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John Kennedy's first Red Soxat bat
is an inside-the-park home run
July 5, 1970 ...
The Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians, 8 to 4, to sweep the four
game series and run their undefeated streak to six straight, the best
of the season. It may have helped some to have the magic name of
Kennedy on the club. John E. Kennedy, a reserve infielder, recently picked up by
the team from the Seattle pilots, hit an inside-the-park home run in his first
at bat for the Red Sox.
He pinch-hit for Mike Nagy in the fifth inning. The Indians had gone ahead, 3
to 2, in the top of the inning. When Kennedy led off, Cleveland manager Alvin
Dark moved his rightfielder, Roy Foster, in a little bit. Kennedy hit a line
drive to Foster's left. The ball sealed away from him as he made a desperately
to grab it and missed. As he lay on the ground, Kennedy gathered up steam and
headed around the bases. Foster chased the ball to the Cleveland bullpen and
Kennedy beat the relay a home, as the Sox were now tied 3 to 3.
From that point on everything bad happened to the Indians. Bloopers landed in
front of them, cheap hits skidded through the infield and they fell apart. At
the end of seven innings the Red Sox had all the runs they needed.
Rico Petrocelli had three hits, as did George Scott. Tony Conigliaro and
Jerry Moses each had two. And after Kennedy batted for Nagy, Vicente Romo came
on in to pitch in the sixth and just gave up a home run by pinch-hitter Rich
Rollins.
The Red Sox had 15 hits and that didn't even have Carl Yastrzemski around
long. He tried with his ailing right elbow and had to leave after one at-bat,
being replaced by Don Pavletich.
The last inside-the-park home run for the Red Sox was made by George Scott in
1967. |
