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Butch Hobson's ninth inning
sacrifice fly is enough to win
August 20, 1976 ...
Butch Hobson hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the
ninth inning, driving in the winning run, that beat the Oakland
Athletics, 2 to 1. Luis Tiant scattered seven hits in gaining
his 14th win of the season.
One scoring
opportunity after another was wasted until the ninth inning. Against
Mike Torrez, the Sox collected five hits, a walk, got the benefit of
two wild pitches and a passed ball in the first three innings, that
resulted in just one unearned run.
In the ninth, Cecil
Cooper led off with a single, Jim Rice hammered a single to left, and
Carlton Fisk beat out a perfect bunt to load the bases off Rollie
Fingers. After Rick Miller popped out, Hobson drove the ball to deep
center that allowed Cooper to tag-up from third and slide home with
the game winner.
The Sox scored their first run in the third inning when Hobson
singled and moved to second on a passed ball, third on Rick
Burleson's base hit and scored on a wild pitch by Mike Torrez. The
A's came back to tie the game in the top of the eighth inning when
Phil Garner homered into the left field nets. |
