1972 Chicago White Sox Replay

SERIES #24. THREE GAMES, SWEPT SERIES. BALTIMORE AT CHICAGO

At the end of this series, the Chicago White Sox find themselves tied with the Oakland A’s for first place in the American League West.

Jay Johnstone’s pinch hit triple in the bottom of the seventh inning, bailed out Tom Bradley(11-4), who was set to take a no decision, but thanks to the triple and then Pat Kelly’s rbi single, Chicago won, 3-2.

The next two games featured terrific individual performances. Rich Morales(2), who has struggled, especially at the plate, turned in a career day, going 5-5, with a walkoff homerun in the bottom of the ninth, as the White Sox won, 7-6. Dick Allen(24) clubbed a homerun as well. Cy Acosta(4-2) earned the win in relief.

Game three belonged to Stan Bahnsen(8-3), who tossed his second consecutive shutout, this time blanking the Orioles, 1-0, against a game performance by Mike Cuellar. It was a question of who would blink first and that turned out to be Cuellar, who surrendered a walk, a double, a second walk and a hit by pitch, leading to the game’s only run in the eighth inning.

Each pitcher gave up just three hits, with Bahnsen fanning seven and walking none.

Chicago will put a bow on their long homestand as they take on the Detroit Tigers for four games, two coming in a doubleheader.

NOTE: Bill Melton will have surgery on his injured back and is done for the season.

American League West Standings(July 6, 1972)

Chicago/72/45/27.625/—

Oakland/72/45/27/.625/—

Minnesota/70/37/33/.529/7

Kansas City/71/37/34/.521/7.5

Texas/72/31/41/.431/14

California/74/30/44/.405/16