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DICK DRAGO |
THE "GOLD DUST TWINS" AND
A SEASON TO REMEMBER
...
The Sox win 6th straight in
extra innings
June 20, 1975
...
A dramatic ninth inning rally by the Sox set
the stage for a 12th inning come-from-behind victory. Every run was a
struggle, as each team rallied in the ninth inning to send the game
into extra innings.
A walk, a well-placed single by Juan Beniquez and a sacrifice
fly from Rick Burleson accounted for the 12th inning winning run and
it was Dick Drago who finally stopped the Orioles for a 4 to 3 win.
Beniquez poked an 0-2 pitch from Dyar Miller into right field,
extending his hitting streak to nine games. Doug Griffin, who
had walked, scooted over to third base. Burleson lofted a fly ball to
Ken Singleton in medium right field. His throw bounced several times
before reaching the plate.
Going into the ninth inning and trailing, 2-0, the Sox only had four
hits of Baltimore's starter, Mike Torrez. Two were by Carl
Yastrzemski. But with one out, Burleson walked and Yaz stroked his
third single. Earl Weaver yanked Torrez in favor of Grant Jackson,
who struck out Fred Lynn for the second out. But a single from Jim
Rice pushed across Burleson for the Sox first run. Doyle Alexander
was then brought in and gave up run-scoring singles to pinch-hitter
Rick Miller and Rico Petrocelli, to put the Sox out in front, 3 to 2.
The Orioles, who had earlier scored on RBI singles by Bobby Grich off
Bill Lee, in the fourth and sixth innings, then tied the game up in
their half of the ninth on a pinch hit double by Jim Northrup off
Reggie Cleveland. Rogelio Moret was brought in and struck out Al
Bumbry to send the game into extra innings.
Fred Lynn made a superb diving catch, but went hitless in five trips,
striking out twice and hit three infield grounders, one for a
doubleplay. Carl Yastrzemski, meanwhile, extended a hitting streak to
14 games. A loss by the Yankees extended the Sox lead to three games
in the AL East. |
