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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 9
BLEEPIN' BUCKY DENT'S HOME RUN ...
The Sox come from
behind to beat NY
June 19, 1978
...
George Scott, atoning for three strikeouts with runners on
base, drove in the tie-breaking run with a single in the six-run
eighth inning, igniting the Red Sox to a 10 to 4 victory over the
Yankees.
Carlton Fisk, who keyed a three-run fourth inning with a single,
started the eighth with a double off the wall against Rich Gossage,
who had replaced Yankees' starter, Ken Clay. Fred Lynn was then
walked intentionally to bring up Scott. Scott fouled off a bunt
attempt and then singled to center, scoring Fisk and breaking the 4-4
tie. Dwight Evans sacrificed and Butch Hobson then drew a walk to
load the bases. Rick Burleson lined a single to center to score Lynn,
with Scott coming around to score, when Reggie Jackson bobbled the
ball. Jerry Remy's double brought in Burleson and Jim Rice
brought in Remy with a single, for the sixth run of the inning.
The Sox had picked up a run in the first inning on a double by
Burleson, an infield out and a sacrifice fly by Rice. The Yankees
shelled Luis Tiant with four runs in the fourth inning, on the back
of Roy White's solo homer and a 2-run blast by Thurman Munson, to go
up 4 to 1.
The Sox bounced right back in their half of the inning off Ken Clay,
to tie the score at 4-4. Carl Yastrzemski led off with a double off
the wall in left-centerfield and scored on Fisk's single to center.
After Lynn doubled, Gossage took over for Clay. He got Scott on
strikes but walked Evans to fill the bases. Hobson grounded to third
and both Fisk and Lynn scored when secondbaseman, Willie Randolph
threw wildly, attempting to complete a doubleplay.
Tom Burgmeier replaced Tiant and allowed four scattered singles,
before being helped by Bob Stanley in the ninth inning. Evans saved
Burgmeier in the fifth inning after Bucky Dent beat out an infield
hit and gave way to Mickey Stanley as a pinch-runner. White followed
with a line single to right, but Evans cut down Stanley going to
third.
The victory was the Sox 10th in 11 games and 20th in their last 25,
pushing the Sox lead to 7 games over the Orioles and eight over the
Yankees and Brewers. |
