1972 Chicago White Sox Replay

SERIES #22. FOUR GAMES, SPLIT SERIES. OAKLAND AT CHICAGO

The Oakland A’s and the Chicago White Sox split their most recent head to head matchup, a four game series in which the A’s won the opening and final games, while Chicago swept a twinbill in the middle.

So when the dust cleared, Oakland is in first place by a full game over Chicago.

Game one was a 4-3 win by the A’s. Vida Blue started against Dave Lemonds. Blue went just five innings, however, Joe Horlen was terrific, working four innings of scoreless relief. The score was tied at 3, but Terry Forster(1-4) gave up what would turn out to be the winning run in the top of the seventh. Luis Alvardo had three hits to lead Chicago’s offense.

The White Sox evened the series by taking the first game of a doubleheader, 4-2. Dick Allen(23) gave Wilbur Wood an early lead with a first inning homer off Catfish Hunter and the game remained 1-0 through six innings. Dave Duncan clubbed a two run blast off Wood in the top of the seventh, putting Oakland on top, 2-1.

Vincente Romo(3-1) relieved Wood and pitched scoreless ball in the seventh and eighth, but more important, was the pitcher of record, when Mike Andrews(4) stunned Catfish Hunter with a three run bomb in the bottom of the eighth. Other than Allen’s first inning homerun, Hunter had been lights out through seven, but Tony Muser pinch hit for Romo and singled, then Pat Kelly also singled. Andrews then squared one up, giving Chicago a 4-2 advantage. Despite allowing two hits in the top of the ninth, Cy Acosta finished up, earning the save. The win ended a four game losing skid for Chicago.

The second game of the doubleheader pitted Blue Moon Odom against Tom Bradley(10-4). A solo shot by Reggie Jackson put Oakland ahead in the first inning, but Bradley quickly settled down and pitched one of his better games. He finished with his fifth complete game win and though he struck out only three, he did not walk a batter. Bradley becomes Chicago’s first pitcher to reach double digit wins. Andrews(5) came through with surprising power again, clubbing a two run bomb in the eighth, to give the Pale Hose a comfortable, 4-1 victory.

In the final game, Eddie Fisher(6-3) took on Ken Holtzman. The A’s scored a run in both the first and second innings, but Chicago scored an unearned run in the third, when Jackson misplayed a ball in centerfield, then Rick Reichardt(2) broke an 0-18 slump with a fourth inning homer. However, poor fielding(Chicago committed 3 errors), led to three runs for Oakland in the top of the sixth. Holtzman would end up going the distance for the win.

The team now plays host to the Minnesota Twins for a three game series.

American League West Standings(June 30, 1972)

Oakland/66/42/24/.636/—

Chicago/66/41/25/.621/1

Minnesota/64/35/29/.547/6

Kansas City/64/33/31/.516/8

Texas/65/29/36/.446/12.5

California/68/28/40/.412/15