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"THE SOX STUMBLE AND FALL AT THE END" ...
Reggie's homer beats the Yankees
September 6, 1972
...
The Red Sox beat the Yankees with the drama and excitement that only
a pennant race can bring. It was the Red Sox 2, the Yankees 0, and
with it came a hero's ovation for almost everyone who played, since
everyone contributed something of a spectacular or near spectacular
variety. There was the sometimes super pitching of John Curtis and
reliever Bob Bolin. There was Reggie Smith's game-winning two run homer in the
fifth inning, there was Carl Yastrzemski's three rifled base hits, and most of
all, there was probably the best fielding seen this year, by Doug Griffin, Luis
Aparicio, Yaz and most of all Rico Petrocelli, whose diving stab in the sixth
inning, saved two runs and was the absolute highlight of the game.
Curtis pitched very well at times, but got a little tired. He squirmed out of
some trouble, including the sixth inning. With Bobby Murcer on first base, and
nobody out, Roy White drilled a shot just inside the bag for would seem to be a
sure double. But Rico dove and stabbed it on the short hop, as the ball went by
and got a force out. Felipe Alou then doubled, and therefore Rico's play saved
the game.
Curtis left the game in the eighth-inning with two on and two out. On came
Bolin to face a rookie named Charlie Spikes. He ripped Bolin's first pitch high
off-the-wall, but it was foul. Bolin proceeded to strike him out on a three and
two pitch, then got through the ninth inning and had his second straight save.
Reggie's home run was his fifth game-winning hit since the middle of August.
It was a shot off loser Mel Stottlemyre that settled in the centerfield
bleachers. Reggie also added two nice catches in right field, one a line drive
in the fourth that he stabbed at the bullpen. His home run, his 18th, followed a
triple off the left centerfield fence by Yaz, who had three line drive hits and
made a superb play at first base in the first inning.
Griffin made two outstanding plays in the field, getting a dangerous bouncer
up the middle by Horace Clarke in the seventh inning and turning it into a
doubleplay. He then made a diving block of a line drive hit by Johnny Callison
into the hole, in the ninth-inning, getting up and throwing him out. |
