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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 9
BLEEPIN' BUCKY DENT'S HOME RUN ...
The Sox walk-off against the
Brewers
April 18, 1978
...
Carlton Fisk's two out, run-scoring double in the ninth
inning, capped a Red Sox rally that gave the Sox their sixth straight
win, a 7 to 6 decision over the Milwaukee Brewers. Luis Tiant grabbed
his first victory of the season, debuting out of the bullpen.
The Sox were trailing, 6-5 in the ninth inning. Butch Hobson led off
with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored the tying run on
Jack Brohamer's fourth hit of the game. Brohamer took second on the
throw home, and after Carl Yastrzemski was walked intentionally, Fisk
doubled off the left field wall to score pinch-runner, Frank Duffy
with the walk-off run.
Tiant, who dislocated his finger in spring training, was activated
yesterday and made his first relief appearance since 1972. He pitched
three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two.
Larry Hisle's first inning homer put the Brewers up 2-0, but an error
in the third inning by Sal Bando, gave the Sox the two runs back in
the third. Cecil Cooper's single to right scored Paul Molitor in the
fifth inning, to put the Brewers back in front, 3 to 2.
Bando's three-run sixth inning homer, had given the Brewers a 6 to 2
lead. But the Sox battled back with three runs in their half of the
inning. George Scott lined a single to center off Larry Sorenson and
went to third on Dwight Evans' double off the wall. Hobson sizzled a
triple to the triangle in center field, scoring both runners. Eduardo
Rodriguez came in from the bullpen and gave up a fly ball to Rick
Burleson that allowed Hobson to score on the sacrifice, cutting the
Brewers' lead to 6 to 5.
The victory got Dennis Eckersley off the hook after giving up Bando's
homer. Bob Stanley relieved him and finished the inning. Then Tiant
strolled in from the bullpen to start the seventh to the delight of
the Fenway fans, who chanted Loo-ie, Loo-ie. Tiant retired the
Brewers in order except for a ninth inning walk. |
