alive who can’t feel what he exudes from the audience." Tiant held court at his locker: “I went out there thinking this is a time to win-and win now. I’ve always wanted to pitch in the World Series. I figured if we win now, well it’s that much harder for them.” Most con¬ ceded this was the coup de grace for the Orioles. Snorted Earl Weaver: “We won't give up. We still have a chance. But that’s about the best I’ve ever seen Tiant.” Luis saved the knuckle ball for key situations. He threw five, three inning strikeouts. Good sign: Sox management announced details for mail applications for Oct. 4-5 playoffs. Orioles 000 000 000 — 0-5-1 Red Sox 001 100 00X-2-9-0

Tiant and Fisk: Palmer and Duncan. WP- Tiant (17-13). LP-Palmer (21-11). HR- Petrocelli (7), Fisk (10).

7

Trainer Charlie Moss rubs Fred Lynn; Doug Griffin chats with Juan Beniquez; Deron Johnson greeted by Bob Montgomery; Pete Cerrone checks equipment.



Baltimore 84 65 .564 4 New York 77 72 .517 11 Cleveland 71 74 .490 15 Milwaukee 63 87 .420 25V2 Detroit 55 94 .369 33

Boy, these Sox won’t let a guy relax, even with an 8-0 lead. All of a sudden it was run for the bomb shelters and another hang- onto-your-hat job before a 9-7 win over Milwaukee was achieved with Fred Lynn and Jim Rice notching their 100 RBI. Lynn's came on a bases-loaded walk, Rice’s on a single in the first and a sacrifice fly in the second. Everybody and his brother, it seemed, followed Roger Moret: Dick Pole, Jim Burton and, finally, Dick Drago. “Lynn and Rice did it on the same ball,” said Coach Johnny Pesky, who notices everything. “Fred walked for his 100th Ribby and two pitches later Jim hit the sacrifice fly.” Play of the night for the 16,302 fans, however, may have been Lynn’s throw to nab Bill Sharp at third when he tried to stretch a double. What about Baltimore, Fred? “Let's just say I’d rather be in our position than their’s. Even if they come away with a split, they’ll be hurt¬ ing." Hmm. Tiant vs. Palmer. Should be interesting. Brewers 002 010 1 12-7-14-1 Red Sox 440 000 10X —9- -

Colborn, Osburn (2), T. Murphy (7) and Porter; Moret, Pole (7), Burton (8), Drago (9) and Montgomery. WP-Moret (14-3). LP- Colborn (10-12). HR-Yount (8), Scott (30).

Sunday, Sept. 14 Fred Lynn did it all - again. He clocked his

21st homer, hiked his average to .336 with 4-for-4 and threw out Bobby Darwin at the dish in the 5th. The Red Sox needed every bit of that help as they climbed from a 5-1 hole to win, 8-6. No rookie ever has been named MVP in the American League, but Lynn's improving his chances every game, it seems. His next RBI is No. 100. The Orioles, however, keep within breathing distance, four games astern and cause for concern. It was good to win-and see Hank Aaron hit his first Fenway homer. Brewers 000 320 010 — 6-13-0 Red Sox 010 004 30X- 8-12-3

Slaton, T. Murphy (6), Austin (7), Anderson (7) and Porter; Lee, Willoughby (5), Drago (8) and Montgomery. WP-Willoughby (5-2). LP-T. Murphy (1-7). HR-Lynn (21), Aaron (12).

Saturday, Sept. 13 “We’ve got to start moving again," said

Darrell Johnson after Rick Wise and the Sox were victims of a six-run outburst by the Brewers en route to a 9-6 matinee victory of a day-night twinbill. The irregulars salvaged a split, 6-3, at night, but now the lead’s four and the doomsayers are chortling. Reggie Cleveland was good and southpaw successor Jim Burton was super with three strikeouts and just a single in 1% innings. A total of 49,489 watched the Hyde-Jeckyl act. Cleve¬ land’s win was his 8th in 11 decisions and he took a vicious George Scott liner on the left thigh. “If it’d hit Moret, it may have snapped his leg in half," joshed Reggie. “Personally, I’m pulling for the Sox. The fans, they’re the best and deserve a winner," said old pal Scott. “I'm also pulling for Yaz, Rico, Tiant, Mr. Yawkey and Mr. O’Connell. I don’t think Baltimore is gonna catch them, but they’re going to have to earn the title. When I play against them, I’m going to try my darnd- est to beat their brains out.” OK, George.

Day Game Brewers 100 602 000-9-10-2

RedSox 020 010 201 -6-13-2 Broberg, T. Murphy (9) and Porter; Wise,

Drago (4), Segui (6) and Fisk. WP-Broberg (13-14). LP-Wise (18-10). HR-Scott (29), Darwin (13).

Night Game

Brewers 011 000 010-3- 8-0 RedSox 100 300 1 1X —6-11-1

Travers, Anderson (4) and Porter; Cleve¬ land, Burton (8) and Montgomery. WP- Cleveland (12-9). LP-Travers (4-10).

Thursday, Sept. 11 “It was a fast ball, outside corner-a good

pitch,” said sweat-soaked Luis Tiant, describing Aurelio Rodriguez’ up-the-middle single on a 3-2 pitch that foiled a no-hit bid with two out in the 8th. Luis, however, was happy his fast ball was back and went the route after a 10-day layoff and, most important, histhree-hit, 3-1 Red Sox win over the Tigers put the team on the right track. The Fu Manchu-mustachioed Tiant won a standing O from 9,508 on a sun-drenched matinee following the authentic single. El Tiante whiffed 10, walked only Bill Freehan and used just 112 pitches as his dad, Luis, St., 69, rooted in the stands. Later both lit big cigars, Cuban, of course. Bob Baldwin’s inside-the-pole homer in the 9th foiled Tiant’s bid for his first shutout since Sept. 24, 1974, but nobody really cared. “No reason Luis won't pitch against Baltimore," said Darrell Johnson. “He impressed me after being off with a back problem. The warm weather helped him." Indeed, Luis hadn’t won since Aug. 15 in Chicago. He had it all working-the motion, turns, shifts, even the funny faces. Yes, faces are smiling around Fenway for a change. El Tiante is back in stride. Ole! Who cares if Baltimore is check¬ out a witch doctor. Tigers 000 000 001 -1-3-1 RedSox 020 100 00X —3-8-0

Lemanczyk and Freehan; Tiant and Fisk. WP-Tiant (16-13). LP-Lemanczyk (2-6). HR - Baldwin (3).

Wednesday, Sept. 10 The Magic No. is 13 — is that lucky? Willie

Horton’s two-run homer in the 10th gave Detroit a 5-3 win and a split of a twi-nighter after the Sox emerged from a three-game skid, 7-4. The weather for 20,189 was as unpredictable as the Sox-cold, warm, partly cloudy and, finally damp as the O’s went 12 in the nightcap to split at Cleveland. Oh, well, Fred Lynn is back in the grove-five hits in seven trips. “They haven’t figured out how to handle me yet,” confided Fred. “Every¬ thing is away. I don't see any inside pitches any more. I was losing power, so now I stand more upright like I used to-" Dick Pole's getting work-three games in seven days. "All the people around Trout Creek (Mich.) root for the Red Sox now," said Dick. “They are converted Tiger fans who have seen the light." Now if we can just see some light. That 13, well I don’t know.

First Game Tigers 001 100 030-4-9-1

RedSox 000 330 01X —7-9-1 Ruhle, LaGrow (5) and Freehan; Moret,

Drago (8) and Fisk. HR - Petrocelli (6). Second Game

Tigers 000 000 221-5-10-0 RedSox 002 000 100 — 3-1 1-1

Arroyo and Humphrey; Pole, Willoughby (7), Burton (8) and Montgomery. WP-Arroyo (2-0). LP-Willoughby (4-2(. HR - Montgomery (1), Horton (25).

Tuesday, Sept. 9 Suddenly the bats are silent and the once-

comfortable 8-game lead has shriveled to five. What’s going on? Another left-hander, this time Rick Waits, did it to the Sox and the Indians’ wheeled across a run in the 10th to win, 3-2. Bill Lee's elbow was better and he pitched pretty well, but Alan Ashby’s single provided Cleveland a two-game sweep. Lee had his 11th pickoff and the trip that started so auspiciously ended 4-4. The Indians 9-5 edge makes you wonder. They’re at Fenway for the wrapup series. "We’re just not striking the ball,” lamented Darrell Johnson. The reason today was Richard Waits of Atlanta, Ga., suh, a throw-in on the Gaylord Perry deal with Texas. He retired the last 13 batters, 20 of the last 21. RedSox 000 200 000 0-2- 5-0 Indians 000 01 1 000 0-3-10-0

Lee and Fisk; Waits and Ashby. WP - Waits (4-1). LP-Lee (17-9).

9

.

w

“Spaceman” Lee coils to throw “smoke”



Baltimore 77 64 .546 7 New York 71 71 .500 13V2 Cleveland 67 70 .489 15 Milwaukee 62 81 .434 23 Detroit 54

• * *

87 .383 30

In Cleveland, southpaw Don Hood was reprieved from the bullpen and pegged a seven-hitter as the streaking Indians am¬ bushed the Sox, 4-1, for their fourth straight, 16th of the last 21. O’s beat Milwaukee, so now its six games. Hood and Boog Powell came from the O’s. Hood yielded Carlton Fisk’s homer, but little else. Rick Wise had a 1-0 lead into the 4th when Fisk was charged with a rare catcher’s interference call against Alan Ashby and it meant "three runs and the game,” according to “Pudge.” More beefs about the Municipal Stadium field, cratered and slippery from heavy rain. Red Sox 010 000 000-1-7-3 Indians 000 310 00X-4-6-1

Wise and Fisk; Hood and Ashby. WP- Hood (6-8). LP-Wise (18-9). HR-Fisk (9), Lowen- stein (10).

Sunday, Sept. 7 Half a loaf in Milwaukee and Cecil Cooper

was hit in the face by a pitch from Norwood southpaw Billy Travers. Sox won 6-3, lost 7-3. Reggie Cleveland and Dick Drago combined in the opener and Carlton Fisk tossed a key double into the two-run 8th. Travers, bombed in Saturday’s game for six runs, seven hits, was a desperation starter a day later and foiled the Sox despite a 440-ft. homer by Jim Rice. Dick Pole was so-so, was touched for four runs, seven hits before leaving in the fifth. Bernie Carbo started the opener, his first regular appearance since Aug. 13. Yaz had a hurry-up dental appointment after the first game, had an abscessed tooth drained and was back in uniform playing first base in the 6th inning of the nightcap.

First Game

Red Sox 000 000 123-6-13-1 Brewers 110 000 001 — 3-10-1

Cleveland, Lee (8), Drago (8) and Fisk; Colborn, Austin (8) E. Rodriguez (8) and Porter. WP-Cleveland (11-9). IP-Colborn (10-10). HR-Sharp (1).

Second Game Red Sox 011 001 000-3- 3-1 Brewers 001 030 03X-7-11-1

Travers and Porter; Pole, Willoughby (5), Burton (9) and Montgomery. WP-Travers (6-9). LP —Pole (3-5). HR-Scott (28), Rice (22).

Saturday, Sept. 6 Plain and simple carnage, a runaway 20-6

victory with 17 hits against six Brewers pitchers. Dwight Evans led the way with five hits, three RBI, but everybody got into the act. Rico Petrocelli had a three-run homer (first since May 24) and three singles; Carlton Fisk two singles, a three-run homer and four RBI; Juan Beniquez three hits, two doubles; Jim Rice two hits, two RBI and the A.L. lead with 94, one up on Fred Lynn. Roger Moret had an 8-0 lead after two, a 15-1 cushion after seven. Sox sent up 54 batters with Yaz and Lynn sitting out the slaughter. Red Sox 170 025 140-20-24-0 Brewers 001 003 002- 6-11-2

Moret, Kreuger (8) and Fisk, Blackwell (7); Travers, Osburn (2), Anderson (3), Currence (5), T. Murphy (8), Austin (9) and Porter. WP-Moret (12-3). LP-Travers (5-9). HR- Burleson (6), Fisk (8), Money (14), Petrocelli (5), Porter (16), Garcia (6).

Friday, Sept. 5 Dartmouth’s Pete Broberg brought the

Sox to earth in Milwaukee with a fancy six- hitter. Homers by Pedro Garcia and Sixto Lezcano did the rest as the Brewers won, 4-2, and the O’s sweep of the Yankees suddenly sliced the lead to 6V2 games. The magic number started appearing everywhere. It’s 18. Broberg fanned five, walked one and retired 18 in a row at one stretch. Bill Lee yielded Lezcano’s homer and all eight hits before leaving for Diego Segui, who retired seven straight. X-rays on Luis Tiant’s back spasms were negative according to Milwaukee orthopedic specialist Dr. Gary Gutten. Red Sox 100 000 001 -2-6-0 Brewers 300 001 00X-4-8-1

Lee, Segui (6) and Fisk; Broberg and Porter. WP - Broberg (12-13). LP - Lee (17-8). HR - Lezcano (10). P. Garcia (5).

Thursday, Sept. 4 Earl Weaver was subdued, soft-spoken and

that in itself told the story-a sweep, a ruddy Red Sox sweep, 3-1, withCaptain Carl duping first baseman Lee May with the old lame-duck baserunner trick. Yastrzemski was a force-out at third, but Brooks Robin¬ son's throw to first was in the dirt, bounced away. Yaz, urged by Coach Don Zimmer, churned for the plate. “I threw because I saw the guy running. It was a natural re¬ action,” confessed May. who made an errant

throw to catcher Dave Duncan, allowing Fred Lynn to score all the way from first for what proved the winning run. "I knew Yaz wasout,” said Zimmer, "But I said ‘Don’t stop now! Go on home!”’ Rule 7:09 says the play was legiti¬ mate. You could look it up. "I was only going to the dugout by way of home plate,” said Yaz, in all sweet innocence. Dick Pole, mak¬ ing his first start since June 30 when he was smacked, hurled five strong innings, had help from Dick Drago. "I think,” said Carlton Fisk, ”we would still feel that we’re going to win it even if we had dropped two games in Baltimore this series. That’s the difference between last year’s club and this one.” An 8-game lead - beautiful. Quote from Darrell Johnson: "I broke up at something I read. It was about the Red Sox and how they choke in the stretch and it described pennant races back in 1901. I don’t think anything that happened in 1901 has any influence on us now, do you?” Red Sox 200 000 001 -3-4-0

Orioles 000 010 000-1-5-1 Pole, Drago (6) and Fisk; Torrez and Dun¬

can. WP - Pole (3-4). LP - Torrez (16-8).

Wednesday, Sept. 3 A classic-Rick Wise vs. Jim Palmer, Balti¬

more jumping with "choke” signs, even a vitriolic column by Crabby John Steadman comparing the Sox "chokers” to the Boston Strangler. Wise pitched a honey of a game. Cecil Cooper homered leading off the 10th and it was 3-2 Sox and a seven-game lead. Baltimorians considered a leap into Chesa¬ peake Bay and Bostonians hoped they’d take Earl Weaver with them. "In terms of this situation, I guess this is the biggest game of my career,” said Wise following his 18th win. "I’ve done a lot of things in my years, but I’ve never had much chance in pennant races, and that’s what counts in this business.” Weaver was in a hassle with second base ump Hank Morganweck, steamed around in protest of a Denny Doyle forceout play on Tommy Davis. TV replay seemed to confirm Weaver's contention Doyle didn’t possess the ball long enough, but, hey, once in a while an ump rules in your favor, right? Anyway, Palmer walked four straight batters in the second on 19 balls in 23 pitches. Nobody could remember anything like that before from that guy. Jim Rice had a single to extend his string to 12 games while his dad, up from South Carolina, beamed proud approval. RedSox 010000 100 1 -3-7-0

Orioles 000 002 000 0-2-8-0 Wise and Fisk; Palmer and Hendricks. WP

-Wise (18-8). LP - Palmer (20-9). HR -

Cooper (13).

11

Eddie Popowski Cecil Cooper, Designated Hitter extraordinary

Tuesday, Sept. 2 "Obviously this was one of those games we

had to win," said Reggie Cleveland and he did just that, beating the Yankees, 7-4, although he hadn't pitched for 16 days. The O's split with the Indians, so it's six up. Carlton Fisk, making his first start in 10 days, had three RBI on two hits. "They didn't run, which is good,” said "Pudge”. Jim Rice, Rick Burleson and Denny Doyle had two hits apiece. Cleveland wavered, yielded Thurman Munson's 3-run homer in the 8th, but Jim Burton and Dick Drago mopped up nicely. A fan played "Taps" on the Yankees’ last at-bat. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Earl Weaver claimed: "I never said the Red Sox would fold.” That was a new tune. Medical bulletin: Rico Petrocelli got the OK to return. Lynn’s 39 doubles most for Sox player since Yaz in '66. Yankees 010 000 03X-4- 9-1

Red Sox 004 111 00X-7-13-0 Dobson, Lyle (4), Sawyer (8) and Munson;

Cleveland, Burton (8), Drago (9) and Fisk. WP-Cleveland (10-9). LP-Dobson (11-14). HR-Chambliss (9), Munson (10).


W L Pet. GB

BOSTON 79 54 .594 —

Baltimore 73 60 .549 6

New York 67 67 .500 12 Vi Cleveland 61 68 .473 16

Milwaukee 59 76 .437 21

Detroit 52 81 .391 27

Dick McAuliffe never claimed to be a third baseman, but he was in there in Rico Petro- celli's absence-and it hurt. McAuliffe botched two plays, fought a third and was razzed by 30,218 as the Sox stumbled for the third straight time, 4-2 to the Yankees. The lead has shrunk to 5 Vi. It’s sweat time. While Dick Pole was no world-beater in relief of shaky Roger Moret, he threw smoke and his strong right arm soothed the sting. It was Pole's first outing since being smashed in the face on June 30. "I wasn’t hitting the spots I wanted right away, but in the ninth I was and I’m happy about that," said Pole. Dwight Evans cut down rookie Rick Bladt 29, at the plate in the 6th. NY’s Doc Medich, a fourth-year medical student at Univ. of Pittsburgh, did another anesthesia job on them, his fourth straight vs. Boston. Rico goes for inner-ear tests today, so maybe he’ll be back soon. Carlton Fisk was back for the first time since injuring his finger, pinch-hit into a DP in the 7th. Jim Rice was doubled off first for the final out by sneaky Sandy Alomar. Jim has hit in 10 straight games, upped his average to .312. Yankees 021 001 000-4-14-0 Red Sox 000 000 200-2- 9-2

Medich, Fernandez (8) and Munson; Moret, Pole (7) and Blackwell. WP-Medich (12-15). LP- Moret (11-3).

Sunday, August 31 The last batter, pinch-hitter Bernie Carbo,

told it all. Strike on the outside corner. Another strike. Ball, outside curve. Foul tip. Strike three. Game over. Roland Glen "Rollie” Fingers, the reliever with the waxed mus¬ tache, had made his 62nd appearance for the World Series champion A’s and posted

his 10th win, an 8-6 marathon affair over the Sox before a sun-splashed 32,753. It was a weird 3:49 affair, longest A.L. nine-inning game this season. It had 16 bases on balls, four wild pitches and, distressingly, a hit batsman - hard-luck second baseman Doug Griffin, who, thankfully, was hit on the ear- flap of his helmet by Dick Bosman’s second pitch, but emerged with nothing more than a headache, dizziness and memories of April 30, 1974 when he was hit the same place by fireballing Nolan Ryan. Thus the A’s concluded the regular season 6-6 vs. Boston and Reggie Jackson’s five RBI was a big factor. Said Jackson: “They’re the best in the East. They’ll give us all we can handle. They’re really tough.” Agreed Fingers: "They won four here, we won four in Oakland. They’ve got a helluva club, vastly improved, if only because of those two rookies, Lynn and Rice.” A’s 002 021 102-8-13-2

Red Sox 003 030 000-6-10-1

Siebert, Linblad (3), Abbott (5), Bosman (8), Fingers (8) and Tenace; Lee, Willoughby (5), Segui (6) and Blackwell. WP-Fingers (10-6). LP-Segui (2-5). HR-Harper (4).

Saturday, August 30 All kinds of things, but mostly Rollie Fin¬

gers and Sal Bando’s 10th inning single to end a 7-6 A’s win in rain, wind and cold. Fred Lynn made two spectacular diving catches and A’s Mgr. Dark, peeved at a call, ripped out the third base bag and tossed it into the stands. What a show with the score 6-6 from the fourth inning-tension riding every pitch. Dick Drago toiled 7V5 excellent relief innings, but Bando spoiled a show that included Carl Yastrzemski’s two-run homer, Lynn's three hits and two RBI Luis Tiant, a surprise starter, departed early, as did Glenn Abbott of the A’s. Jim Todd retired the last 12 he faced in relief and Fingers took com¬ mand from there. Now it's 6V2 games in front. A’s 231 000 000 1 —7-1 1-2 Red Sox 320 100 000 0-6-10-2

Abbott, Todd (2), Fingers. (9) and Haney; Tiant, Drago (3) and Blackwell. WP Fingers (9-6). LP-Drago (1-2) HR-R. Jackson (29), Yastrzemski (14).

RED SOX AVERAGES BATTING

AB R H HR RBI AV

Johnson 10 2 5 1 3 .500

Merchant 4 1 2 0 0 .500

Dillard 5 2 2 0 0 .400

Lynn 528 103 175 21 105 .331

Fisk 263 47 87 10 52 .331

Cooper 315 49 95 14 44 .311

Rice 564 92 174 22 102 .309

Doyle 325 50 97 4 36 .298

Beniquez 254 43 74 2 17 .291

Evans 412 61 113 13 56 .274

Yastrzemski 543 92 146 15 60 .269

Carbo 319 64 82 15 50 .257

Burleson 580 66 146 6 62 .252

Hobson 4 0 1 0 0 .250

Griffin 287 21 69 1 29 .240

Petrocelli 402 31 96 7 59 .239

Montgomery 195 16 44 2 26 .226

Heise 126 12 27 0 21 .214

Blackwell 132 15 26 0 6 .197

Miller 108 21 21 0 15 .194

McAuliffe 15 0 2 0 1 .133

Tiant 1 0 0 0 0 .000

Others 81 9 16 2 12 .198

TOTALS 5448 796 1500 134 756 .275

PITCHING IP H ER BB SO W L ERA

Burton 53 58 17 19 39 1 2 2.89

Willoughby 48 % 46 19 16 29 5 2 3.54

Moret 145 132 58 76 80 14 3 3.60

Drago 72% 69 31 31 43 2 2 3.84

Lee 260 274 114 69 78 17 9 3.95

Wise 255% 262 112 72 141 19 12 3.95

Tiant 260 262 116 72 142 18 14 4.02

Pole 89% 102 44 32 42 4 6 4.42

Cleveland 170% 173 84 52 78 13 9 4.43

Kreuger 4 3 2 1 1 0 0 4.50

Segui 71 71 38 43 45 2 5 4.82

Others 7 11 2 7 2 0 1 2.57

TOTALS 1436% 1463 636 490 720 95 65 3.98

13

RED SOX vs OAKLAND A’s-1975 REGULAR SEASON BATTER PCT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB so SH - SF HP SB - cs GDP ERR

BURLESON .261 12 46 3 12 3 0 0 10 4 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

BENIQUEZ .321 9 28 6 9 1 0 1 3 2 4 1 0 0 1 1 0 0

BLACKWELL .200 5 10 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

CARBO .250 8 12 1 3 1 0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

COOPER .393 8 28 8 11 5 0 3 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CONIGLIARO .143 4 14 3 2 0 0 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

DOYLE .118 5 17 4 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

EVANS ,349 12 43 9 15 6 1 0 3 3 3 0 0 2 2 0 2 0

FISK .357 4 14 2 5 0 0 2 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0

GRIFFIN .094 10 32 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 1 0 0 2 0

HEISE .000 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

LYNN .333 10 33 4 11 3 0 1 3 4 6 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

McAULIFFE .111 3 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

MONTGOMERY .118 7 17 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

MILLER .250 5 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PETROCELLI .286 9 28 4 8 2 0 3 7 4 4 2 0 1 0 0 1 0

RICE .310 12 42 8 13 2 0 2 9 6 8 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

YASTRZEMSKI .269 8 26 9 7 0 1 2 8 8 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 0

TOTALS .264 133 406 67 107 23 2 16 60 41 56 8 1 4 7 3 9 3

RED SOX PITCHING STAFF PITCHER ERA w L AP GS CG SV SHO IP AB H R ER HR BB so HP WP

BURTON 6.75 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.1 6 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 0

CLEVELAND 3.47 1 1 3 3 2 0 0 23.1 82 15 9 9 4 4 7 1 0

DRAGO 1.35 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 13.1 48 10 2 2 0 5 4 0 0

LEE 2.61 2 0 3 3 1 0 1 20.2 76 16 6 6 1 6 4 0 0

MORET 8.53 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 6.1 22 8 6 6 1 6 2 0 0

SEGUI 9.00 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4.0 14 6 4 4 0 5 2 0 0

TIANT 6.27 2 0 3 3 1 0 0 18.2 76 23 13 13 4 6 12 0 0

WILLOUGHBY 4.50 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2.0 8 2 2 1 1 3 1 0 1

WISE 4.11 1 1 2 2 1 0 0 15.1 62 18 7 7 1 2 7 0 0

TOTALS 4.20 6 6 23 12 5 1 1 105.0 394 100 50 49 12 37 41 1 1

A's HITTING vs. RED SOX PITCHING

Burton — .333 (2 for 6)... Cleveland — .183 (15 for 82)... Drago — .208 (10 for 48)... Lee — .211 (16 for 76)... Moret — .318 (8 for 22)... Segui — .429 (6 for 14)... Tiant — .303 (23 for 76)... Willoughby — .250 (2 for 8) . .. Wise — .290 (18 for 62) . . . A’s vs. Sox — .254 (100 for 394).

14

OAKLAND A’s vs RED SOX -1975 REGULAR SEASON BATTER PCT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SH - SF HP SB • CS GDP ERR

ALEXANDER .000 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

BANDO .293 12 41 6 12 3 0 1 4 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

CAMPANERIS .235 9 34 1 8 0 1 0 1 2 5 2 0 0 1 1 0 3

FOSSE .111 7 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0

GARNER .189 12 37 1 7 1 0 0 1 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 5

HOPKINS .000 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

HARPER .600 3 5 1 3 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

HOLT .143 7 14 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

JACKSON .289 12 45 7 13 2 0 3 12 3 10 0 2 0 3 0 0 1

LINDBLAD .000 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

MANGUAL .500 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

MARTINEZ .100 7 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

NORTH .282 10 39 5 11 1 0 0 2 4 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0

RUDI .370 8 27 5 10 3 1 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TENACE .256 12 39 8 10 2 0 5 14 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 1

TODD .000 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

WASHINGTON .289 12 45 6 13 4 0 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 1

WILLIAMS .163 12 43 6 7 2 0 1 4 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

TOTALS .254 151 394 50 100 18 2 12 49 37 41 5 3 1 9 3 7 17

PITCHER ERA w

OAKLAND A’s PITCHING STAFF L AP GS CG SV SHO IP AB H R ER HR BB so HP WP

ABBOTT 7.94 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 11.1 48 15 12 10 2 6 3 1 1

BLUE 6.94 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 11.2 52 16 9 9 4 4 12 0 1

BOSMAN 10.80 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 3.1 14 4 4 4 2 1 0 1 0

BAHNSEN 3.00 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 6.0 21 3 4 2 1 4 3 0 1

FINGERS 1.02 3 0 9 0 0 1 0 17.2 58 9 2 2 1 3 20 0 0

HOLTZMAN 5.14 2 1 3 2 0 0 0 14.0 54 12 9 8 2 5 6 0 0

HAMILTON 6.75 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 6.2 28 7 7 5 2 3 4 0 0

LINDBLAD 4.38 0 0 8 0 0 1 0 12.1 46 17 6 6 0 7 1 0 0

ODOM 27.00 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.1 6 3 4 4 0 2 0 1 0

SIEBERT 13.50 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 5.1 27 10 8 8 2 5 4 0 2

TODD .59 0 0 9 0 0 2 0 15.1 52 11 2 1 0 1 3 1 0

TOTALS 5.06 6 6 44 12 0 4 0 105.0 406 107 67 59 16 41 56 4 5

RED SOX HITTING vs. A’s PITCHING

Abbott — .313 (15 for 48) . . . Blue — .308 (16 for 52) . . . Bosnian — .286 (4 for 14) . . . Bahnsen — .143 (3 for 21)... Fingers — .155 (9 for 58) . . . Holtzman — .222 (12 for 54) . .. Hamilton — .250 (7 for 28) . . . Lindblad — .370 (17 for 46) . . . Odom — .500 (3 for 6)... Siebert — .370 (10 for 27)... Todd — .212 (11 for 52) . . . Sox vs. A’s — (107 for 406).

16 Roger Moret twists like a pretzel

Friday, August 29 Scratch Bahnsen. Oh, he didn’t pitch

badly-Cecil Cooper’s homer, of course - but the A's had passed balls, errors and, well, all kinds of things as the Sox won 6-1, for Rick Wise’s 17th on an eight-hitter. Rick was ahead of most batters, firing the ball in on the left-handed hitters. No. 17 matched Rick's career high in 1971 for the Phillies who lost 99 that year. “You can't compare,” said Wise. "It’s another world and I’ll take this.” Sox now lead O's by lVz. Stay tuned. A’s 000 100 000-1- 8-3

RedSox 1 12 020 00X — 6-11-0 Wise and Blackwell; Bahnsen, Lindblad

(3), Todd (7), Fingers (8). WP-Wise (17-8). LP-Bahnsen (9-12). HR-Cooper (12).

Thursday, August 28 It’s coming down to the wire and the A’s

are cornin’-with right-handed pitching this time. Meanwhile, the Orioles picked up a half-game beating Chicago, 2-1. Now every¬ body's recalling the time last year-it was Aug. 29, if you must know-when the Sox started to slip and Baltimore came like Gangbusters. O’s won 28 of 34, you’ll recall - you don’t want to remember?-and that was it. Well, here it comes, and the A's, too, with Mgr. Alvin Dark due to call right-handers Stan Bahnsen, Dick Bosman and old pal Sonny Siebert.

Wednesday, August 27 Jim Rice cranked a weak Bill Singer slider

into the center field seats for a two-run homer in the first and that escorted Roger Moret to his 11th win, 6-2 over the Angels before another bulging crowd, 34,239. Dwight Evans had 3 for 4, has hit in 12 of last 14 games for .451, while Fred Lynn had a pair of hits and a RBI. Another good night for the young outfielder. “I’mthinkingaboutthe Red Sox and their future with the A's —and I like the Red Sox to win. I think they have some young players who won’t fold,” said Angels’ pilot Dick Williams, who left town after 379 spats with the umpires in two games. Angels 200 000 000-2-8-2

RedSox 312 000 00X —6-9-1

Moret, Drago (9) and Blackwell; Singer, Hassler (2), M. Scott (7) and Etchebarren. WP-Moret (11-2). LP-Singer (7-13). HR-

Rice (21).

Tuesday, August 26 A memorable day for Luis Tiant, Sr., Luis

Tiant, Jr., and Luis Tiant III. Luis, Sr., 69, up from Cuba, watched his son pitch in the major leagues for the first time-won a standing O from 32,086 at Fenway-but there was a discordant note: Angels won, 8-2, with Andy Etchebarren the main cluprit with a solo homer and a two-run single. Luis’ mother, wife and son also were in the audi¬ ence, but there was consolation in Balti¬ more’s split of a doubleheader with KC. “I didn’t want to lose in this situation, but when everthing is going wrong, you lose,” said El Tiante. Sox, losing to Ed Figueroa for the third time this season, didn’t help the cause with four errors. “Ed seems to be at his best against the Red Sox,” said Angels’ Mgr. Dick Williams, who got the heave from plate umpire Ed Kunkel. Sox home atten¬ dance now a shade under 1,300,000. Lynn had 98 RBI, Rice 84. Carlton Fisk had in¬ jured finger checked, was in uniform during game. Angels 001 010 330 — 8-10-1 RedSox 000 200 000-2- 5-4

Figueroa and Etchebarren; Tiant, Burton (7), Willoughby (7) and Blackwell. WP- Figueroa (12-10). LP-Tiant (15-13). HR- Etchebarren (2).

Sunday, August 24 Well, nobody drowned and, as Carl Yas-

trzemski observed thankfully “Nobody got hurt.” The Red Sox sailed-almost literally — to a 6-1 win over the Chiso/ and knuckle¬ balling Wilbur Wood before a slickered 22,024 at sodden Fenway. Yaz and rookie Jim Rice clubbed solo homers. Bill Lee made some spectacular fielding plays-mostly in self defense-during his 17th win. “I could have got killed out there,” cracked Lee, who fell flat on his kisser in the mud tossing out DH Bill Stein in the 9th. White Sox 000 010 000-1- 8-0 RedSox 100 021 20X-6-11-1

Wood, Upshaw (7), Hinton (7) and Downing; Lee and Montgomery. WP-Lee (17-7). LP- Wood (13-17). HR —Rice (20), Yastrzemski (13).

Monday, August 25 A.L. East Standings


Baltimore 69 58 .543 7V2 New York 64 64 .500 13 Cleveland 58 67 .464 17V2 Milwaukee 57 72 .442 20 v2 Detroit 51 77 .398 26

Saturday, August 23 The Red Sox lost the game 6-4-and Carl¬

ton Fisk, too. Hard luck “Pudge" took a foul tip off the bat of Chicago’s Ken Hender son, needed four stitches on the ring finger of his right hand. Bill Melton belted a two- run homer and Nyls Nyman cracked his first major league homer as Rick Wise had three followers. One consolation: Texas beat Baltimore, 1-0. WhiteSox 100 002 210-6-10-2 RedSox 020 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 4- 5-0

Jefferson, Gossage (8) and Varney; Wise, Burton (6), Willoughby (7). Segui (9) and Fisk, Blackwell (1). WP —Jefferson (4-7). IP-Wise (16-8). HR —Melton (11), Nyman (1).

Friday, August 22 The beat goes on. Roger Moret pegged a

four-hitter and Dwight Evans socked his 12th homer as the Red Sox opened a 10- game home stand with a 2-1 victory over the White Sox before 32,458. Fred Lynn singled in the winner as the Sox managed just six hits off grizzled veteran southpaw Claude Osteen. Moret fanned six, had three double plays for backing. Good fielding plays by Bob Heise, Doug Griffin, Rick Burleson and "Pudge” Fisk. WhiteSox 000 000 100-1-4-1

RedSox 000 011 00X-2-6-0

Osteen and Downing; Moret and Fisk. WP-Moret (10-2). LP-Osteen (6-12).

Wednesday, August 21 Whew. Glad it’s over, and so what if KC’s

Dennis Leonard Beat the Sox, 3-1. They end the trip 9-6 and that’s better than anybody except Coach Don Zimmer predicted. Luis Tiant was the loser. “I'd say it was a good trip,” said Mgr. Johnson. “We had somesuper games and I think we played up to our poten¬ tial almost every time." Back home, Tony Conigliaro announced his retirement to become a Providence, R.l. TV commentator. RedSox 001 000 000-1-6-0

Royals 000 210 000-3-9-0 Tiant and Fisk; Leonard and Stinson. WP-

Leonard (9-5). LP-Tiant (15-12).

17

18 Dick Drago... flamethrower down the stretch

Tuesday, August 20 John Mayberry may be an ogre, but not last

night to Bill Lee, who fanned him twice, during a nifty 5-0 win for No. 16 against the Royals in KC. Now the Red Sox are 8 up. Dick McAuliffe was summoned from managing the Bristol, Conn, farm club to spell ailing third baseman Rico Petrocelli, who left the team in Chicago complaining of headaches and dizziness. Meanwhile, Luis Tiant re¬ ceived word his parents were en route via Mexico City. “I haven’t seen my father for 15 years,” said Luis. “It will be a happy day for me." Luis Tiant, Sr., 69, was a famed southpaw known as "The King” back home in Cuba. Red Sox 001 002 200-5-9-2

Royals 000 000 000-0-4-1

Lee and Fisk; Fitzmorris, Pattin (7), Me Daniel (9) and Martinez. WP — Lee (16-7). LP-Fitzmorris (12-10). HR —Lynn (20).



Baltimore 66 54 .550 6V2

New York 62 59 .512 11

Milwaukee 56 66 .459 17V2 Cleveland 53 65 .449 I8V2

Detriot 48 74 .393 25V2

Sunday, August 17 Thank you, Denny Doyle-once again. The

Sox were headed for, excuse the expression, a double dip when Doyle climaxed a two-out, llth-inning rally against fireballer Rich Gos- sage for a 4-3 win after a 6-2 drop in the opener at Chicago. Thus the Red Sox took three out of four and head to Cooperstown, NY, not for enshrinement, but for a Hall of Fame exhibition vs. San Francisco. Gossage saved the opener for Dave Hamilton, but Doyle punched a game-winning single to right and Jim Willoughby, bless him, took it from there. Boston’s 8th win on the road trip.

First Game RedSox 010000010-2-12-1

White Sox 030 001 11X — 6-1 1-2

Wise, Burton (7), Segui (8) and Fisk; Fors¬ ter, Hamilton (2), Gossage (8) and Downing. WP-Hamilton (5-4). LP-Wise (16-7).

Second Game RedSox 011 001 000 01 -4-13-0

White Sox 000 300 000 00-3- 6-2

Cleveland, Lee (8), Willoughby (8) and Montgomery; Kaat, Gossage (8) and Downing. WP-Willoughby (4-1). LP —Gossage (7-7).

Saturday, August 16 Injury-plagued Dwight Evans and Roger

Moret's two-hit pitching over seven innings won for the Red Sox, 5-0, before 23,567 in Chicago and now the Sox are 7 up. Evans clocked his 10th homer, also tripled and Moret-a nemesis to the Chisox-had help from Jim Willoughby, who recorded his 8th save in 15 appearances. Sox are 7-4 on the hazardous trip. Moret proved his own worst enemy. Hit his head on the dugout roof and his neck stiffened. Enter Willoughby. Cooper is 17-44 on the trip and .342 for the season. Trainer Charlie Moss removed the cast on Jim Rice’s arm.

Friday, August 15 Nice game by Luis Tiant, and encouraging,

too, since it was his first complete outing in six starts. Luis came here early to beat the jet lag and give his tendinitis a respite. He finished strongly, even though Jim Willough¬ by and Jim Burton were heating up in the crankcase the last two innings. Meanwhile, the O’s split with Texas and dropped six games astern. Cecil Cooper once again was the batting hero with a triple and his 11th homer. Rick Miller singled home the game- winner in the 6th. “The shoulder felt better,” said Luis. “I’m starting to get the ball where I want it again.” RedSox 010 101 000 — 3-7-1

White Sox 001 001 000-2-7-0 Tiant and Fisk; Jefferson and Varney. WP

-Tiant (15-11). LP-Jefferson (3-7). HR- Cooper (11).

Thursday, August 14 Enough? Naw. The Angels did it to the Red

Sox again, this time 5-3 and now it’s time for concern since the lead’s down to 5V2 games -four in the loss column. Carlton Fisk left eight runners stranded and the Sox left the bases loaded twice. Another bad day and Bill Lee took the brunt of it. Somerset’s Jerry Remy had key hits, slid home for the game¬ winning run. Jim Rice took a Bill Singer pitch on the left forearm, went for X-rays. Negative. Now it’s back East if you call Chicago East. Fred Lynn, Doug Griffin honor¬ ed by El Monte, Calif, high schoolmates. RedSox 100010 100-3-10-0

Angels 005 000 00X —5-10-0 Lee and Fisk; Singer, Kirkwood (7) and

Hampton. WP - Singer (7-11). LP - Lee (15-7).

Wednesday, August 13 This is the first really bad game we’ve

played in over a month,” said Mgr. Darrell Johnson. Yes, indeed. The Sox were. well. er-OK, the score was 8-3 Angels. Can't win ’em all. Calif, got six runs in the third inning. Reggie Cleveland had the shoddy support Let’s skip the gory details. RedSox 1 10 000 001 — 3-10-2

Angels 016 001 00X-8-12-1 Cleveland, Burton (3), Segui (7) and Fisk;

Figueroa and Hampton WP - Figueroa (11-8). LP-Cleveland (9-9).

Tuesday, August 12 Yaz and Doyle, just off the ailing list, keyed

rallies that led to Rick Wise’s 16th win-his 9th in a row-with an 8-2 win over the Angels at Anaheim. This was the trip everybody feared, but the Sox now are 5-2 and since the O's lost to KC, the lead is back to seven. Said Angels’ GM Harry Dalton: “Boston’s not only going to win the division, it’s going to win the pennant.” Thanks for Denny Doyle, Harry. Wise had a breeze as he fanned eight, walked three. He now has 11 in 12 starts since June 9. RedSox 203 000 003-8-15-1

Angels 000 020 000-2- 7-2

Wise and Fisk; Hockenberry, Hassler (3), Lange (6) and Hampton, Rodriguez (6). WP - Wise (16-6). LP - Hockenberry (0-2).



Baltimore 62 61 .549 7 New York 59 55 .518 10V2

Milwaukee 54 62 .466 I6V2

Cleveland 51 61 .455 17V2 Detroit 46 70 .397 24 V2

The Sox lost, 4-3, but they gave the A’s- and 46,376 at the Coliseum-something to think about. Vida Blue sailed along with a 4-0 lead when -crash, bang! - Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk unloaded homers and it took Rollie Fingers, Paul Linblad and, finally, Jim Todd to put out the fire. Todd got Jim Rice to line to Reggie Jackson with runners at first and third to end it-and Jackson had to make a terrific catch. Thus the Sox now lead O's by six. Claudell Washington had a busy matinee. He went to the c.f. fence for Rico Petrocelli’s drive, then saved a triple with a running, shoestring catch on Rick Burleson. Yes, the A’s will have a few thoughts about the Sox. Meanwhile, Yaz, who missed the entire series with a bad shoulder, is due back in Anaheim. Virus hit Denny Doyle. RedSox 000 000 030-3- 9-0 A’s 010 111 00X —4-11-1

Moret, Drago (6) and Fisk; Blue, Fingers (8), Lindblad (9), Todd (9) and Fosse. WP Blue (16-8). LP-Moret (8-2). HR -Lynn (19), Fisk (7).

19

Rookie Jim Rice nurses a bad hand

Sunday, August 10 Two straight in Oakland-and the O's lost,

so its seven games up now. Homers by Jim Rice and Cecil Cooper and a key hit by Doug Griffin in the 9th clinched Luis Tiant’s 14th victory. The bullpen (Jim Burton, Jim Willoughby) saved Tiant after seven innings, 5-3. Now the Sox and A’s are identical at 70-45. A's Alvin Dark went with Dick Bosman, 7-1 since coming over from the Indians. He didn’t last long. Cooper’s 10th homer was his second in two days. Rice’s clout went 430-plus feet, a line drive into the runway in center. Cooper played first for injured Yaz and is hitting .328. Second base ump Terry Cooney ejected Carlton Fisk in the 8th after “Pudge” was thrown out stealing. "Ridiculous" snorted Fisk. "I had the bag by two feet.” Willoughby got Sal Bando (.197) on a fly to the fence, caught by Rice. Sox bullpen has 21 saves in five weeks. Red Sox 200 200 001 -5-1 1-0

A’s 000 200 001 -3- 7-0 Tiant, Burton (8), Willoughby (9) and Fisk,

Blackwell (8); Bosman, Todd (4), Lindblad (8), Fingers (8) and Tenace. WP-Tiant (14-11). LP-Bosman (7-4). HR-Cooper (10), Rice (19), Tenace (18).

Friday, August 8 Drat that Rollie Fingers! Reggie Cleveland

had a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh, but the A's spoiled it, 3-2, and Fingers, the spoilsport, gave Ken Holtzman some relief by striking out four of the last five batters before 20,575 at Oakland’s Coliseum. This cut the Sox lead to six games-five in the vital loss column. Reggie Jackson foiled Cleveland’s no hitter-crash!-with a smack over the fence in right center. A few pitches later, following Billy Williams’ single up the middle, Gene Tenace parked a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence. Fingers took care of the rest. Red Sox 010 010 000-2-5-0 A’s 000 000 30X-3-3-1

Cleveland and Fisk; Holtzman, Fingers (8) and Fosse. WP-Holtzman (14-9). LP- Cleveland (9-8). HR-Jackson (28). Tenace (17).

Saturday, Aug. 9 Ex teammate Sonny Siebert was the target.

Denny Doyle and Cecil Cooper unloaded homers on him and Carlton Fisk boomed a 440-ft. shot off Glenn Abbott in a 7-2 win at Oakland and now its three out of four on the safari. Bill Lee notched his sixth straight victory, 11th in the last 13 outings, but yielded to Dick Drago in the 8th when a blis¬ ter on his thumb hampered his style. A four- run third inning KO’d Siebert. Doyle jumped on Siebert’s first pitch, unloaded a two-run homer over the fence in right to make it 25 of 26 successful games at the plate. Jim Rice made an exceptional catch off Sal Bando for the final out. Lee is now 9-2 on the road. Sox 26-8 since July 6. Doyle has been up 129 straight times without a strikeout. Red Sox 014 020 000-7-11-0 A’s 000 000 200-2- 6-2

Lee, Drago (8) and Fisk; Siebert, Abbott (3), Todd (5), Bahnsen (6) and Fosse. WP-Lee (15-6). LP-Siebert (2-3). HR-Doyle (4), Cooper (9), Fisk (6), Bando (9).

This is already set put in line score!!!!!!!!

Red Sox 100 000 103-5-9-1

White Sox 000 000 000 - 0-2-0 Moret, Willoughby (8) and Fisk; Wood,

Upshaw (9) and Downing. WP-Moret (9-2). LP-Wood (12-16). HR-Evans (10).

Thursday, Aug. 7 Rick Wise spun an 8-hitter for win No. 15

and mates Denny Doyle and Fred Lynn chipped in for a two-game sweep in Milwau¬ kee, 4-2, and now it’s on to the Oakland showdown. Wise’s win was his 8th in a row and 10th in 11 starts. Lynn had three hits, two RBI and Doyle, now 24 in 25 games, knocked in the others. Mike Hegan homered twice for the Brewers. Rico Petrocelli dou¬ bled to tie with Johnny Pesky 9th on all-time Sox hit parade with 1,277. Sox now 34-20 on road. Grr. Bring on those A’s. Red Sox 003 000 100-4-9-1

Brewers 010 000 100-2-8-2 Wise and Fisk; Slaton and Porter. WP-

Wise (15-6). LP-Slaton (11-11). HR-Hegan 2(4).

Wednesday, August 6 An auspicious road debut and another im¬

pressive relief stint by Jim Willoughby as the Sox get four in the ninth to beat the Brewers in Milwaukee, 5-2, with pinch-hitter Doug Griffin singling home the winner. Rookie Jim Rice, piqued at catcher Darrell Porter’s jawing, singled with the bases loaded, two out. "He told me to stop looking back at his signals,” snorted Rice, who was restrained by plate umpire Jim McKean. Willoughby picked up his third victory in his longest relief stint (5V5 scoreless innings) and also has six saves in 13 appearances. He fanned six, didn’t walk anybody. Sox lead O’s by six in the all-important loss column since Baltimore swept the slumping Tigers. It marked the 25th time the Sox have won after being tied or behind in the seventh inning. Red Sox 000 000 014-5-10-0

Brewers 001 100000-2- 6-0 Burton, Willoughby (4) and Fisk; Colborn,

T. Murphy (8), Austin (9) and Porter. WP-

Willoughby (3-1). LP-T. Murphy (1-4). HR- Scott (23).

Tuesday, August 5 Mr. Palmer has a method -and he stopped

the Red Sox again, this time on a two-hit, one-walk masterpiece before 35.662 and Denny Doyle was one of the victims, his hit¬ ting streak ended at 22 games. Luis Tiant. suffering his fourth straight loss, was a last- minute starter when Roger Moret was side¬ lined. Luis went seven innings, yielded three O’s runs and nine hits, but Palmer was un¬ beatable, winning his 16th-tops in the majors. Only three Sox batters reached. Doubles by Carlton Fisk and Rick Burleson were the only hits and Doyle’s last attempt to prolong his string failed on a blooper snagged by Don Baylor. To add to the dis¬ comfort, the Sox now embark on their most gruelling trip of the season-15 games in five cities-and brash O’s pilot Earl Weaver predicts all sorts of dire things. Orioles 001 1 10 000-3-7-0 Red Sox 000 000 000-0-2-0

Palmer and Duncan; Tiant, Willoughby (8) and Fisk.


W L Pet. GB

BOSTON 66 42 .611 —

Baltimore 55 50 .524 9V2

New York 55 52 .514 10V2

Milwaukee 55 56 .486 13 V2

Cleveland 47 58 .448 17 Vi

Detroit 46 62 .426 20

The big series with bantam Earl Weaver’s Oriolesat Fenway and-crash!-the roof falls in a 31-hit shootout as the O's bring the Sox streak to a screeching halt, 12-8. A five-run Boston lead gurgled down the drain as Balti¬ more produces nine runs on four homers: Bobby Grich (3); Brooks Robinson (3); Don Baylor (2) and Ken Singleton. The season’s largest crowd (35,868) witnessed the carnage as starter Bill Lee was assaulted and suc¬ cessor Jim Willoughby was battered. There was little solace in Jim Rice’s 18th homer and a three-run job by Carlton Fisk that forged a 6-1 lead in the third inning. How¬ ever, Denny Doyle-cheers, Standing CD- extended his streak to 22 games. Grich’s homer off Lee was headed for Kenmore Sq. when last seen. It tied it 6-6 and things went downhill from there. Roger Moret was named to spell ailing Luis Tiant in the encore vs. Jim Palmer, but Moret was in an auto mishap in Stonington, Ct. Orioles 000 000 000-12-16-2 Red Sox 222 200 000- 8-15-1

Lee, Willoughby (6), Cleveland (8) and Fisk; Cueller, Jones (4), Smith (7) and Duncan. HR-Rice, Fisk, Grich, Robinson, Singleton, Baylor.

21

22 Tim Blackwell has this pop foul under control

Sunday, August 3 Game No. 21 for Doyle-on a two-run

homer and a single-but this was Cecil Cooper’s turn in the limelight as he led off the 8th against righthander Tom Walker and homered into the Detroit bullpen. The Sox thus swept the Tigers with their 6-4 win and moved 9V2 games ahead of the Orioles who were held to three hits by Milwaukee’s Jim Slaton. Reggie Cleveland had relief from Jim Willoughby, who retired the final three hit¬ ters for his 6th save in 11 appearances. “I just landed in the right place at the right time,” said Jim. “I threw all fastballs and sinkers. I just want to keep doing the job the rest of the season." Cooper hadn’t started at DH since July 24 when he pulled a muscle. ”1 told him (Mrg. Johnson) I was ready Satur¬ day," said Cecil. "My leg feels 90 per cent OK. I’m just happy to finally hit a homer when it counted.” Cooper is batting .408 as a DH (31-77) and has filled in nicely. Doyle’s homer surprised him: "All I was trying to do was hit the ball to the right side because Bernie Carbo had doubled. But I made a mistake and got it into the air.” Some mistake! Tigers 000 200 020-4- 9-0 Red Sox 201 000 12X-6-13-0

Coleman, T. Walker (7) and Wockenfus; Cleveland, Willoughby (9) and Fisk. WP- Cleveland (9-7). LP-T. Walker (3-8). HR- Doyle (3), A. Rodriquez (10), Burleson (5), Cooper (7).

Saturday, August 2 Another scorcher-103 degrees on the

field-but the Sox were just as hot as they rolled to their 8th straight with Rick Wise notching win No. 14 and Denny Doyle hitting in game No. 20. Rick had a six-hitter into the 8th inning, but the heat took its toll after 100 pitches and reliever Dick Drago came on in his first appearance in over three weeks. A bases-loaded DP in the 9th saved Drago. Wise shed nine pounds in his 7th straight win. “Still, I feel pretty good,” said Wise. “I don't try to pace myself. I throw as hard as I can for as long as I can." Said Doyle: "This is the longest streak I’ve ever had. I had a couple of 14-game streaks, but never 20. "The last few games the Brewers and Tigers have been throwing me breaking stuff inside -trying to make me pull-but I got a pitch to hit and I went to left to score a run. Things are happening here, you’d better believe it. Feels a lot better than in California." Tigers 011 000 000-2- 8-1 Red Sox 100 500 10X-7-13-0

Ruhle, Arroyo (4) and Freehan; Wise, Drago (8) and Blackwell. WP-Wise (14-6). LP-Ruhle (9-8). HR-Pierce (1), Sutherland (5).

Friday, August 1 Despite 100-degree heat, 26,573 jammed

Fenway and were unhappy when Luis Tiant, struggling after missing a turn with shoulder miseries, yielded a game-tying three-run homer in the 9th to Willie Horton and a go- ahead belt by Bill Freehan-but everything turned out OK. The Sox rallied in their half as Captain Carl and Denny Doyle singled for a run. Jim Rice laid down a bunt single-yes, a bunt single-and a couple of Tiger errors added up to an 8-7 victory. Thus the Sox stayed 8V2 ahead of the O’s who swept a pair in Milwaukee. Fred Lynn cranked a two- run homer. Bernie Carbo and Rice had solo homers and Jim had another pair of hits. Doyle’s hitting streak now at 19 games. “No, my shoulder didn’t hurt,” said Tiant, "and the heat didn’t bother me too much.” Over¬ worked air conditioners knocked off the lights in the Sox dressing room. Tigers 011 000 104-7-14-2 RedSox 010 140002-8-14-0

LaGrow, Arroyo (5), Pentz (9) and Freehan; Tiant, Willoughby (9) and Fisk. WP- Willoughby (2-0). LP-Pentz (0-1). HR-Free¬ han 2 (11), Carbo (15), Lynn (18), Rice (17), Horton 2 (20).

Thursday, July 31 Who says left-handers can’t win at Fenway?

Bill Lee did. So did Roger Moret, in a 3-2, 6-1 sweep of Detroit and now the Red Sox are nine in front. Lee scattered 11 hits in a 10-inning win in the opener before a near¬ sellout 31,317. Moret pegged a nine-hitter, fanned seven, walked one in wilting heat in the second game. Moret worked from three jams. Jim Rice's single won the opener. Sox have won 20 of 25 and Denny Doyle’s streak is 18 with a single and stolen base in the first, two hits in the nightcap.

First Game Tigers 110 000 000 0-2-11-1 RedSox 100 000 010 1 -3- 8-1

Bare, Reynolds (8) and Wockenfus; Lee and Fisk. WP-Lee (14-6). LP-Reynolds (0-2). HR-Ogilvie (4).

Second Game Tigers 000 010 000-1-9-1 RedSox 001 103 10X — 6-6-1

Lemanczyk, T. Walker (6) and Wockenfus; Moret and Blackwell.

Wednesday, July 30 “I don’t see anybody who can challenge

Boston. Not New York. Not Baltimore. No one. They just can't challenge the Red Sox," said old pal George Scott, but he and Brewer teammates didn’t help the cause, winning 6-2 with a three-run homer by Sixto Lezcano off starter Reggie Cleveland the big blow. However, O’s lost in Cleveland, so the lead's still eight. Crowd of 33,850 didn't like Sox loss of two in row for first time since July 4-5 in Cleveland. Hope Scott’s right. Brewers 000 010 230-6-10-0 Red Sox 100 000 100-2- 6-1

Slaton and Moore; Cleveland, Burton (8) and Fisk. WP-Slaton (10-10). LP-Cleveland (8-7). HR - Evans (9), Lezcano (8).

Tuesday, July 29 Diego Segui doesn't make many starts-

he hadn't since May 16, 1972-and maybe there’s a reason. Anyway, he tossed home run balls to the first two Brewers (ssh, on consecutive pitches) and it was downhill from there after Don Money and Darrell Porter turned the back to-back trick. Luis Tiant had a sore shoulder, Dick Drago a bad wing and with Jim Burton for southpaw relief and Dick Pole disabled, Segui was left. Give Jim Colborn credit. His 4-0 effort con¬ tained just seven Sox hits and a 10-game Fenway streak was kaput. Denny Doyle hit in game No. 15. Brewers 201 010 000 — 4-10-1 RedSox 000 000 000-0- 7-0

Colborn and Porter; Segui and Fisk. WP - Colborn (7-8). LP-Segui (2-4). HR-Money 2 (11), Porter (11).

Monday, July 28 A.L. East Standings


Baltimore 51 47 .520 8 New York 50 50 .500 10 Milwaukee 50 52 .490 11 Detroit 45 55 .450 15 Cleveland 44 54 .449 15

NBC-TV had a good show as the Sox tipped Milwaukee, 7-6, with Carl Yastrzemski’s bunt-yep, Yaz’s bunt-playing a major role before 33,606 at Fenway. Carl eventually scored as red-hot Carlton Fisk hit a bases- loaded single for a 4-4 night with five RBI and a pair of homers. "My batting’s getting bet¬ ter,” said "Pudge”, not one to brag. Jim Willoughby entered the picture again, as he has so much lately. He earned his first victory in his 9th appearance, spelling Rick Wise, who allowed three homers before exiting. Wise had won six straight and worked on three days rest. Willoughby had the low stuff going, sliders, sinkers. Denny Doyle stretched a hitting streak to 14 games. Nine games up now. Brewers 002 202 000-6- 9-2 RedSox 200 201 101 — 7-12-0

Bioberg, Travers (4), Murphy (7) and Porter Wise, Willoughby (6) and Fisk. WP —Wil¬ loughby (1-0). LP-Murphy (1-2). HR-Fisk 2 (4), Porter (10), Bevacque (1), Lezcano (7).

23

Rick Wise gets a chaw... what a comeback!

Sunday, July 27 Fred Lynn’s catch. Oh, Fred Lynn’s catch

in the opening game. "Biggest catch I’ve ever made," said the rookie centerfielder who took a triple from Graig Nettles in the 9th when he ran down his dangerous drive, made a diving, roll-over catch on which the ball popped from his glove and was snatched in mid-air.” Channel 38 will run it all winter. Anyway, the catch saved game, set and sweep of the Yankees as Bill Lee took an opening duel from “Catfish” Hunter, 1-0, and the Sox romped, 6-0, in the encore. A Yankee record crowd at Shea-(53,631) watched in dismay. NY trails by 10. Goodbye, Yankees. Lee squirmed from a bases-loaded jam in the 5th. Roger Moret fired smoke in the nightcap, featured by Yaz’ 12th homer. "You won't ever see another catch like Lynn made, and don’t forget it,” said veteran coach Eddie Popowski.

First Game Red Sox 000 000 001 -1-3-1 Yankees 000 000 000 — 0-6-2

Lee and Blackwell; Hunter and Munson. WP-Lee (3-6). LP-Hunter(13-10).

Second Game Red Sox 102 200 100-6-13-0

Yankees 000 000 000 — 0- 6-0

Moret and Fisk; Martinez, Tidrow (4), Guidry (8) and Munson. WP-Moret (7-1). LP- Martinez (1-1). HR-Yastrzemski (12).

Saturday, July 26 Mgr. Johnson switched his pitching rota¬

tion and it brought Reggie Cleveland in to start-and win-a key game, 4-2, over the Yankees with a three-run 9th. Shortstop Rick Burleson tossed a couple of spectacular fielding plays in for good measure and now it’s eight in front again. Carlton Fisk hit a two-run single in the rally, made a key plate block (yes, with the ‘bad’ knee) on Thurman Munson, his old pal, in the 7th, the play started by Denny Doyle's nifty throw. Yes, and Denny opened the 9th with a double and the score 1-1. Doyle had glowing words on Burleson: "Those are two of the best plays you’ll see a shortstop make all year.” "I’m pitching now the way they expected when I came here,” said Cleveland. Benching Yaz the night before? Yaz said nothing. Johnson ditto. Hey, that’s an 8-game lead. Who needs acrimony? Red Sox 010 000 003-4-10-0 Yankees 000 010 001 —2- 6-0

Cleveland, Willoughby (9) and Fisk; Dob¬ son, Tidrow (9) and Munson. WP-Cleveland (8-7). LP-Dobson (9-11).

Friday, July 25 Too little, too late, and too many miscues-

right fielder Juan Beniquez and first baseman Bob Montgomery were the main miscre- ants-as the Yankees held off a closing rush to win, 8-6, before 40,165 at sodden Shea Stadium. Yes, you heard it right, Bob Mont¬ gomery at first as Mgr. Darrell Johnson rested Captain Carl. "I only planned to play Yaz in three games here anyhow,” he explained. So Lou Piniella had four RBI, Chris Chambliss two and southpaw starter Rudy May had a bailout from lefty reliever Tippy Martinez. The Sox outhit NY, 15-10, with Jim Rice having four hits, Carlton Fisk three and two RBI. But the errors built an 8-2 NY lead, too much for Luis Tiant. Sox surged for four runs in the 8th, left the bases loaded. Juan was gone in right, but that’s not his bag anyway. Now the lead’s down to seven. Red Sox 000 200 040-6-15-3

Yankees 002 101 40X-8-10-0

Tiant, Burton (8) and Fisk; May, Lyle (8), Martinez (8) and Herrman. WP-May (9-6). LP-Tiant (13-10).

Thursday, July 24 Yep, Jim Rice again, with a two-run homer

as the Sox swept Minnie, 6-2, as Rick Wise won his 13th and the Sox soared 18 games over .500 in their 14th win in 16 starts. Ten walks from Joe Decker and Ray Corbin aug¬ mented just six hits. Wise fanned seven, walked one in his sixth straight win. Threw 114 pitches. Rick’s 8-1 since June 9. "I think our guys can use a little rest,” ex¬ plained Mgr. Johnson, who used Juan Beniquez, Cecil Cooper, Bob Heise. Denny Doyle now has hit in 10 straight games. Red Sox 201 020 100-6-6-0

Twins 100 000 001 -2-9-2

Wise and Blackwell; Decker, Corbin (3) and Borgman. WP-Wise (13-6. LP -Decker (1-3).

Wednesday, July 23 Jim Rice’s a fielder, too, don’t forget it. He

proved it again with two larcenous catches as the Sox won, 4-2, at Met Stadium. Jim had catcher Glen Borgmann muttering as he foiled him of two homers, first to the fence in the 5th with a leaping grab, then in the 7th on a drive to left center he snagged just at the top of the fence. “Some kind of catch," praised Fred Lynn, who has had a few him¬ self. Oh, yes, an error on Rice’s grounder provided the winning run. Jim Willoughby did a nifty relief stint for Roger Moret and the Sox are 13-2 in their streak. Willoughby arrived after 130 Moret pitches. "There was no time to finesse anyone,” said Willoughby. “I just wanted to keep the ball down and throw strikes.” Good man, that Willoughby. Looking ahead: Word from New York is Sun¬ day’s doubleheader is SRO, 55,300 seats. But let’s finish the business here first. Red Sox 021 001 000-4-9-1 Twins 020 000 000-2-7-1

Moret, Willoughby (9) and Fisk; Hughes and Borgman. WP-Moret (6-1). LP-Hughes (8-8). HR-Cooper (7).

Tuesday, July 22 The “vacation" must have helped Carlton

Fisk. He whacked a two-run single, made a game-saving throw as the Sox hung on, 5-4, in Minnesota with Lee going the route in a hold-onto-your-hat effort as the Twins ral¬ lied from 5-0 with Rod Carew’s two-run homer the impetus. Fisk’s bullet throw to Rico Petrocelli picked Steve Braun off third in the 7th after Carew’s fake bunt. "Pudge seems to have more zing in his legs," said Mgr. Darrell Johnson. "Maybe missing two games helped him. Once again Lee had the ground ball going- 18 for outs. Red Sox 023 000 000-5-5-1 Twins 000 002 200-4-8-1

Lee and Fisk; Goltz and Borgman. WP- Lee (12-6). LP —Goltz (7-8). HR-Carew (11).



New York 48 44 .522 6 Milwaukee 47 46 .505 7V2 Baltimore 45 45 .500 8 Detroit 42 49 .462 11V2 Cleveland 41 50 .451 12l/2

Billy Martin was cashiered as Texas Mana¬ ger and interim pilot Frank Lucchesi won his debut, 6-0, on Fergy Jenkins’ five-hitter for a split of the series. Luis Tiant was racked for 12 hits, six runs in six innings and his ERA is now 4.09. Jenkins faced just 32 bat¬ ters, fanned five, walked only two. Last Sox shutout was June 22 by O’s Mike Cuellar. You could look it up. Rico Petrocelli tried his new glasses, discarded them at bat when they fogged. Sox sent Bill Lee ahead to Minnie, gave Pudge Fisk the night off. Red Sox 000 000 000-0- 5-0 Rangers 400 011 00X —6-13-1

Tiant, Burton (7), Segui (8) and Blackwell; Jenkins and Sundberg. WP-Jenkins (13-9). LP-Tiant (13-9). HR-Moates (1), Burroughs (19).

Sunday, July 20 The 10-game streak ended, 10-5, in the

first game of a twin bill in Texas as Lenny Randle knocked in three runs with a triple and double, but the Sox rebounded, 3-2, in the nightcap. Starter-loser Roger Moret was, well, so-so but Fred Lynn had HR No. 17 and Jim Rice three hits. Lefty Clyde Wright had help from lefty Jim Umbarger. Pittsburgh’s Tom Grieve had two hits, two RBI in the open¬ er as the Sox played catch-up after falling behind 5-0.

First Game Red Sox 000 012 020- 5-10-1 Rangers 203 021 02X-10-10-3

Moret, Willoughby (3), Burton (5), Segui (6) and Fisk; Wright, Foucault (8), Umbarger (8) and Sundberg. WP-Wright (2-3). LP- Moret (5-1). HR - Lynn (17).

Second Game RedSox 010 010 100-3-10-1 Rangers 000 000 200-2- 6-1

Cleveland, Willoughby (7) and Blackwell; Hargan and Sundberg. WP-Cleveland (7-6). LP - Hargan (6-6).

25

Denny Doyle was a popular acquisition

Saturday, July 19 Ten in a row, this time Rick Wise’s seven-

hit shutout of the Rangers with Denny Doyle (homer, three RBI) and Cecil Cooper the offensive heroes. A six-run sixth inning did the trick. Red Sox 010 006 001 -8-10-1 Rangers 000 000 000-0- 7-3

Wise and Fisk; Hughes,Umbarger (6), Moore (7) and Sundberg. WP-Wise (12-6). LP-Hughes (2-4). HR-Doyle (3), Cooper (6).

Friday, July 18 You had to see Jim Rice’s homer to believe

it-500 feet or so going past the flag in center field and over the back wall to the right of the flagpole. Old-timers say only Jimmy Foxx and Hank Greenberg have had as prodigious pokes. Anyway, it was Jim’s 15th blast that was Topic A, as the Sox made it a 9-3 breeze over KC for nine straight. Sox unloaded on highly-rated Steve Busby for seven runs in three-plus innings. Busby yielded Rice’s homer. Captain Carl hit a two- run poke, Bernie Carbo and Denny Doyle had two RBI apiece and Bill Lee’s six-hitter for his 11th win concluded an undefeated homestand. Crowd of 30,226 hiked attendance over 900,000. Royals 000 100 002-3- 6-3 RedSox 231 110 01X-9-13-0

Busby, Mingori (4) and Healy; Lee and Fisk. WP-Lee (11-6). LP-Busby (11-8). HR -Yastrzemski (11), Rice (15), Killebrew (11).

Thursday, July 17 Loo-ie, Loo-ie. The cries went up again in

the Fenway sweatbox, but Luis Tiant, who thrives on heat, pitched a route-going five hitter for his 13th win. Sox gained a game on Yankees and Brewers, now lead by 5V2. What a home stand: 96 hits, 65 runs in eight games. Rick Burleson’s 4th homer into screen keyed the four-run 5th and Sox top¬ ped Royals, 8-3. Batting hero Cecil Cooper had 5th homer, four RBI, is 23-51 as DH and has hit in 13 of last 14 games. Royals 000 000 300-3- 5-2 RedSox 010 140 20X-8-12-0

Fitzmorris, Splitorff (5) McDaniel (7), Bird (8) and B. Martinez; Tiant and Fisk. WP- Tiant (13-8). LP - Fitzmorris (9-7). HR- Cooper (5), Burleson (4), Mayberry (18).

Tuesday, July 15 All-Star game, 6-3 National League. Yaz

batted for Jim Kaat in 6th, clubbed three-run homer over right center field fence. Lynn hit for Bert Campaneris in 6th, flied to right, played center field, struck out, swinging, in 8th.



New York 45 41 .523 4V2 Milwaukee 46 42 .523 4V2 Baltimore 41 44 .482 8 Cleveland 40 46 .465 9V2 Detroit 39 47 .453 IOV2

Carl Yastrzemski named A.L. Player of Week after batting .522 with six RBI, 16 total bases. Yaz has gone from .194 to .313 since mid-May.

Sunday, July 13 Oh, the good things keep happening-7th

straight, a series sweep, Yaz 5 for 5, four RBI for Lynn and win No. 11 for Rick Wise, 7-5, and now it’s 4V2 in front of the AL East. Sox fashioned a 7-0 lead, but Wise wilted in the humidity, lost eight pounds before he got relief in the 7th. Rick has won four straight, six of seven. Yes, the rain was a bother, but who cares when you’re winning? Some series with Texas and Minnie: 84 hits, 57 runs, 27 doubles, eight homers, two triples. Lynn 12-22 with 13 RBI; Rice 9-29, 19 RBI and two titanic homers. What do you think, Captain Carl: “There's a damn long way to go. We have to hope injuries don’t hit as they did last year. Jim Rice and Fred Lynn will each drive in 100 runs and hit 25-30 homers. Our pitching's better than people think. Fenway’s a tough place to pitch, so don’t go by the ERA. When Pudge and Rico get back 100 per cent, where's the breather in our lineup?’’ Rangers 000 010 220 — 5-1 1-1 RedSox 103 300 00X —7-15-1

Hargan, Foucault (3), Umbarger (4), Moore (4), Wright (6), Bacsik (7) and Sundberg; Wise, Lee (7), Willoughby and Fisk. WP-Wise (11-6). LP-Hargan (6-5). HR-Howell (4).

Saturday, July 12 Rain and more rain failed to deter the Sox

streaking-or was it splashing?-to their 6th in a row, 10-4, over Texas with Luis Tiant win¬ ning No. 12 and also becoming the first Sox pitcher to bat since Marty Pattin in ’72. Loo-ie won big ovation from 20,696 soggy patrons when he skied out in the 8th. Yaz had three RBI, Jim Rice hit 16th homer and now the Sox are firming their first-place position. Doug Griffin had two RBI with his third straight pinch hit. Tiant whiffed six, walked three as game was delayed 33 then 37 minutes took 4:04 to complete. Rangers 000 200 020- 4- 8-1 RedSox 202 014 10X— 10-1 1 -2

Jenkins, Umbarger (6) Foucault (7) and Sunberg; Tiant and Fisk. WP Tiant (12-8). LP-Jenkins (10-10). HR-Rice (14).

Friday, July 11 The beat goes. Rangers lead, 5-1, but

shucks, pardner, this is a team of destiny, right? Anyway, Fred Lynn, back from All- Star game, had two hits, two RBI and since he returned is 9-13 for league-leading 67 RBI. Rookie Jim Burton picked up his first major league win in relief. Yaz has hit in 16 of 17; Cooper in 10 of 12. Rangers 201 200 102- 8-10-0

RedSox 100 123 04X-1 1-16-0 Hands, S. Thomas (5), Umbarger (6), Fou¬

cault (6), Kekich (7) and Sundberg; Drago, Burton (5), Segui (7) and Blackwell. HR- Burroughs (18), Cubbage (4), Carbo (14) Harrah (10).

Thursday, July 10 Every day a new hero. Cecil Cooper's the

newest with the game-winning single off Gaylord Perry as the Sox dumped Texas, 8-7, with Fred Lynn’s homer and four RBI a factor. Perry, 14-2 vs. Boston, conked Carlton Fisk on the head in the first following Jim Rice's double. “Pudge” appeared ready to confront Perry, but Trainer Charlie Moss, Coach Don Zimmer and ump Nestor Chylack cooled the situation. Jeff Burroughs hit one of his tape measure jobs for three runs off Reggie Cleve¬ land to tie it 7-7 with two out in the top of the 9th. Only other time Sox beat Perry was Aug. 9, ’72. Lynn and Yaz named to All-Star squad. Lynn, the only rookie, polled 1,415,964 write-in votes. AL President Lee MacPhail plastered Doug Griffin with fine, reprimand for shoving a reporter. Rangers 000 210 013 — 7-13-1

RedSox 201 400 001 -8- 9-1 G. Perry, and Sundberg; Barr, Cleveland (5)

and Fisk. WP-Cleveland (6-6). LP-Per/y (7-14). HR - Lynn (16), Randle (3), Burroughs (17).

Wednesday, July 9 This one was hard to believe. The Sox

trailed 7-1, but beat the Twins, 9-8, with Fred Lynn, back in the lineup, and Jim Rice helping the comeback. Sox scored five in last two innings. Lynn with a two-run homer. Cecil Cooper led off the 9th with a homer to tie. Rice’s hit scored Doug Griffin with the clincher. Yes, and Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk homered. The new guy, Jim Willoughby’s his name-and everybody’s getting to know that now-twirled 4-plus neat relief innings after starter Roger Moret was KO’d early. “This looks like the type of club that can always come back,” appraised Willoughby, getting media attention now. “My job is to keep things close.” Good job, Jim. Twins 007 000 010-8-14-1

RedSox 011 002032-9-13-0 Goltz, Albury (8), Burgmeier (9) and Borg-

man; Moret, Willoughby (3), Segui (8) and Fisk. WP-Segui (2-3). LP - Burgmeier (4 5). HR- Evans (8), Fisk (2), Lynn (15), Cooper (4)

27

28 Rick Burleson ... teammates call him “Rooster.”

Tuesday, July 8 It’s easy to see why Fred Lynn was the

A.L.’s Player of the Month in June-and maybe for July, too. Anyway, rookie Fred is nursing a sore thumb, but it didn’t stop him from stroking a bases-loaded pinch single in the 9th to beat the Twins, 6-5, before 17,519. This kept the Sox a game up on the Yankees and two on Milwaukee. Now the Twins have lost six of eight to Boston. “The thumb still bothers me. It’s in a spot where it can't be taped,” said Lynn, whose hit came off Tom Johnson. Reggie Cleveland, who has taking it from fans, even warming up in the bullpen, looked pretty good and picked up the win. Twins 001 000 220-5-9-2

RedSox 1 11 020 001 — 6-12-0

Campbell, Johnson (7)and Borgman; Tiant, Drago (8), Burton (8), Cleveland (9) and Fisk. WP-Cleveland (5-6). LP-Johnson (0-1).

Monday, July 7 Jim Rice on a rampage with his 13th homer

and three RBI as the Sox measured the Twins, 6-3, on a four-run outburst in the first inning while Rick Wise sailed to his 10th victory with help from Jim Willoughby. Twins 100 001 001 -3-8-0

RedSox 400 010 01X — 6-8-2

Hughes, Albury (8) and Borgman; Wise, Burton (7), Willoughby (7) and Blackwell. HR

- Rice (13).

Sunday, July 6 Guess Willoughby was where he belonged

-Tulsa. Oscar Gamble drilled a three-run homer off him and the Sox couldn't stand prosperity after a 5-3 win in the opener of a Bat Day doubleheader that drew 58,781 in Cleveland. Reggie Cleveland couldn’t hold a 5-0 lead and Jim Whosis came along. Bang! That pest George Hendrick greeted him with a single. Crash! Gamble unloaded and school was out. Geez, the Sox are hanging onto first by their fingernails. If Willoughby, or what¬ ever his name is, is the best Dick O’Connell can do for the bullpen, we're in trouble brother. OK, so Bill Lee looked pretty good in the opener. What we need is h-e-l-p.

First Game RedSox 040 001 000-5-8-2

Indians 000 210 000 — 3-8-0

Lee, Drago (8) and Fisk; Bibby, Buskey (7) and J. Ellis. WP-Lee (10-6). LP-Bibby (3-9). HR-Carty (5).

Second Game RedSox 050 001 220-10-12-0

Indians 200001 110-11-14-2

Cleveland, Willoughby (5), Segui (7), Moret (8), Drago (9) and Montgomery; J. Brown, Beene (2), Buskey (7), LaRoche (8) and Sudakis, J. Ellis (8). WP-Beene (1-0); LP- Cleveland (4-6). HR-Hendrick (16), Gamble (4), Burleson (3), Powell (13).

Saturday, July 5 Mercy, as Ned Martin would say, this .001

business is getting everybody edgy. Good thing Milwaukee lost 3-2 to the Tigers, so it’s .538 Boston to .537 Brewers after the Indians romped. 12-2, with Buddy Bell belt¬ ing a grand slam off rookie starter Steve Barr up from Pawtucket, in the second. Eight unearned runs, would you believe? Bell rang another homer in the fourth and had six RBI.

The Sox have the staggers for sure. George Hendrick likes Boston pitching. He hit homer No. 15 in the seventh, his fifth off the Sox this season. Rick Burleson made an error, Denny Doyle made — ah, forget it. We're hanging on, baby, but not by very much. That guy from Tulsa, Jim Whathisname checked in, cranked up in the bullpen. The way things are going, we’ll see him soon. RedSox 000 000 200- 2- 8-3

Indians 151 100 13X— 12-10-0

Barr, Burton (2) and Fisk, Blackwell (6); Harrison and J. Ellis. WP-Harrison (3-2). LP-Barr (0-1). HR- Bell 2 (8), Hendrick (15).

Friday, July 4 Now it’s .001—and sweating-for the Sox

as they dropped their fifth in six, their third one-run decision, 3-2, to the Indians when Luis Tiant tossed a gopher ball to Oscar Gamble for two runs in the 7th. Tempers are high. Bernie Carbo and Buddy Bell had a punchout that cleared the benches after a play at third base. Coach Don Zimmer, a peacemaker, took a smack in the kisser and was knocked down. Coach Eddie Popowski stayed on the bench. Too old for that stuff. Later, however, "Pop” and Dewey Evans kept Luis Tiant from assaulting pitcher Tom Buskey. Independance Day my eye! Oh, yeah. The Sox grabbed some guy named Jim Willoughby from the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm at Tulsa. Ho, hum. What's he doin’ at Tulsa if he’s any good? RedSox 100 000 100-2-7-0 Indians 001 000 20X-3-4-1

Tiant and Fisk, Blackwell (6); Raich, Buskey (8), LaRoche (9) and J. Ellis. WP- Raich (5-2). LP-Tiant (ll-8).HR-Yastrzem- ski (10), Gamble (3).

Thursday, July 3 After two rock shows a few days earlier,

County Stadium looks like a mine field — craters all over the joint-and this was a factor in Fred Lynn’s fielding mishap-he charged Kurt Bevacqua’s single, let it past- and the Brewers’ 3-2 win in the 10th. Now it’s tighter than a bullfighter’s pants with Milwaukee .002 behind, .553 to .551. Field ing plays by Rick Burleson, Bob Heise extri¬ cated reliever Diego Segui in the 9th. Cecil Cooper touched Jim Slaton fora homer over the r.f. wall and Yaz doubled home a run. Hank Aaron clocked No. 741, his 8th this season, off starter Roger Moret. Juan Beni- quez went on the 15-day disabled list with a cranky right knee. Ssh. Besides the errors, Lynn’s 0 for 10. Luis Tiant tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. RedSox 000000 1 10-2-9-1 Brewers 000 100 001 — 3-8-0

Moret, Segui (9) and Fisk, Blackwell (5); Slaton, Austin (8) and C. Moore. WP -Austin (2-0).LP-Segui (1-3).

Wednesday, July 2 Jim Rice's debut as a regular will be re¬

membered. Boom! He parked two homers in a 6-3 win in the opener vs. the Brewers, but old pal George Scott foiled Rick Wise’s no¬ hit bid with two out in the 9th. Then Milwau¬ kee roughed Bill Lee and gained a split, 4-3. Wise yielded a 2-run homer to Scott and failed in a bid for a second major league no-hitter. Last Boston no-hitter was Sept. 16, 1965 by Dave Morehead. Wise had a perfect game until the 7th when Rick Burleson boot¬ ed Don Money’s grounder. Bob Darwin also touched Wise for a HR. The 34,455 in County Stadium, watching the Brewers surge, enjoyed the 11-hit barrage on Lee that in¬ cluded Pedro Garcia's homer. Sox still lead Milwaukee by one wispy game and Yankees by IV2. Rice’s first homer traveled 450 feet easy

First Game RedSox 003 01 1 100 — 6-14-1

Brewers 000 000 003-3- 2-0 Wise and Fisk; Castro, Champion (4) and

Porter. WP-Wise (9-6). LP-Castro (3-2). HR-Scott (14), Darwin (19).

Second Game RedSox 012 000 000-3- 7-0

Brewers 010 021 OOX-4-11-0 Lee and Blackwell; Hausman, Broberg (2)

and C. Moore. WP-Broberg (9-7). LP-Lee (9-6). HR-Cooper (2), Thomas (7), Garcia (3).

29

30 Reggie Cleveland was a stalwart down the stretch

Tuesday, July 1 Earl Weaver is strutting again, making

speeches: “If we can pick up one game in the lost column every week, we'll win by five games. “OK for you, Earl, especially after Don Baylor’s 3-run homer keyed a 13-hit avalanche that buried the Sox, 10-6, before a distressed 22,245 watching the finale in the home stand. Sox now, tsk, tsk, are 19-20 at home, but clinging to first and 6V2 up on chesty Weaver’s O’s. Bernie Carbo’s 13th homer, 2 RBI and fielding larceny on Ken Singleton's potential homer went for naught. O’s battered five pitchers for 13 hits with southpaw Grant Jackson winning in relief, one of the rare wins at Fenway by a left¬ hander. Reggie Cleveland sported 23 stitches after an auto accident on Storrow Drive and he was banged up again-four runs. Starter Dick Drago took his lumps, too-five runs on five hits. On the brighter side: Fred Lynn has 58 RBI, Captain Carl was 13-37, .405 on the stand. Mgr. Johnson says DH Jim Rice will play left field in Milwaukee. Must keep an eye on Jim as a regular. Orioles 000 231 310 — 10-13-0

Red Sox 001 410 000- 6-13-2

Mitchell, Grimsley (3), Garland (5), Jackson (6) and Duncan; Drago, Burton (5), Cleveland (5), Segui (7), Barr (8) and Fisk, Blackwell (7) . HR-Carbo (13), Baylor (10).

Monday, June 30 A.L. East Standings


New York 41 33 .554 1 Milwaukee 40 34 .541 3 Baltimore 34 39 .466 71/2

Cleveland 31 42 .431 10 Detroit 28 44 .380 131/2

It was sickening Dick Pole, 24, took Tony Muser’s streaking line drive flush on the face and 32,817 fell silent as the big right-hander dropped like a rag doll on the mound with a fractured right cheekbone and right eye contusions. “He’ll be out weeks,” was the medical report after X-rays at Hahneman Hospital, Brighton. The accident occured with one out, 9th inning, in the opener of a twi-night doubleheader the Sox won, 5-2, vs. Jim Palmer. The O’s gained a split, 8-2, in the aftermath, but the Sox held first since the Yankees lost to Milwaukee. Sox jumped Hunter for 10 hits and Jim sustained his 5th loss. Jim Northrup’s two-run homer and Dave Duncan’s record tying four straight doubles buried Luis Tiant under eight runs, 16 hits.

First Game Orioles 000 000 002 — 2- 8-1 Red Sox 103 000 10X-5-10-2

Palmer and Duncan: Pole, Burton (9), Segui (9) and Fisk. WP-Pole (2-4). LP - Palmer (12-5).

Second Game Orioles 01 1 001 140 — 8-16-0 Red Sox 000 01 1 000-2-10-3

Alexander, Jackson (7) and Duncan; Tiant, Burton (8), Segui (9) and Blackwell, Fisk (8). HR Northrop (2).

Sunday, June 29 Roger Moret will remember his first start

of the season. So will everybody else. He went head-to-head with the ‘Catfish’, Hunter, that is. and won a 3-2 duel as the Sox went back into first place. Let’s hope they stay there. Rick Burleson’s double scored Bernie Carbo with the clincher in the 8th. Carbo won a battle of wits with the ‘Catfish’, lashed an inside pitch for a double to set it up. Burle¬ son’s rare post-game oration; “We’re not going to fold like we did last year. All we want to do is stay close now. If we’re close in August and September, we’ll win it. We have too many good players-Rice and Lynn, Fisk is back. Blackwell has a year’s experience. So have I." It was Moret’s first complete game since Sept. 24, '74-against the Yanks in NY. Four-game Yankee series drew 136,187, breaking the team record of May, '68 when NY lured 128,437. Now comes Baltimore. Beace yourself. Yankees 000 020 000-2-6-0

RedSox 000010 11X —3-6-0

Hunter and Munson; Moret and Fisk, Blackwell (7). WP-Moret (5-0). LP-Hunter (11-7). HR-Chambliss (4).

Saturday, June 28 Walt “No Neck” Williams hit a key double

in the two-run 8th as the Yankees recouped, 8-6, despite a pair of Yastrzemski homers and the Sox are second again, a half-game astern. Yankees ripped outspoken Bill Lee, who is getting plenty of flack these days. He allowed seven hits, six runs, but Reggie Cleveland was pegged with the loss. Yaz’ second homer was a three-run belt into the center field seats in the 6th off Doc Medich, tying the score 6-6. Dick Tidrow, Medich’s successor, earned the win with four relief innings. Boston Globe writer Bob Ryan, critical in a recent piece, was pushed by Doug Griffin, piqued at the article. All kinds of other things in the boudoir-Carbo jawing at the manager, Yaz blaming a weird hop off the scoreboard door on Williams’ go-ahead hit down the left field line. Yankees 100 050 020-8-12-0 RedSox 100 104 000 — 6-11-1

Medich, Tidrow (6) and Munson; Lee, Cleveland (5) and Fisk, Blackwell (7). WP Tidrow (5-0). LP-Cleveland (4-4). HR- A. Johnson (1), Yastrzemski 2 (9).

Friday, June 27 Back in first place-whoppee! Rick Wise

engineered the leapfrog of the Yankees with a nifty 8-hitter, 9-1, before 35,489 vocal fans. Rico Petrocelli whacked a booming double for two runs high off the center field wall and Doug Griffin had three RBI. Indeed, Wise had a shutout until two out in the 9th when he miscalculated on DH Bobby Bonds, who park¬ ed his 17th homer somewhere near Kenmore Sq. This was one of Wise’s best efforts. "He threw strikes,” admitted NY Mgr. Bill Verdon, the ultimate compliment. Sox now 17-17 at Fenway-and looking ahead. Yankees 000 000 001 -1-8-2 RedSox 030 230 01X — 9-9-0

Gura, Pagan (5), Tidrow (7) and Munson; Wise and Fisk, Blackwell (6). WP - Wise (8-6). LP-Gura (2-2) HR-Cooper (1), Bonds (17).

Thursday, June 26 A night to remember for the sellout 34,293.

Luis Tiant put a brake on things, Carlton Fisk clubbed his first homer, Fred Lynn chip¬ ped in a key triple-and the Sox stopped the streaking Yankees in the process, 6-1, before the season’s largest turnout. Sox trail NY by a half game. Tiant notched his 4th straight, fanned 8 and now has six straight vs. NY. He gave the Yankees the full repertoire-the wiggle, the jiggle, the half-turn to the c.f. bleachers, and, yes, even the pained expres¬ sion. El Tiante at his best is something else. He was slick in the clutch in the 8th and 9th, too, when NY threatened. “Pudge” Fisk had a big grin circling after his first HR since June 17, '74. Yes, a very good night by all. Yankees 100 000 000-1- 7-0 RedSox 000 300 30X-6-12-0

Dobson, Lyle (7) and Munson; Tiant and Fisk, Blackwell (7). WP-Tiant (11-6). LP- Dobson (8-6). HR - Fisk (1).

Wednesday, June 25 Scalped again! Thankgoodnessthe Indians

left town after the 8-5 massacre with Roric Harrison and George Hendricks-5 RBI, two homers, 5 hits in the series. Harrison breezed for eight and Tom Buskey rushed to help in the 9th. Big hassle on the last out. Bernie Carbo claimed his unassisted grounder to first hit his shoe. Umps Bill Haller and Armando Rodriguez didn’t see it that way and, truth to tell, the Sox have trouble all around these days. Frank Robinson’s Tribe left after 27 runs, 35 hits-and good riddance to em. "I was terrible," admitted victimized Dick Pole. Everybody was. Oh, well, Luis Tiant goes tomorrow. Indians 130 004 000-8-10-0

RedSox 200 000 003-5- 6-2 Harrison, Buskey (9) and Ashby; Pole,

Moret (6), Segui (8) and Fisk, Blackwell (6). WP-Harrison (1-2). LP Pole (1-4). HR Ashby (2).

31

32 Diego Segui uncorks a pitch

Tuesday, June 24 Out of first place. Yikes, that hurts! So

does the 5th straight loss at Fenway with 15,411 watching George Hendrick’s oppo¬ site-field homer into the right field stands beat Dick Drago and the Sox, 8-6. Red Sox (37-28) trail Yankees (39-29) by a half game. Hose just 16-16 at home, but 22-12 on road, and that’s a switch. Starter Bill Lee yielded to Roger Moret in the 9th, and Drago fol¬ lowed. Yastrzemski's two-run homer in the 8th created a 6-4 lead, first Sox HR since Lynn’s spree in Detroit. Indians 1 10 200 004-8-1 1-2

Red Sox 202 000 020-6-1 1-0

Kern, Buskey (8) and Ashby; Lee, Moret (9), Drago (9) and Fisk, Blackwell (6). WP- Buskey (4-3). LP-Drago (1-1). HR-Hendrick 2 (14), Spikes (2), Yastrzemski (7).



New York 37 29 .561 IV2

Milwaukee 33 32 .508 5 Baltimore 30 34 .469 7 V2

Detroit 26 36 .419 IOV2

Cleveland 25 39 .391 12V2

Big night for Carlton Fisk, his return to the lineup for the first regular-season game since he shattered his knee in a collision at the plate in Cleveland June 28, ’74. Good to have "Pudge” back, but it wasn’t good what the Indians did, jumping on rookie starter Jim Burton, 11-3, with homers by playing manager Frank Robinson and Frank Duffy. Three Sox errors didn’t help, either. Bill Lee didn’t endear himself with post-game ora¬ tion: "The only one in this city that’s got any guts is Judge Garrity. He’s going to win the pennant and then I'm getting out of this city.” Rookie pitcher Eric Raich helped foil the Sox, who announced release of catcher Tim McCarver. Indians 401 002 202-11-14-1 Red Sox 010 000 110- 3- 6-3

Raich, LaRoche (8) and Ashby; Burton, Segui (1), Cleveland (7) and Fisk, Blackwell (5). WP-Raich (3-2). LP-Burton (0-2). HR-

F. Robinson (8), Duffy (1), Doyle (2).

Saturday, June 21 Jim Palmer's too much, most of the time.

This was one of those times as he blanked the Sox on five hits. Palmer has rebounded from arm miseries and looks like a strong factor in Baltimore’s bid, but the fact the Red Sox are mired in a hitting slump hasn’t helped the cause. Red Sox 000 000 000-0-5-1 Orioles 300 000 000-3-7-0

Palmer and Duncan; Pole and Blackwell. WP-Palmer (5-3). LP-Pole (1-3).

Sunday, June 22 Even-Stephen for four games in Baltimore,

not bad. Luis Tiant whiffed 13 in a 7-hitter as Sox rebounded, 5-1, after the O’s won the opener, 3-0, on Mike Cuellar’s six-hitter and Don Baylor’s two-run homer. Thus the road trip ended, 9-4, and the O’s remain fourth. Encouraging, too, was the fact the Sox ended a 22-inning scoring drought. When Rick Miller tossed Ken Singleton out at second -oh, by 3-4 feet, anyway-and ump Joe Brinkman called him safe, Rick Burleson did a war dance and got the heave. Tiant pitched cagily-as usual. Used six K’s to end innings. Never see Cuellar in Fenway, but he's useful here in this big park. Jim Rice had two of Boston’s six hits off the lefty. Rick Wise ptiched well but lost. Happens sometimes.

First Game

Red Sox 000 000 000-0-6-0 Orioles 010 000 02X-3-8-0

Wise and Montgomery, Blackwell (8); Cuellar and Hendricks. WP-Cuellar (5-5). LP —Wise (7-6). HR- Baylor (9).

Second Game Red Sox 000 021 110-5-8-0

Orioles 000 100 000-1-7-0

Tiant and Blackwell; Alexander, Jackson (7) and Duncan. WP-Tiant (10-6). LP- Alexander (1-4).

Friday, June 20 Ah, now it’s six in a row-and a 12th inning,

4-3 thriller over the O’s to boot. Rick Burle¬ son's sacrifice fly scored the clincher. Dick Drago went lVb innings of hitless relief and the Sox scored three in the 9th to pull ahead, 3-2. Lynn was hitless in five trips, fanned twice, splashed into a DP but he made a spectacular diving catch off Lee May and that stirred even the partisan O’s crowd of 20,130. Juan Beniquez kept his streak alive -hitting safely in 24 games as a starter. Earl Weaver, the bantam braggart who manages Baltimore, already is predicting a Red Sox collapse, a la ’74. Big mouth, that Earl. It’s 14 straight for Yaz. Red Sox 000 000 003 001 -4-10-1

Orioles 000 101 001 000-3- 7-1 Lee, Cleveland (9), Moret (9), Drago (10)

and McCarver, Montgomery (9), Blackwell (10); M. Torrez, G. Jackson (9), Alexander (9), Grimsley (9), D. Miller (10). WP-Drago (1-0). LP-Jackson (1-3).

Thursday, June 19 All of a sudden Fred Lynn’s on everybody’s

lips. Phone calls early on a travel day to Baltimore-and a showdown with the Orioles. “The only call I made myself was to my wife," said Fred, who is acutely aware that many negative scouting reports were filed after his junior season at U. of Southern Cali¬ fornia. He explained: "As a junior I dropped down from cleanup in the batting order. As a result, I think I got overanxious at bat.” Regardless, the Red Sox took him on the second draft round. Forty went before him. Wonder where they are now?

Wednesday, June 18 Fred Lynn couldn’t sleep in his Hotel

Pontchatrain room. He got up at 6 a.m., went to the lobby, walked the deserted Detroit streets, returned for breakfast. Rest¬ less, he went to Tiger Stadium early for extra batting practice. Some practice! He hit three home runs —Nos. 12-13-14-plus a triple, a single and had a near record 10 RBI as the record for RBI in a game (Norm Zauchin, Yastrzemski was piping hot, too-three hits to run his string to 13-and the Soxassaulted four pitchers for 20 hits. Luis Tiant went six painless innings, left with a 12-1 lead. "Guess it pays to take extra practice,"grin¬ ned Lynn, who raised his average to .352 and his slugging percentage to .640, tops in the AL. First homer: Upper deck. Second homer: Off roof of the upper deck in left center. Next up: Triple, missed HR terrain by a few scant feet. Infield single. Third homer: Upper deck with two aboard. Fred tied Sox record for RBI in a game (Norm Zauchin, '55; Rudy York, ’46). Red Sox 435 000 003-15-20-0 Tigers 100 000 000- 1- 6-0

Tiant, Cleveland (7), Moret (8), Segui (9) and Blackwell; Coleman, LaGrow (3), Reynolds (3), Reynolds (8) and Wockenfus. WP-Tiant (9-6). LP-Coleman (3-10). HR- Lynn 3 (14).

Tuesday, June 17 Now the Sox are wheeling-and right in

the Motor City-with a 7-6 win with Juan Beniquez and Dick Drago sharing honors. Beniquez homer in the 8th proved the win¬ ner as the Sox made it four in a row. Drago tossed just 2 pitches, but they retired Ron LeFlore to snuff a rally. LeFlore had four hits. Rick Wise lasted five innings, picked up the win. Then there was a parade: Diego Segui, Roger Moret, Dick Pole, Bill Lee, and puff, puff, finally Drago. RedSox 401 100 010-7-15-0

Tigers 301 000 020-6-15-0 Wise, Segui (6), Moret (8), Pole (8), Lee (9),

Drago (9) and Blackwell; LaGrow, Brookens (1), Lemanczyk (5), Reynolds (9), Hiller (9) and Wockenfus. WP - Wise (7-5) LP - LaGrow (4-6). HR- Beniquez (2).



New York 32 26 .552 1 Milwaukee 29 29 .500 4 Detroit 25 39 .455 6V2

Baltimore 25 32 .439 7V2 Cleveland 24 34 .414 9

33

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Monday, June 16 "I just found my rhythm. I can throw the

ball the way I used to and I’m ready to work long or short relief. I told Darrell Johnson this afternoon in a conference,” said Reggie Cleveland, who went right out and picked up on rookie starter Jim Burton as the Sox out¬ lasted the Tigers, 6-2, in 12 innings. Burton went 9-plus impressive innings. Jom Rice’s 10th homer in the 10th was equalized and the Sox broke it open in the 12th on four hits and a hit batsman. Juan Beniquez, batting leadoff, has hit safely in 19 games he’s started, led the 12th with a booming triple. Dwight Evans pulled a hamstring in the 9th chasing Willie Horton’s foul. New supply of Sox bats were off in weights, lengths. Oh, well. Red Sox 000 100 000 104-6-14-0

Tigers 001 000 000 100-2- 6-0 Burton, Cleveland (10) and Blackwell;

Lolich, Walker (10) and Wockenfus. WP- Cleveland (4-3). LP-Walker (2-4). HR-Rice (10) , Wockenfus (2).

Sunday, June 15 Tim Blackwell doesn’t hit too well right-

handed, which may be the understatement of the year. However, he tapped one just in front of the plate off southpaw Steve Min- gori and beat out Fran Healy’s peg to first while Rico Petrocelli scored. John Mayberry held the ball and Dewey Evans, who never stopped steamin' around the bases, churned home to make it 8-4 in a four-run 8th. The Sox held on, 8-7. Lynn ran his hitting streak to 20 and newcomer Denny Doyle smashed a two-run homer. Sox now 4-2 on trip. Bill Lee had trouble-and that’s a kind word-but hung around long enough for win No. 9 despite six runs, 13 hits and so-so relief from Roger Moret. Oh, well. Every game can’t be a masterpiece. A win’s a win. Sox brass here inspecting the electronic scoreboard. Fen¬ way 76 may have one. RedSox 120 100 040-8-13-2

Royals 001 300 021-7-15-0 Lee, Moret (8) and Blackwell; Leonard,

McDaniel (6), Mingori (8) and Healy. WP-Lee (9-5). LP-McDaniel (3-1). HR-Doyle(l).

Saturday, June 14 Denny Doyle checked in from the Calif¬

ornia Angels and Tony Conigliaro was assigned to Pawtucket, R.l. before the Sox edged the Royals, 4-3, with Fred Lynn belt¬ ing a three-run homer and the winning run scoring on Jim Rice’s sacrifice fly in the 8th. RedSox 003 000 010-4- 7-0

Royals 000 102 000-3-12-0 Tiant and Blackwell; Pattin and Healy. WP

-Tiant (8-6). LP-Pattin (4-3). HR-Lynn (11) .

Friday, June 13 Half a loaf in a twi-nighter in KC. Fred Lynn

poled a three-run homer and Bernie Carbo clocked a two-run job in a 10-4 opening victory for Rick Wise-and Rick pulled from a three-game tailspin-but the nightcap, horrors, found the Royals jumping on Dick Pole en route to a 6-5 victory. Frank White hit a three-run HR and fleet Amos Otis had a rare inside-the-park job. Now the Sox have lost five of their last seven. Eddie Brinkman- to-Sox rumors proved false. Texas sold him to NY Yankees. Wise survived a treacherous start, wobbled through. Good news: Lynn went 2 for 4 in the aftermath to run his

string to 18 games. First Game

RedSox 010 102 213 — 10-13-2

Royals 202 000 000- 4-10-0 Wise and Blackwell; Fitzmorris, McDaniel

(7) and Healy. WP-Wise (6-5). LP-Fitz¬ morris (8-4). HR -Carbo (12), Lynn (10).

Second Game

RedSox 400 001 000-5-9-0

Royals 030 000 12X-6-8-0 Pole, Drago (8) and Montgomery; Splittorf,

Mingori (1), Bird (7) and Stinson. HR-F. White (2), Solaita (5), G. Brett (4), Otis (5).

Thursday, June 12 Bad night all around-five Sox errors, two

by Rico Petrocelli-and Bob Coluccio and Hub castoff Deron Johnson unloaded homers off rookie southpaw Jim Burton in a 9-2 Chisox romp. However, Fred Lynn extended his hitting streak to 16 games and captain Carl Yastrzemski, who left the game after three innings, was reported with a virus, nothing serious. Rico, tsk, tsk, also splashed into two double plays.

Wednesday, June 11 It was the wee hours of the yawning,

12:05 a.m. (CDT) when Carl Yastrzemski clocked a two-run homer in the 14th to end a marathon four-hour, 9-7 decision over the White Sox in Chicago. Roger Moret, third of four hurlers, got the win and is 4-0 plus near-perfect against the Chisox. Mgr. Chuck Tanner refused to have reliever Rich Gossage walk Yaz to pitch to rookie Fred Lynn. It proved a mistake, one of many in an error- prone game. Chi had four of ’em. Gossage toiled 7% innings, allowed just five hits, but Yaz’ 365-ft. hoist into the seats was costly. Bob Coluccio made a game-saving throw to the plate to nail Yaz in the 10th. RedSox 040011 10000002-9-14-1 WhiteSox 101 201 011 00000-7-15-4

Lee, Drago (7), Moret (10), Segui (14) and McCarver; Bahnsen, Gossage (7) and Down¬ ing. WP-Moret (4-0). LP-Gossage (3-5). HR -C. May (4), Downing (4), Yastrzemski (6).

Tuesday, June 10 A dismal departure-third straight loss

to end the homestand with LuisTiant bowing, 8-3 to the Rangers despite Bernie Carbo’s pair of homers. Jeff Borroughs whacked a two-run homer in the third. Tiant yielded two more in the sixth and was charged with four in the seventh before Roger Moret moved in. Luis hasn't been himself. A 23-game winner in 74, he has allowed 18 runs, 26 hits, 11 walks in last 16-plus innings. "I’m not wor¬ ried," said Luis. “I’ll be all right.” Carbo now has three two-homer games, four homers as leadoff. Rangers 002 002 400-8-13-0 RedSox 100 001 001 -3-1 1-2

Jenkins and Sundberg; Tiant, Moret (7). Burton (9) and McCarver. WP - Jenkins (6-6). LP-Tiant (7-6). HR —Carbo 2(11), Burroughs (15).



New York 28 24 .538 2 Milwaukee 24 26 .480 5 Detroit 23 25 .479 5 Cleveland 23 28 .451 6V2 Baltimore 22

* • •

28 .440 7

It wasn’t long before this was gone Rangers’ Jim Sundberg whacked a second inning grand slam off Sox starter Rick Wise and Texas, suh, was off to a 12-4 gallop, Boston’s second straight loss. Wise left early after six runs, five walks and there’s cause for concern since Rick has yielded 30 runs, 39 hits in 29 innings. Reggie Cleveland got some needed work-he’s been idle 15 days- and coughed up a homer to Jeff Burroughs. Jim Spencer and Toby Harrah also homered. Sox announced Southpaw Jim Burton was summoned from Pawtucket. Burton had a no-hitter, an 8-2 record. Rangers 042 010 140-12-12-0 RedSox 000 004 000- 4-10-1

Hands, J. Brown (3) and Sundberg; Wise, Cleveland (3), Moret (7), Segui (8) and Mont gomery, McCarver (7). WP-J. Brown (5-5) LP-Wise (5-5). HR-Sundberg(5), Burroughs (14), Carbo (9), Harrah (6), Spencer (8).

Sunday, June 8 Twins braked their skid with a disputed

7-5 decision with Sox Mgr. Darrell Johnson berating umpire Jerry Neudecker, charging he "ruined a good ball game.” Anyway, the play concerned Bernie Carbo and whether he did or didn’t catch Larry Hisle’s smash to left center. "I caught the ball, no doubt I caught it,” claimed Carbo. “It wasn't even close,” said Fred Lynn. Carbo said his body hit the wall, the ball hit his glove, bounced out and he caught it. TV replay seemed to confirm this position, but it still said the Sox lost when a last-inning rally fizzled. Twins 011 000 006-7-14-0 RedSox 010 000 004 — 6- 9-0

Goltz, Campbell (9), Burgmeier and Roof; Pole, Moret (9), Drago (9) and Montgomery. WP-Goltz (5-5). LP -Pole (1-1).

Saturday, June 7 The Red Sox increased their lead over the

Yankees to three games with a 3-1 win over the Twins at Fenway with Fred Lynn smash¬ ing his 9th homer and Bill Lee spinning an eight-hitter. Twins 000 100 000—1-8-0 RedSox 000 001 002-3-9-0

Corbin, Burgmeier (8), Campbell (8) and Borgmann; Lee and McCarver. WP-Lee (8-5). LP-Corbin (2-3). HR-Lynn (9).

35

Friday, June 6 Crash! Bang! Dewey Evans clouted a pair

of homers-his first grand slam-in a 13-10 romp over the Twins with Luis Tiant, still struggling, getting help for his 7th win. Pair of RBI went to Jim Rice. Bob Heise and Rick thing in left field. Evans credited a DH role in a Pawtucket exhibition as the key to his Sox were outhit 14-8? Evans’ “slam” came in the first off starter Joe Decker. His second came in the five-run third and cleared every¬ thing in left field. Evans’ credited a DH role in a Pautucket exhibition as the key to his renaissance. Twins trigger slugfests, it seems, with a combined 36-27 for Sox in last three games. Twins 032 020 030-10-14-2

RedSox 405010 30X-13- 8-0 Decker, Pazik (1), Albury (4), Campbell (8)

and Borgman; Tiant, Moret (6), Drago (9) and Montgomery. WP-Tiant (7-5). LP-Pazik (0-4). HR - Evans 2 (7), Oliva (3).

Wednesday, June 4 The old pull-it-out-in-the-9th trick, whew.

Three straight left-handed pinch-hitters combed fire-balling Rich Gossage of the Chisox and finally Rick Burleson singled home pinch-runner Rick Miller with the clincher in a 7-6 thriller. Red Sox were tied up by Jim Kaat-just two hits after the first -until they staged a rally with Tony C's double off the left center field wall providing Kaat his early liberty pass and bringing on Gossage, a tough customer. Bernie Carbo, Tim McCarver and Cecil Cooper were the successful left-handed hitters who helped tie it 6-6 to set the stage for “Rooster’s” game-winner. Rick Wise failed for the fourth straight time, yielded six runs on 10 hits. “He couldn't spot his pitches,” reported catcher Bob Montgomery. Sox have won 12 of 16. WhiteSox 100 210 200-6-10-0 RedSox 300 000 004-7-1 1-1

Kaat, Gossage (9) and Downing; Wise, Moret (7) and Montgomery. WP - Moret (3-0). LP-Gossage (3-3).

Tuesday,June 3 Dick Pole, the hulking right-hander from

Trout Creek, Mich.-ain't that a home town? -finally was paroled from the bullpen. Wow! He blanked the White Sox, 4-0, a nifty three- hitter for his first complete major league game. Jim Rice hit a whopper of a homer with two on in the first to give Pole a cushion right off. Rice’s 9th homer was a prodigious poke off starter Lloyd Allen. “A king-sized shot,” Mgr. Johnson called it. “Did you ever see a ball go out of here quicker?" Pole tossed smoke all the way, fanned eight and walked three after pegging just 12% innings previously. Carlton Fisk took batting practice again, feels “weak" and needs more work to build up his arm hurt in Spring training. WhiteSox 000 000 000-0-3-3

RedSox 300 010 00X —4-6-0 Pole and Montgomery; Allen, Gogolewski

(4) and Downing. WP-Pole (1-0). LP -Allen (0-1). HR-Rice(9).


W L Pet. GB BOSTON 24 18 .571 — Milwaukee 21 23 .477 4 Detroit 20 22 .476 4 New York 22 24 .478 4 Cleveland 19 25 .432 6 Baltimore 18

• * 27 .400 7V2

The Spaceman came to earth. Bill Lee somehow survived until the ninth inning, but the White Sox marrec 1 the opening of a home stand before 15,681 with a 9-2 win keyed around shortstop Bucky Dent, who had three hits and was foiled on two others by fine Fred Lynn and Bernie Carbo catches. Deron Johnson’s 5th homer in the fourth was the first earned run off Lee in 33 innings. Lee’s two errant pickoff throws hurt. Red Sox now are just 11-11 at Fenway. “You’re going to have those kind of games,” said Bill. WhiteSox 000 300 105-9-17-0 RedSox 000 110 000-2- 8-2

Lee, Drago (9) and Blackwell; Bahnsen and Downing. WP-Bahnsen (4-4). LP-Lee (7-5). HR-D. Johnson (5).

Sunday, June 1 It was Bat Day in Bloomington and Minnie

youngsters-some 20,000 of 'em, it seemed - but not as much as the Twins and Sox, who engaged in a slugfest, 11-9, with Boston frittering away a 9-0 lead. Carl Yastrzemski, Doug Griffin, Jim Rice and Fred Lynn homered, but Luis Tiant struggled and Diego Segui took a pasting until Dick Drago- cheers- buttoned down the win. It was some road trip for Lynn (9-for20, .333 to .352). Reggie Cleveland’s strained bicep hasn’t improved. Tiant pitched for the first time in nine days, exited after five with a 10-3 lead. Sox were 4-1 on safari and have won 10 of last 13. Rico Petrocelli sat out his second straight game with a bruised left wrist. Juan Beniquez at third. RedSox 432 011 000—1 1-12-2 Twins 000 122 040- 9-12-1

Tiant, Segui (6), Drago (8) and Blackwell; Hughes, Butler (2); Pazik (7), Campbell (9) and Roof. WP-Tiant (6-5). LP-Hughes (6-2). HR-Yastrzemski (5), Griffin (1), Lynn (8), Brye (2), Rice (8).

Saturday, May 31 The young Sox outfielders had a field day:

Fred Lynn, three hits; Jim Rice, two hits, four RBI; Dwight Evans had two doubles and three RBI. Rice clocked his 7th homer in response to three by the Twins, whose Bert Blyleven didn’t last long. Roger Moret spel¬ led faltering Rick Wise and picked up the win. RedSox 030 031 302-12-17-1 Twins 301 300 100- 8- 9-0

Wise, Moret (4) and Blackwell; Blyleven, Corbin (5), Burgmeier (6) and Borgman. WP -Moret (2-0). LP-Burgmeier (2-2). HR- Rice (7), Hisle (9), Braun (5), Carew (2).

Friday, May 30 Sox reached Minnesota in poor health.

Luis Tiant, Diego Segui and Rick Miller con¬ tacted a virus in Texas. Lee’s blister annoys him. Reggie Cleveland has sore right bicep. All this and the Twins are hot-and they continued so, with a little luck-in a 4-3 win to make the Red Sox record 37-72 in Min¬

nesota. “We hit line drives right at people." groaned Mgr. Johnson as Dick Pole made his first official start and ran out of stamina in the fifth. Diego Segui, idle for 17 days, took the loss. “This was almost like spring training for Pole. I thought he did a pretty good job,” said Johnson. RedSox 000 002 001 -3-10 0 Twins 000 020 20X-4-1 2-1

Pole, Segui (5), Drago (7) and Blackwell; Goltz, Burgmeier (7) and Borgmann. WP - Goltz (4-4). LP-Segui (1-2). HR-Braun (2), Lynn (6).

Wednesday, May 28 Bill Lee again -this time a 4-1 victory over

Ferguson Jenkins for his third straight com¬ plete game. An awry pickoff attempt cost Spaceman the shutout. Sox now have won eight of last 10, lead Milwaukee by two games. Blister on thumb didn’t bother Lee, who has won six of last seven. “I was un¬ touchable for the first five innings, but then the thumb started bothering me. I finessed them the rest of the way." RedSox 011 110 000-4-10-2

Rangers 000 000 010-1- 4-0 Lee and Blackwell; Jenkins and Sundberg.

WP-Lee (7-4). LP-Jenkins(5-4).

Tuesday, May 27 Rain washed out the game in Texas. Official

A.L. slugging statisitcs show rookie Fred Lynn leading with .574 based on 62 total bases in 108 at-bats. Yaz’ two-run double had tied game, 2-2, when deluge came. Bill Lee A.L. Pitcher of Week for back-to-back shut¬ outs last week.

Monday, May 26 A. L. East Standings


Milwaukee 20 18 .526 V2 Detroit 17 19 .472 2V2 New York 18 21 .462 3 Baltimore 16 23 .410 5 Cleveland 15 23 .395 5V2

In Arlington, Texas Dick Drago stuck almost completely with his fast ball “because it was alive” and the Red Sox rode his relief pitching to a 7-5 victory over the Rangers in the opener of a six-game trip. "The fast ball was just jumping. I only threw two sliders," said Drago, who faced five batters as he saved Rick Wise's victory. Bill Lee came on for a one-batter relief appearance, retiring Mike Hargrove on an infield pop. “It was my day to throw anyway,” shrugged Lee. "I knew I could help this way.” Bernie Carbo slugged a three-run homer off Texas relief ace Steve Foucault in the 7th for a 5-3 lead. Wise, however, couldn’t hold it. Willie Davis was miffed because Wise ‘dusted’ him and Ranger pitchers wouldn’t retaliate. Dwight Evans hit a two-run homer in the 8th. "My third homer in three years here,” said Dewey. Sox are 10-7 on road. Red Sox 000 001 420-7- 7-1

Rangers 1 10 100 200-5-10-1 Wise, Lee (8), Drago (8) and Blackwell;

Hargan, Faucault (7) and Fahey. WP-Wise (5-4). LP-Faucault (2-1). HR Spencer (2), Carbo (8), Davis (3), Evans (5).

38 Yes, sir, Fred Lynn’s a bunter, too

Sunday, May 25 “Strange day,” said Mgr. Darrell Johnson.

"Brital," said Yaz, who set what’s believed a Fenway first when he scooped dirt over the plate after a called third strike by leaguered plate umpire Lou DiMuro, who won the Great Thumb Award earlier, heaving Johnson and, earlier, dismissing Bernie Carbo in an antic scene in the second inning. Meanwhile, mustachioed Eduardo Figueroa pegged a three-hitter as the Angels won, 6-1. Tim Blackwell had a workout. Mickey Rivers swiped three bases and Blackwell tossed out four other steals. The Angels touched Reggie Cleveland for four runs on six hits in five-plus innings. Observed Johnson: "He didn't pitch badly, but he didn’t have good stuff.” Asked about the dirt-on-the-plate affair, Yaz replied: “I was frustrated. I didn’t know what else to do.” Angels 1 10 020 020-6-9-0

Red Sox 010 000 000-1-3-4

Figueroa and Egan; Cleveland, Moret (6), Drago (9) and Blackwell. WP-Figueroa (3-0). LP —Cleveland (3-3).

Saturday, May 24 Dick Williams and the Angels, piqued at

Bill Lee’s observation “they could take their batting practice in the hotel lobby” gagged it up at the Sheraton Boston, but, aha, Lee had the last laugh with the old “ground ball’’ pitches going again, Angels hit 15 grounders as Lee pegged his second shutout. Catcher Bob Montgomery: “He only threw about five pitches that were bad pitches.” Sox made it comfortable, staking Spaceman to early three-run ead. Angels 000 000 000-0-5-0 Red Sox 030 300 00X-6-7-1

Hassler, Lange (5), Scott (9) and Allioto; Lee and Montgomery. WP-Lee (6-4). LP-

Hassler (3-5). HR-Petrocelli (4), Burleson (2).

Friday, May 23 Ah, that Tim Blackwell. He took care of

those thieving Angels, throwing out Jerry Remy, Morris Nettles and Bruce Bochte on steal attempts in a 6-1 Red Sox cakewalk. “When you get that first guy, it’s great for your confidence,” said Tim, starting the second straight game and handling Luis Tiant against flame-throwing Nolan Ryan. Captain Carl belted a tape-measure, 440-ft. two-run homer into the runway in right field. "The ball was up around my chin,” grinned Yaz. "But I’m swinging good. A week ago I wouldn’t even have ticked it." Sox teed off on Ryan, who yielded five of six runs and saw his ERA soar from 1.83 to 2.26. Bernie Carbo and Dwight Evans also homered off him and Fred Lynn teed off on successor Chuck Dobson. Sox have 15 homers in last seven games and 34 in 35 games. Angels 000 001 000-1-8-0

Red Sox 100 031 01X-6-6-0

Tiant and Blackwell; Ryan, Dobson (5) and Etan. WP-Tiant (5-5). LP-Ryan (8-2) HR- Carbo (7), Yastrzemski (4), Evans (4), Lynn (6).

Thursday, May 22 Old friend Dick Williams —friend?-and

his larcenous California Angels came to town and ran away with a 6-3 win, taking gift runs in the first and. third innings and producing three in the fourth on five consecutive sin¬ gles. “They single you to death with their ping hits,” groaned Mgr. Johnson. “That’s our type of club and they’re a pleasure to watch,” countered Williams, holding court in the visitor’s room. Rookie Jerry Remy of Somerset tripled over Fred Lynn’s head for openers, scored on a sacrifice fly. Lynn and Evans missed signals on Billy Smith's ball and it went for three bases. He scored on Remy’s fly. Rick Wise was victimized, but the Angels are so high on Remy, they have veteran Denny Doyle on the bench. Can we get him? GM Harry Dalton’s talking with Sox Veep Dick O’Connell. That’s a good sign. Oh, yes, Dwight Evans tossed Smith out at third base, his seventh assist of the season. "We got rid of 17 men on our 40-man roster to play kids,” said Williams. Lynn had three hits, hiked his average to .337. Bill Singer, 31, pitched a seven-hitter for his 100th victory. Angels 101 300 001 -6-1 1-0

Red Sox 003 000 000-3- 7-0 Wise and Blackwell; Singer and Egan.WP

-Singer (4-5). LP-Wise (4-4). HR-Lynn (5).

Wednesday, May 21 Reggie Cleveland’s arm was “sore as a

toothache” from the second inning, but he managed through a 117-pitch, 7-3 victory over the A's keyed by Captain Carl’s grand slam, the sixth of his career, in the seventh. Cleveland’s third win came on the eve of his 27th birthday. “The ache came on when I was pitching to (Gene) Tenace in the second,” said Reggie. “I told the manager he’d better get someone warmed up. I could hardly pick up the resin bag.” The Sox now appear on the move. Alvin Dark’s left-handed gamble at Fenway was a disaster. Dave Hamilton, Vida Blue and Ken Holtzman gave up 17 of the 24 runs in the series sweep. Asked about Dark’s strategy, Johnson replied: “He knows his pitchers better than I do.” A’s 01 1 000 010-3-7-1 Red Sox 010 200 40X — 7-8-0

Cleveland and Montgomery; Holtzman, Todd (7), Fingers (8) and Tenace. WP-Cleve- land (3-2). LP-Holtzman (3-5). HR-Petro¬ celli (3), Yastrzemski (3), Tenace (6), Jackson (7).

Tuesday, May 20 The A’s went left-handed again, this time

with Vida Blue, who took 8-1 and 1.96 ERA

credentials to Fenway. The Sox went with southpaw Bill Lee, and he showed Blue a thing or two about pitching with the left field wall looming ominously over his shoulder. "This is a tough park to pitch in and Blue can't do it," said Lee, who came close to a no-hitter in a 7-0 runaway. Lee retired the first 13 batters, yielded a double to Sal Bando in the fifth, then a bad-bounce single to Angel Mangual leading off the ninth. Even Alvin Dark had good words for Lee: “To get our guys out that easy, you have to have good stuff. We didn't hit a ball hard all night.” Once again Spaceman had ’em hitting grounders-15 of the 27 batters bouncing to infielders. Carl Yastrzemski had 17 putouts at first base, including two pop flies. A’s 000 000 000-0- 2-0

Red Sox 021 121 00X-7-10-0 Lee and Montgomery; Blue, Fingers (5),

Lindblad (7), Todd (9) and Tenace, Fosse (8). WP-Lee (5-4). LP-Blue (8-2). HR-Rice (6), Conigliaro (2), Beniquez (1).


W L Pet. GB Milwaukee 19 13 .594 —

BOSTON 15 15 .500 3 Detroit 14 16 .467 4 Baltimore 15 18 .455 4V2 Cleveland 13 19 .406 6 New York 13 20 .394 6V2

A’s Mgr. Alvin Dark went against the “Fen¬ way jinx” to left-handers and started Dave Hamilton. Juan Beniquez had a field day batting lead-off. Twice he worked the hit- and-run with Rick Burleson in a 10-5 win. “Juan turned the game around for us with his speed and daring,” said Yaz. Beniquez continued a seven-game hitting streak (10- for-21, .476) and the A’s, noted for defense, made four errors, two by shortstop Bert Campaneris when the Sox got to Hamilton for five runs in the fifth. Rico Petrocelli’s leadoff homer opened the floodgates. Despite the fact that Bernie Carbo’s hot- 22 hits, 20 walks, 20 games-with a seven- game streak, he gave way to Beniquez and it proved a good move by Mgr. Darrell Johnson. A’s 1 10 000 300- 5-11-4 RedSox 000 050 41X— 10- 9-0

Tiant and Montgomery; Hamilton, Todd (5), Lindblad (7), Odom (7) and Tenace. WP- Tiant (4-5). LP-Todd (0-2). HR-Tenace 2 (5), Petrocelii (2).

39

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Regardless of how this sea¬ son turns out, it will be an educational experience for Oriole pitcher Ross Grijn- sley.

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Sunday, May 18 Rick Wise's six-hitter snapped a five-game

skid with a 4-2 win and —good news-Rick says he's still not 100 per cent. "I am free of stiffness while I’m on the mound, so I’ll have to try and do the best I can," said Wise. “The shoulder still is tender. It will take a year before it's back to the way it was.” Holyoke’s Fran Healy homered in the left field screen, his first of the year for KC. Wise struck out nine-four on called third strikes when the Royals were expecting curves and got fast balls. Rick retired 17 of last 18 batters. Royals 001 100 000-2-6-1 Red Sox 003 010 00X-4-9-0

Wise and Blackwell; Briles, Pattin (3), Mingori (5) and Healy. WP-Wise (4-3). LP- Briles (2-3). HR-Carbo 2 (6), Healey (1).

Saturday, May 17 Ouch! Sox submit for 5th time in row, 5-3

to Royals with big John Mayberry crashing a two-run homer, third in row for KC as Al Fitzsimmons had relief help from Danny Byrd. Homers by Bernie Carbo and Fred Lynn were scant solace. Royals 1 12 001 000-5- 9-2 RedSox 100 001 010-3-10-0

Fitzsimmons, Byrd (8) and Healey; Cleve¬ land, Moret (6) and Montgomery. WP — Fitzsimmons (3-2). LP-Cleveland (2-2). HR-

Mayberry (4), Carbo (4), Lynn (4), F. Whited).

Friday, May 16 The case of the communication gap. KC

Royals batted out of order all night, but Sox Mgr. Darrell Johnson sent his copy of official batting order to pressbox along with the scorer’s copy. Explained Johnson: “In every other park in the league I keep a copy of the other team’s lineup except here at Fenway. But for some reason I’ve been told to send my copy to the pressbox. I’ll change this situation and make damn sure I get my own copy from now on.” Anyway, KC with George Brett lised as the No. 2 batter and hitting at No. 6 won, 5-2. Bill Lee picked off runners in the first two innings (6-7 of season). He exited after seven innings with tenderness in his arm. Jim Rice cut his arm on the pitching machine in afternoon practice. Royals 003 200 000-5-1 1-1 RedSox 100 001 000-2- 5-0

Leonard and Healey; Lee, Drago (8) and Montgomery. WP-Leonard (1-1). LP-Lee (3-4).

Thursday, May 15 An inauspicious home return with KC's

Jim Busby pegging a four-hitter against Luis Tiant with the Royals winning, 3-0. Busby fanned four, walked two and now the Red Sox are 14-13, trailing first-place Brew¬ ers by three games. Royals 000 001 200-3-6-0 RedSox 000 000 000-0-4-1

Busby and Martinez; Tiant and Montgomery, McCarver (6). WP - Busby (4-2); LP-Tiant (3-5).

Wednesday, May 14 Off-day for travel as team returned to open

11-game home stand. Mgr. Johnson uncon¬ cerned power hitters Carl Yastrzemski and Rico Petrocelli are in slump. “They’ll start hitting,” said Johnson. Yaz has played in 26 games and Sox have 14-12 record, but he’s hitting .204. Rico is .179 in 22 games. How¬ ever, rookies Lynn (.329, 15 RBI) and Rice (.280, 17 RBI, 5 HR) are taking up slack.

Tuesday, May 13 Looks like Rick Wise needs more than three

days between starts. “I wasn’t as loose as I have been. I had pretty good velocity, but my control was off,” he said after the Red Sox lost to the A’s, 9-5, to end an 8-game trip on a discordant note. “They got some cheap runs,” Wise continued. “The one in the first started with a fluky hit. They opened the third with two hits that could have been outs.” Bert Campaneris bunted for a hit when no¬ body covered first. Then Reggie Jackson beat a topped roller to Petrocelli. Joe Rudi singled for two runs and Billy Williams drove in another with a single to center. After Rudi’s tie-breaking homer, the A's broke it open on Williams’ three-run homer off Roger Moret in the 7th. Boston’s four-run 5th had singles by Bernie Carbo and Doug Griffin, walks to Rick Miller and Tim Blackwell and a double by Rick Burleson. Mrg. Darrell Johnson used five left-handed hitters vs. right-handed A’s starter Glenn Abbott, including Rick Miller, starting his first game. Ken Holtzman, a starter making his first relief appearance, fanned Yaz for the final out in the 5th. Thieves robbed the Sox club¬ house during the night, stole 17 jersies, four pairs of pants. Moret wore Luis Tiant’s No. 23. Red Sox are 7-5 on road, compared to 5-10 this time in ’74. RedSox 000 040 010-5- 8-0 A’s 1 03 01 0 31X — 9-12-1

Wise, Moret (7), Drago (9) and Blackwell, Montgomery (7); Abbott, Holtzman (5), Lindblad (6), Todd (8) and Tenace. WP- Holtzman (2-4). LP-Wise (3-3). HR-Rudi (4), Williams (3).


W L Pet. GB

Milwaukee 16 10 .615 —

BOSTON 14 10 .583 1

Detroit 12 12 .500 3 Baltimore 12 15 .444 4M?

Cleveland 11 15 .423 5

New York 11 • * *

17 .393 6

Gadzooks, that Rollie Fingers of the A’s is something. The mustachioed reliever held off the Red Sox for 6V3 innings as the A’s rallied to win, 5-3. Dwight Evans’ single up the middle in the 9th was the only hit off Fingers. But it was just the second Sox set¬ back in seven games on the trip. There was concern when Jim Rice pulled a muscle chasing Reggie Jackson’s fly in the 4th. “It’s not too bad,” reported Trainer Charlie Moss. Southpaw starter Dave Hamilton was rapped the first three innings, but along came Fin¬ gers. Mgr. Alvin Dark yanked Rollie for left¬ hander Paul Linblad to face Conigliaro who lined out foul to third baseman Sal Bando for the final out. Dark had just motioned Bando to guard the line. Reggie Cleveland was good for six innings until his pitches moved up. Petrocelli hit a two-run homer, his first, Family Night crowd of 28,984 was Oakland’s largest of year. Doubles by Billy Williams, Gene Tenace, pinch-hitter Jim Holton’s two-run single and a ground single by Claudell Washington did most of the A’s damage. RedSox 021 000 000-3-5-0 A’s 000 100 40X-5-5-1

Cleveland, Segui (7) and Montgomery; Hamilton, Fingers (4), Lindblad (9) and Fosse. WP-Fingers (3-2). LP-Segui (1-1). HR Petrocelli (1).

Sunday, May 11 Bill Lee spun a six-hitter for his fourth win

and Jim Rice belted homer No. 5 as the Sox measured the Angels, 5-2, with Dwight Evans clubbing three hits and Rick Burleson col¬ lecting two RBI.

RedSox 000 102 002-5-10-2

Angels 000 002 000-2- 7-0 Lee and Montgomery; Singer, Scott (7),

Figueroa (9) and Egan. WP-Lee (4-3). LP- Singer(2-5). HR-Rice(5).

Saturday, May 10 Southpaw Frank Tanana, 21, and his off-

speed pitches did in the Sox and Luis Tiant, who went down to his fourth loss despite retiring the first 15 men. Tanana pegged a four-hitter, struck out 13 before Anaheim Stadium’s second largest crowd in history. The Angeles pushed across two runs in the 6th with Jerry Remy’s double a key blow. Oh, well, six out of seven isn’t bad. RedSox 000 000 000-0-4-0 Angels 000 002 00X — 2-4-0

Tiant and Montgomery; Tanana and Egan. WP-Tanana (3-3) LP -Tiant (3-4).

41

Friday, May 9 The streak continues thanks to Rick Wise’s

three-hitter in a 4-1 win over Angels. “I'm extremely satisfied with this performance, but I'm not 100 per cent yet,” said Rick, giving his best performance in six starts. “When you have a good fast ball like that, you go right after the hitters.” Catcher Bob Montgomery: “Rick was excellnt.” Mgr. Dar¬ rell Johnson: "Some kind of pitching.” Monty and Jim Rice drove in runs with sacrifice flies. Rice has at least one RBI in last six games. Rick Burleson had an audience-25 relatives and friends from nearby Lynwood, Calif. Only one Sox error in six-game spree. RedSox 011010 100-4-7-0 Angels 000 000 001 -1-3-1

Wiseand Montgomery; Hasslerand Allietta, Sudakis (7). WP-Wise (3-2). LP-Hassler (3-3). HR-Rivers (1).

Thursday, May 8 Idle day, but good news for Luis Tiant, who

may see his dad, Luis, Sr., 69, for first time since May, 1961, his third year in Mexican League. He last saw his mother in '68 when he lived in Ciudad Viaducte, outside Mexico City. Cuban Premier Fidel Castro, approached by Sen. Edward Brooke, R., Mass., and Sen. George McGovern, D., So. Dak., interceded with Castro. “I don’t know the details,” said Luis, "only that Fidel has given them permis¬ sion to see me.” Angels rookie second baseman Jerry Remy, Somerset, Mass., is hitting .276 with nary an error in 25 games. Scout Frank Malzone huddled with Mgr. Johnson after researching A's-Angels series.

Wednesday, May 7 Reggie Cleveland’s 4-2 win overthe Indians

with a return to basics on the mound and a relief stint by Diego Segui made it five straight and a sweep in Cleveland. "Reggie was very much improved,” said Mgr. Darrell Johnson, who credited Pitching Coach Stan Williams with returning Reggie’s motion com¬ ing onto his lead (left) foot. “It was two weeks since my last start, but it felt like three weeks or a month,” said the 26 year-old pitcher. Sox jumped on left-hander Fritz Peterson for four runs, then were foiled by reliever Tom Buskey. Jim Rice played left field in Johnson’s revised lineup, belted his 4th homer to open the 6th. When Petrocelli, Evans and Conigliaro followed with singles, Peterson exited. Tony C. was DH for the first time since April 15 when he pulled groin muscles in New York. He went l-for-4, batted in the game-winner. California here we come -with a rush to the airport. Sox were forced to stay in a LA hotel when a doctor’s conven¬ tion took over the Grand Hotel in Anaheim. RedSox 000 013 000-4-10-0 Indians 010 000 010-2- 8-1

Cleveland, Segui (7) and Montgomery; Peterson, Buskey (6) and Ellie. WP-Cleve¬ land (2-1). LP- Peterson (2-3) HR-Rice (4).

Tuesday, May 6 Southpaw Bill Lee had his sinking fast ball

working and it produced Cleveland ground balls galore as the Red Sox-whee!-won four in a row for the first time since Aug. 18-23, '74. Shortstop Rick Burleson had 10 assists, three shy of the AL record for a 9- inning game. There were four other ground¬ ers and Captain Carl had 14 putouts at first as the Sox romped 4-1. “My fastball was excellent, so I stayed with it all the way,” said Lee. But he blamed mound rival Dick Bosman for “messing up” the mound. “Usually I have my own hole where my (right) foot comes down and a right-hander has his hole for his left foot,” said Lee. “But Bosman digs his hole on the opposite side of the mound and it’s not the depth I like.” Rookies Lynn and Rice continued their torrid hitting, Fred at .365 and DH Jim at .313 with six RBI in the four-game surge, Rice also swiped his first major league base. Bosman and successor Jim Kern, a right-handed rookie, stopped Burleson’s four-game streak in which he batted .462. RedSox 112 000 000-4-6-0 Indians 000 001 000-1-6-1

Lee and Montgomery; Bosman, Kern (3) and Ellis. WP- Lee (3-3). LP- Bosman (0-2).


W L Pet. GB Milwaukee 13 7 .650 —

Detroit 10 8 .556 2 Cleveland 10 10 .500 3 BOSTON 9 9 .500 3 New York 10 13 .435 4V2 Baltimore 8

* * *

13 .381 5V2

Another struggle-another escape, this time with a 7-5 win in Cleveland with Dick Drago in relief of Luis Tiant, who picked up his third win. “I took Luis out because his arm stiffened up," said Mgr. Darrell Johnson! “The arm wasn’t sore-it wasn’t sore.” In the process, the Sox routed former nemesis Jim Perry, now 1-5 with a 6.82 ERA. Perry yielded five runs on six hits. Drago forced pinch hit¬ ter Deron Lee into a force-out in the 8th after Diego Segui lost his touch. More Drago heroics in the 9th. RedSox 000410 110-7-7-0 Indians 200 001 110 —5-9-1

Tiant, Segui (7), Drago (8) and Montgomery; J. Perry, LaRoche (5), Eckersley (8) and J. Ellis. WP-Tiant (3-3). LP-J. Perry (1-5). HR - Hendrick (3), Lowenstein (2).

Saturday, May 3 A breeze for Rick Wise and his second win.

Red Sox staked him to a six-run first, a 14- hit barrage and three Tiger errors helped the cause. Darrell Johnson: “Rick threw much better than his last time out.” Rick Burleson had three hits, three RBI and Bob Mont¬ gomery three hits, two RBI in the 12-2 runaway. Tigers 000 010 100- 2- 8-3 RedSox 600 201 03X-12-14-0

Wise and Montgomery; LaGrow, Lemanczyk (6), Ruhle (8) and Freehan. WP - Wise (2-2). LP —LaGrow (3-1).

Thursday, May 1 All kinds of incidents as Sox braked a 4-

game skid, beating Cleveland, 7-6. Indians’ Mgr. Frank Robinson pinch hit Leron Lee for himself in the 9th. Diego Segui, in relief of Bill Lee, fanned Leron Lee to end the game. Lee, struggling, picked Robinson off first, his 4th pickoff in five games, 19th in two seasons. He also made a behind-the-back stab on Charlie Spikes in the third. "I’m hav¬ ing my best defensive year and worst throw¬ ing year," observed Lee. "I could be 3-2 and happy, but I’m 2-3 and unhappy.” Rick Miller made a rare appearance, holding Rico Carty's line drive off the left field wall to a single. Observed Miller: “It looks like I’m too valuable defensively for this club to trade me, but not good enough to play regularly.” Indians 002 000 031 -6-10-0 RedSox 321 010 00X-7-10-0

B. Lee, Segui (9) and Montgomery; J. Perry, Kern (2), Eckersley (8), Buskey (9) and Ellis. WP-Lee (2-3); LP-J. Perry (1-4). HR-Carbo (3); Rice (3), J. Ellis (3).

Wednesday, April 30 Bad day in the field. Petrocelli booted

John Lowenstein’s first inning bunt. Carl Yastrzemski made a bad throw and Boog Powell followed with a 410-ft. salvo into the center-field bleachers. “You can’t give away many runs with Gaylord Perry pitching against you,” observed Mgr. Darrell Johnson. Indeed, Gaylord hiked his record to 14-1 in the 8-1 Cleveland romp before 9,309 and the Sox losing streak stretch to four. Luis Tiant wasn’t all that happy with his perfor¬ mance, but he had little help. Perry whiffed DH Rice four straight times. One bright spot: Dick Pole’s four-inning relief stint. One un¬ earned run, four hits. But the first night game of the season was a bomb. Indians 203 210 000-8-13-0 RedSox 000 010 000-1- 5-2

G. Perry and Ellis; Tiant, Pole (5) and Montgomery. WP-G. Perry (4-2). LP-Tiant (2-3). HR-Powell (3).

43

44 Manager Darrell Johnson is right atop the action

Monday, April 28 A.L. East Standings

W L Pet. GB Detroit 8 5 .615 —

Baltimore 7 6 .538 1 Milwaukee 8 7 .533 1 BOSTON 7 8 .467 2 New York 7 9 .438 21/2 Cleveland 5 7 .417 2V2

Sunday, April 27 Ex-Sox Ben Oglivie wrecked ’em and the

Tigers swept, 5-4. Oglivie’s 2-run homer in the 5th proved the clincher, but he gained another RBI when hit by a Rick Wise pitch on the foot with the bases loaded. He also made a larcenous catch in the 4th on DougGriffin’s slicing drive with the score 2-2. Despite two homers, Bernie Carbo was dejected: “We shouldn’t lose three straight to these guys.” On the brighter side was Dick Drago’s four innings of relief of Rick Wise (nine hits). “Can’t do any better than that,” said Mgr. Johnson. Oh. well. Two days off before the Indians, the brothers Perry (Gaylord, 13-1); Jim (34-19 lifetime vs. Boston) come to Fen¬ way with new Mgr. Frank Robinson. Carbo has led off six of the last seven games, has reached 13 times on six hits, seven walks and is batting .315. Red Sox 100 100 002-4-11-2

Tigers 101 120 000 — 5- 9-1 Wise, Drago (5) and Montgomery; LaGrow,

Walker (6), Hiller (9) and Freehan. WP- LaGrow (3-0). LP-Wise (1-2). HR-Carbo 2; Oglivie.

Saturday, April 26 Gary Sutherland’s crazy-hop single off

Doug Griffin’s glove with two out in the 10th gave the Tigers a 3-2 win and starter-loser Bill Lee was ripping mad. He shredded his uniform in rage. The Sox got runs in the first two innings, but were blankety-blanked by Vern Ruhle and John Hiller the rest of the way. Sox had bases loaded, one out, in 10th, but couldn’t score. Tigers 101 000 000 1 -3-9-2 Red Sox 1 10 000 000 0-2-6-1

Ruhle, Hiller (7) and Freehan; Lee and Montgomery. WP — Hiller (1-0). LP-Lee (1-3).

Friday, April 25 Luis Tiant pitched a two-hitter, but-oops

-one was a homer by rookie Dan Meyer into the left field seats at Tiger Stadium and Detroit won, 1-0. Southpow Mickey Lolich retired the last 15 batters in order for his 39th career shutout —tops in the AL Since Mel Stottlemyer’s retirement. Tiant was no slouch, either. He set down the first 14 Tigers-until Meyer in the 5th. Catcher Bob Montgomery and Tiant agreed they tried to fool Meyer with a changeup. "We were sup¬ posed to throw him a fast ball,” sighed Luis. Brr. Temperature at game time: 43 degrees, but Tiger Mgr. Ralph Houk said it was best his team’s had in 11 games. Glad to miss the others. Lolich stopped Fred Lynn's 8-game hitting streak. Beniquez again finished up at third when Bob Heise was lifted for pinch- hitter, Tony C. in 8th. Tony flied to right. Jim Rice still hot as DH. Mgr. Johnson: “I’m not going to take Jim out now, even though I’m told Tony’s leg is coming along.” Red Sox 000 000 000-0-4-C Tigers 000 010 00X — 1 -2-0

Tiant and Montgomery; Lolich and Free¬ han. WP-Lolich (3-0). LP-Tiant (2-2).

Wednesday, April 23 A five-run 7th provided a loosely-played

11-7 win over the Yankees to end the home stand. Reggie Cleveland was no mystery and neither was successor Roger Moret, who picked up the win, but Diego Segui pitched two shutout innings once the Sox got the lead. "Moret hasn’t thrown much. His wild¬ ness kept him in trouble,” explained Mgr. Johnson. “I can’t expect him to come in throwing strikes when he’s only pitched two innings for the season." The fibreglass cast was removed from disabled catcher Carlton Fisk and replaced with a splint. He began running in the outfield—good news and Jim Rice has taken to the DH role with a .290 average, two RBI today. Once again Juan Beniquez toiled an inning at 3B. Whoopee! Johnson gave team first day off since train¬ ing started in February. Yankees 002 301 100- 7-14-0 RedSox 102000 53X—1 1-10-0

Hunter, Lyle (7), Tidrow (7); Gura (8) and Munson; Cleveland, Moret (4), Segui (8) and montgomery. WP-Moret (1-0), LP-Lyle (0-1'

Tuesday, April 22 George “Doc” Medich, the U. of Pittsburgh

medical student, fed the Red Sox a bitter pill-a three-hit shutout and near-perfect performance in a 5-0 Yankee win. “Doc” also helped cure a NY skid, a 1-6 start that has improved with four out of five on a road trip. “This is the earliest I’ve had this kind of stuff," said Medich. It was a duel for a while with Rick Wise matching Medich’s magic for the first five innings. “We lost, but Rick looked better and stronger. He said he felt so good he couldn't believe it,” said Mgr. Johnson. NY put across a run in the 6th when Roy White walked, stole and scored on Bobby Bonds’ single to left. Sox are now 1-3 on home stand and Petrocelli’s elbow injuries nags with Bob Heise filling third base. Rico couldn’t even don uniform for pinch-hitting duties. Outfielder Juan Beniquez played thrid in the 9th. Johnson says he’ll stick with a four-man pitching rotation: Wise, Luis Tiant, Bill Lee, Reggie Cleveland. Yankees 000 002 100-3-6-0 RedSox 000 000 000-0-3-1

Medich and Munson: Wise and Mont¬ gomery. WP-Medich (3-1). LP-Wise (1-1).

Sunday, April 20 Fred Lynn’s day to shine in a 10-2 walkaway

over Baltimore for a 1-1 split after Saturday's washout. Fred has two singles, two walks, two RBI and hiked team-leading RBI to nine in seven games and his average to .423 with ll-for-26. Yes, and DH Jim Rice had two singles, two RBI and is hitting .368. "Leading off isn’t too bad,” said Bernie Carbo, who chipped in with a double, single, two walks and scored three runs. Once Sox jumped to 8-0 lead, Mgr. Johnson yanked Yaz, Rico. Luis Tiant hiked his Fenway record vs. O’s to 5-2. Spectacular fielding play by Lynn also caught the fancy of fans-a diving catch of Mark Belanger’s 8th inning drive. “I’m just lucky,” said Fred, but nobody believes that. Both Sox rookies are handling pressure, especially Lynn in the cleanup spot vs. left and right-handers. “He’ll be in center field everyday,” said Mgr. Johnson. Orioles 000 000 101 — 2- 4-0 RedSox 210 210 22X—10-11-1

Tiant and Montgomery; Torrez, Garland (4), Jackson (8) and Duncan. WP-Tiant (2-1). LP-Torrez (1-1).

Monday, April 21

BOSTON

A.L. East Standings W L 6 3

Pet. .667

GB

Milwaukee 6 4 600 V2 Baltimore 4 4 .500 IV2 Detroit 4 4 .500 1V2 Cleveland 3 4 .429 2 New York 3

* * *

7 .300 3V2

There were the Red Sox, buried under a pile of junk tossed by Yankees’ Pat Dobson, a guy they pounded a week before. "Just gave ’em the same stuff I always do-which is everything I’ve got,” grinned Dobson. “But I had a good curve and got it over." Dwight Evans’ topped roller in the third was the only hit until Evans singled sharply to center in the 8th. "No way he can throw a one-hitter with the junk he’s got,” said Evans. Sox Mgr. Johnson cited Dobson’s "control.” Bill Lee yielded four runs in the first on four hits and a walk, who got the hook in the 4th. The bullpen brigade took over - Dick Drago, Roger Moret, Dick Pole. It was Moret’s first appear¬ ance. Yankees 400 601 010-12-16-1

RedSox 000 000 001 - 1- 6-1 Lee, Drago (4), Moret (6), Pole (8) and

Montgomery; Dobson and Munson. WP-

Dobson (1-2). LP-Lee (1-2).

Friday, April 18 "This is the first time I’ve seen Fenway. I

don’t expect I’ll get a good pitch to hit until July,” mused Orioles Lee May, a NL refugee with nine years at Cinci and Houston. It didn’t take that long. May poled back-to- back 3-run homers in the 5th and 7th inn¬ ings as Baltimore won, 9-7, and Sox starter Reggie Cleveland watched a 6-2 lead dis¬ appear into the screen. Rookie Jim Rice, the DH with Tony C. nursing a severe groin pull, hit a pair of homers off southpaw Ross Grimsley. “Just one of those days,” mused Cleveland. Sox regulars injured in the NY series started: Rico Petrocelli (sore right elbow) at third; Yaz (jammed ankle) at first and Doug Griffin (strained hip muscle) at second. Carlton “Pudge” Fisk checked in from Fla., will run 2-3 miles daily and use weights pending removal of the cast from his broken right forearm. Asked about his homers, Rice replied: “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t hit.” Orioles 002 031 310-9- 9-0 RedSox 011 220 100 — 7-11-0

Grimsley, Alexander (4) and Duncan; Cleveland, Segui (7) and Montgomery. WP- Grimsley (1-1). LP-Cleveland (1-1). HR- Rice (2), May (2), Lynn (3).

45

All Sox Played Roles in Winning AL-East Title Yanks beat Birds twice^ to give Bosov f”

RED SOX ARE CHARITABLE

The Orioles aren't about tn look a gift horse in the mouth. If the Red Sox want to give the ors away then

Red Sox are campions Cox CUiwh \ l

- - ci 9 IjOS1 leveland, 5to * |'/X

Boston now ifee-time wov 1 Iv ^ I7 -•-i—J “'■Hi'11 ■ rwie

Rei a o-tO-z deci¬ sion to the Cleveland Indians yesterday, but wqa the Ameri¬ can League East Division pen¬ nant race when the Baltimore Orioles lost a double-header in New York.

Cleveland, rookie Hick Waits stifled t got eigh from Bex Spikes, g victory back to ti listen tor ti Yankee-Or

New York v—’

more, 3 to 2.

The doubl

1975 division Cleveland,

■~j put together a convenient losing hree games, their longest in two months, and '.he Orioles reason to believe they were in

" shape than anticipated.

i'es might have held some doubts about the prang because they are, unquestionably, a tan a year ago — even if the pitching is

N to

Red Division champ

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cteveLfka°r Vo Benw«," 1CT ° o 0 Ked Sbx’s annual September prat- Lo^dh o°oo o are alive and kicking. The two teams

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For comple di 46 Red Sox a stories on Pages 73, 86, 87 and 90.(

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present enthusiasm in fhe back of their wary Red Sox foldups.

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most resigned them-

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with a Raiayet SirGtcj1i (he Orioles were 25 and

.nb'Tted Sox pulled up in third place, seven games behind the first place Orioles.

Wednesday, April 16 Ah, a successful road trip, four out of

five, with a 147-pitch, 4-2 win over the Yan¬ kees for Rick Wise, happy and ‘‘confident now that my troubles are past.” Rick had bases loaded, one out, in seventh, struck out feared Bobby Bonds on an inside slider, then jammed Ron Blomberg, forcing a ground-out. Catcher Bob Montgomery enthused: “He (Wise) had about the same velocity . . . fast. He had a little better slider in this game.” It was Wise’s first complete game since April 13, 1974. “I don’t think about last year. It’s past,” he said. “Maybe some people are surprised we’re doing so we'l (5-2), but we’re not.” It was Rick's 300th appearance in the major leagues. Rookie Fred Lynn homered twice. Red Sox 201 010 000-4-8-0 Yankees 010 000 001 -2-9-2

Wise and Montgomery; Dobson, Gura (3) and Munson. WP-Wise (1-0); LP-Dobson (0-2). HR - Yastrzemski (2); Lynn 2 (1-2); Williams (1).

Tuesday, April 15 Everything’s OK with Dewey Evans. He hit

a two-run single off Jim “Catfish” Hunter in a 5-3 win over the Yankees at Shea Sta¬ dium. Evans somehow found reason to feel sorry for “Catfish”, who took a reported $3.7 million contract. “He’s under a lot of pres¬ sure,” said Dwight. Bernie Carbo, who led the attack with a double and two singles, was sympathetic, too: “Hunter just hasn’1 got his good control yet.” Hunter agreed with good humor: “If I was in the stands, I’d be boohing, too. I was getting my pitches up too much.” Sox staked starter-winner Bill Lee to four runs in the fourth, another in the eighth. Lee has his usual varied assort¬ ment-plus a change-of-pace pitch, a blooper. Said Lee: “Throwing that pitch is a lot of fun. They just can't hit it too far on a windy day. If you don’t throw too hard in this park and have some luck, you can win.” DH Tony C. went 0-for-4, dipped to .130. Lee made 101 pitches, 42 in first three innings. Red Sox 000 400 010-5-9-1 Yankees 11 1 000 000-3-5-0

Lee and Montgomery; Hunter, Lyle (8) and Munson. WP-Lee (1-1). LP-Hunter (0-2).

Monday, April 14

BOSTON

A.L. East Standings W L 3 2

Pet. .600

GB

Milwaukee 3 2 .600 00 Detroit 3 2 .600 —

Cleveland 2 2 .500 V2

Baltimore 2 2 .500 V2

New York 1 4 .200 2

Sunday, April 13 "I can’t do a thing right today,” groaned

right fielder Evans, one of baseball's pre¬ miere fielders. Dewey and Fred Lynn let a pop fly fall between ’em as the Orioles opened an insurmountable 7-2 lead in an 11-3 runaway. Bad day for Luis Tiant, too. He gave up 10 hits, eight runs, 22 total bases with five doubles and Brooks Robinson’s triple. Evans called Lynn off the fly, then botched it. Dick Pole, Tiant’s successor, was pasted, too. Oh, well, at least Lynn rebounded at the plate with two singles and a sacrifice fly for three RBI. “I was a little nervous,” Fred confessed. “First time I’ve batted in this stadium. I’ll be all right after I’ve made my first swing around the league and get used to the backgrounds.” Lynn sat out the first two O’s games with southpaws Mike Cuellar and Ross Grimsley starting. Oh, yes, Evans also made a throwing error- his first since 1973. “If you're going to mess up things, you might as well do it all in one day,” he reasoned. Cigars from Bernie Carbo. Wife Susan gave birth to an 8 lb. 8 oz. girl at Framingham Union Hospital. Red Sox 001 010 001 - 3- 9-0 Orioles 020 330 30X-11-15-0

Tiant, Pole (7) and Montgomery; Torrez and Duncan. WP-Torrez (1-0). LP-Tiant (1-1).

Saturday, April 12 A Squeeker, but a 3-2 win over the O’s

with Dwight Evans’ homer in the 9th tying the score and Doug Griffin’s single to center in the 13th earned Reggie Cleveland a well- deserved win. Griff’s single scored pinch- runner Rick Miller and came off reliever Jesse Jefferson. Red Sox 100 000 001 000 1-3-9-0 Orioles 110 000 000 000 0-2-8-0

Cleveland, Drago (13) and Montgomery; Grimsley, Jefferson (11) and Duncan, Hendricks (10). WP —Cleveland (1-0). LP — Grimsley (0-1). HR-Evans (1).

Friday, April 11 First trip to Baltimore and Mgr. Darrell

Johnson is concerned about No. 2 hitter Fred Lynn, who went 0 for 8 vs. Brewers’ right¬ handers and struck out three times. Rick Wise, who hadn’t pitched a league game in 363 days because of a torn muscle in his right shoulder, eased everybody’s mind in a 12-inning 6-5 win with Yaz, Tony C. and Rick Burleson hitting homers. Wise yielded eight hits, five runs in nine innings. Yaz, who gave teammates an opening-day lecture, was op¬ timistic: "That was a very strong effort by Rick. It has to be a great mental lift for us. Everybody says it’s going to be Baltimore and New York and that we’re going to fight Milwaukee and Cleveland for third place. I don’t see it that way.” Little wonder Captain Carl was talking. His homer in the 12th was the clincher, hitting an inside pitch-up-to foil a nifty relief effort by Doyle Alexander. Lynn? He gave way to Juan Beniquez in center field. RedSox 200 011 010 001 —6-11-0 Orioles 000 203 000 000-5-11-0

Wise, Segui (10) and Montgomery; Cuellar, Alexander (6) and Etchebarren, Hendricks (7). WP-Segui (1-0); LP-Alexander (0-1). HR-Conigliaro (1), Burleson (1) and Yas¬ trzemski (1).

Wednesday, April 9 “A whole bunch of us didn't play too good today,” said Mgr. Darrell Johnson and that was the truth. The Red Sox lost to the Brewers, 7-4, under frosty conditions. Starter-loser Bill Lee yielded in the 7th with cramps in his left forearm, but not before he’d thrown four straight balls to Hank Aaron in his first two appearances. Tony C. quote: “I was wearing fur gloves in the dugout.” Now it’s on to Baltimore-crab cakes, Chesepeake red snapper and, oh, yes, Earl Weaver. Brewers 002 301 010-7-8-0 RedSox 000 300 001 -4-7-0

Broberg, Murphy (7) and Porter; Lee, Segui (7) and Montgomery. WP-Broberg (1-0). LP-Lee (0-1).

Tuesday, April 8 The opening day crowd of 34,019 in 52-

degree weather at Fenway had something to remember as the Red Sox debuted with a 5-2 win over Hank Aaron’s Milwaukee Brewers. It was Aaron’s A.L. debut, too, after 733 N.L. home runs, as a Designated Hitter. Hank went hitless, but drew a walk off Luis Tiant. Fenway? "I look at it as just another park,” said Aaron. “I never thought about the left field wall.” It was a memorable day for Tony Conigliaro, too, who received a standing O in his DH role. Said Tony: “I was happy with the reception. If it hadn’t been forthe prayersand the backingof the people, I wouldn’t be here at all. When I got those cheers, the bat felt 10 pounds lighter.” Tony C. responded with a hit-and-run single to right that got Captain Carl to third. Then he was the lead man on a double steal that scored Yaz. The bleachers were packed and one optimist-optimist? —unveiled a sign: “World Champs in ’75.” Sure hope he’s right. Brewers 001 000 100-2-8-0 RedSox 133 000 00X-5-7-0

Tiant and Montgomery; Slaton, Castro (3) and Porter. WP-Tiant (1-0); LP-Slaton (0-1). HR —Yount (1).

Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey checked in and, as usual, was a target for interviews. Yes, he liked the Sox kids. Yes, he liked their chances. No he didn’t think a repeat of ’74 was in the offing.

Yawkey talking: “I have only seen them once on TV, but

everybody I talked to, managers included, tell me what great prospects Fred Lynn and Jim Rice are. I understand everyone talking trade with us mentions them . . . Watched Lynn last year in Pawtucket and felt then he was a finished ball player. He could hit, field, hit the cutoff man and do everything right. I'm not taking anything from Rice in saying that because he’s a terrific hitter and a great prospect....

47

Y4ii±Z Fred Lynn’s campaign workers on duty

y

i 4 ; 9

If I had cancer...would you help me? "Gee Thanks”

Children with cancer depend upon research... research depends upon The Jimmy

Fund...The Jimmy Fund depends upon you.

The Jimmy Fund

Boston, Mass. 02117

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Brewed in 1876 by our original process from the choicest hops, rice

and best barley malt. Still is.

W&e making sure that caring isrCt just a memory. ^AncL every taste of Beechwood^Aged Budweiser says so. .^ftruL always will.

"Somebody st\\\ cares about

boston red sox diary of a winner. 1975 play by play and

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