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BILLY KLAUS &
MIKE HIGGINS |
Billy Klaus' ninth inning
homer gives
the Sox a 7-6 walk-off victory
June 16, 1955
... Billy Klaus is one of those scrappy
ballplayers who fights for everything he gets. Today he drilled a
two-run homer off Johnny Sain, in the ninth inning, to supply a
dramatic finish to the Sox 7-6 victory over the Athletics.
It was a drive down the right field line, with nobody out, and the
fourth Sox homer of the game, to provide a storybook ending to the
best win of the year. It was a knock-down, drag-out battle that found
the Red Sox coming from behind with five runs in the last two innings
to win the game. It included a titanic homer by Ted Williams, a
two-run blast by Jackie Jensen and another by Norm Zauchin.
Kansas City grabbed a quick two run lead in the first inning off
Willard Nixon. The Sox got one of those runs back in the third. Billy
Goodman walked, moved to second on a ground ball and was brought home
by Williams with a ball hit to shortstop Joe DeMaestri, playing
behind second in the shift. DeMaestri bobbled the ball and threw late
to first, letting in Goodman. Ted's homer in the fifth inning, tied
up the contest.
After being deadlocked at 2-2 for six innings, the Athletics came up
with four runs in the seventh inning against Nixon and held, what
looked to be, a commanding 6-2 lead.
Then in the eighth inning, the roof caved in on A's starter, Cloyd
Boyer. Williams crossed up the shift with a hit down the third base
line to lead off. Then Jensen slammed the first pitch he saw, into
the nets. Zauchin slugged Boyer's next pitch into the nets also.
However, the Sox still trailed 6-5, when Sain came in to extinguish
the rally.
In the ninth inning, Goodman worked Sain for a walk and Karl Olson
came in to run for him. Instead of bunting the runner over, Mike
Higgins figured KC would just intentionally pass Williams. So he
ordered the next batter, Billy Klaus to hit away. It was a good
decision, because Klaus took the second pitch he saw into the right
field grandstand for the win, giving Tom Hurd his first victory
of the season.
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