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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 6 ... July 4, 1967 ... The California Angels stopped the Red Sox' four-game winning streak, 4 to 3, with the combined pitching efforts of Ricky Clark and Minnie Rojas. Gary Bell was plagued by wildness, took the loss, and dropped the Red Sox in the fourth place. The Red Sox rallied in the ninth-inning and scored two runs before Rojas slammed the door on them. Trailing 4 to 1, the Sox made a bid with a single by Jerry Adair, a double by Reggie Smith and a ground ball out that scored a run by Russ Gibson. A single by Mike Andrews brought home another run, putting the Sox one run from tying the game. But then Rojas, with Andrews on first and two outs, got a called third strike on Joe Foy to end the game. Bell was his own worst enemy in the second inning, when the Angels took a 3 to 0 lead. They started with walks to Jimmie Hall and Rick Reichardt. Bob Rodgers singled to right for the first hit of the game and load the bases. A looping single by Tom Satriano, just inside the left-field line, scored the first two runs of the game. Bell came back by getting two strikeouts and making Jim Johnstone ground to second for what appeared to be the final out. However, Bell dropped the throw while covering first base, for an error, loading the bases. He followed that misplay with a wild pitch that brought home the third run. The Red Sox did get a run back off Clark in the third inning on the double by Mike Andrews and a single by Joe Foy. Andrews double was almost caught by centerfielder Jay Johnstone, who had it fall out of his glove as he ran into the center field wall. He was not shaken up and stayed in for the rest of the game. Clark's good breaking ball was giving Red Sox batters troubles. He had three straight wins coming into the game. Bell was hurt by the walks he issued. He clearly was having control problems. After one out in the fifth, he gave up his fifth walk and the one that started his downfall. It went to Don Mincher, who then scored on successive singles by Hall and Reichardt. Dick Williams brought in Darrell Brandon at this point, with one out and runners on second and third. He cut off the rally by striking out Rodgers and Clark to end the inning, but the Angels were leading 4 to 1. Clark pitched into the seventh inning, when an infield single by pinch-hitter, José Tartabull, and a walk to Andrews, made manager Bill Rigney bring in his closer, Minnie Rojas. He stopped the threat by getting Foy to pop out and end the inning. George Scott complained of a sore back and had to leave the game in the seventh inning. Rico Petrocelli who was supposed to start the game, still had a sore wrist in batting practice, so Dick Williams replaced him once again when Adair. Rookie pitcher, Sparky Lyle, made his first major league appearance and pitched the final two innings. The hard throwing lefty pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. All the losses by the Red Sox in this road trip had been by one run. The Sox last eight losses have also just been by just one run. This was the third time this year the Red Sox have been halted after winning four in a row. |
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