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JIM McGLOTHLIN |
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 6 ...
"THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM"
McGlothlin's 3-hitter Nips the Red Sox
May
2, 1967 ... Jim McGlothlin flirted with fame
but survived his first victory of the season instead. The 23-year-old
California Angel pitcher beat the Red Sox 3 to 2, with a magnificent
three-hit performance at Anaheim Stadium. He struck out 11 batters, a
high for his major league career and had a perfect game for 6 1/3
innings. Mixing a good sinking fastball with his great curve,
McGlothlin set down the first 19 Red Sox hitters. However, the Sox nicked him
for single runs in the seventh and eighth innings, before he toughened up in the
ninth to go the distance for the first time in his major league career.
Hank Fischer took the loss and gave up all the runs before leaving in the
sixth inning for a pinch-hitter. Two of the three runs he gave up were unearned.
The Angels staked McGlothlin to a three run lead early. In the third inning,
Bobby Knoop tripled to right on a ball that just skidded by Tony Conigliaro.
McGlothlin knocked him in with a sharp single to left and a 1 to 0 lead.
The Angels picked up their final two runs in the fourth inning when shortstop
Jim Fregosi opened up the inning by rifling a home run over the left-field wall.
After the next batter went out, Fisher walked Rick Reichardt. Jimmie Hall
doubled to right-center to score Reichardt with what proved to be the winning
run. The Angels didn't score again off relief pitchers José Santiago and John
Wyatt, who combined to pitch a two hitter for the rest of the game.
After the first 19 Red Sox batters were retired, with McGlothlin striking out
eight of them, Mike Andrews walked on four straight pitches in the seventh
inning. Carl Yastrzemski then polished off the no-hitter by lining a ball into
the left-field corner that bounced into the stands for a ground rule double. It
was obvious McGlothlin was starting to struggle because Tony Conigliaro slammed
a long drive to right-field that Jimmie Hall managed to catch up to right in
front of the fence. It was deep enough for Andrews to tag up and score, with Yaz
going over to third. A fine running catch by Reichardt in left field robbed
Dalton Jones of a double to end the threat.
In the next inning George Scott, the first batter in the eighth, homered to
right. Yet McGlothlin settled back, striking out Joe Foy and Reggie Smith to get
out of the eighth. It was the fourth time Smith fanned in the game.
Then in the ninth, Conigliaro singled with two outs, but Dalton Jones
grounded out to end the game. It was the fourth one run loss of the season for
the Red Sox. |
