SERIES #29. FOUR GAMES, LOST THREE OF FOUR. CLEVELAND AT CHICAGO
Chicago’s latest homestand got off to a dismal start, when the Cleveland Indians took three out of four games and nearly pulled off the sweep with a ninth inning rally in the final contest.
The White Sox lost 2-0 on July 21, then dropped a 12-8 decision the next day. They were again shutout by Cleveland, 3-0, in the first game of a twinbill on July 23, before pulling out their only win of the series, a 3-2 victory in the second game.
The opener saw Dick Tidrow blank the Sox with a two hitter. The fielding in the first two games by Chicago was atrocious. They committed three errors in the first game and four more in game two. Jay Johnstone and Rick Reichardt each singled for the only hits in game one. Wilbur Wood(7-7) pitched pretty well. He only allowed five hits and the two runs he gave up were, of course, unearned.
Game two saw Chicago send out their ace, Tom Bradley. Chicago drew first blood, with a run in the first inning, but errors once again were killers, as three unearned, Cleveland runs crossed the plate in the top of the third. Indians’ starter, Vince Colbert suddenly lost it in the bottom of the third, aided by two Cleveland errors. Three singles and two walks later, Chicago had added six runs to their tally. They added one more when a Cleveland reliever entered the game, to take an 8-3 lead after three full innings.
However, the game took another turn when Bradley suddenly lost his command in the top of the sixth. He gave up a single to Hugh Duffy and then a pinch hit double to John Lowenstein. Bradley retired Del Unser, but Jack Brohamer laced a two run triple. Bradley was pulled for Vincente Romo(3-2). The reliever, who had been so solid early in the season, has been nothing short of miserable lately and he failed to record a single out. A walk and another error loaded the bases. A single by Chris Chambliss plated a run. That was followed by Buddy Bell’s two rbi single. Cy Acosta entered the game and surrendered the coup de grace, a two run homer to Ray Fosse. With an 11-8 lead, Dick Allen joined Mike Andrews, Walt Williams, Luis Alvarado and Romo in the error club. His miscue in the eighth set up Cleveland’s 12th and final run.
After the drubbing, it was hoped Chicago would bounce back, but alas, they had Gaylord Perry, he of the suspected slippery substances, to face. Perry’s darting, dancing orb did the trick, as he whitewashed the White Sox, 3-0, on just four hits. Back to back homers by Bell and Fosse in the opening inning, were all Perry needed. Eddie Fisher(8-5) took the loss.
Stan Bahnsen(9-3) staved off the embarrassment of a sweep, but it wasn’t easy. Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the first, then Bahnsen and Steve Dunning traded zeroes for the next five innings. Chicago decided to do a little “homering” of their own in the last of the seventh. Tom Muser(1) picked a good time for his first one of the year. Then, after a walk to Carlos May, Jay Johnstone joined the party, giving the White Sox a 3-1 advantage. Bahnsen stayed at the wheel, escaping a two runners on, no out jam in the top of the eighth, but the ninth is where things got interesting. Bahnsen retired Chambliss for the first out, but Jerry Moses singled. Unser flew out, but Lowenstein once again came up with a clutch pinch hit, singling to put runners on first and second with two out. Bahnsen then threw a pitch into the dirt, allowing both runners to move up. Duffy then hit a single to second, allowing Moses to score, but Lowenstein had to hold at third. With the tying run ninety feet away, Chicago called on Acosta. He responded with a pressure packed strikeout of Eddie Leon, to end the ballgame.
Oakland split with Boston and are now in front by 2.5 games. The White Sox will play host to the Kansas City Royals for a four game series.
American League West Standings(July 23, 1972)
Oakland/91/55/36/.604/—
Chicago/90/52/38/.578/2.5
Minnesota/87/47/40/.540/6
Kansas City/89/47/42/.528/7
Texas/90/39/51/.433/15.5
California/92/37/55/.402/18.5
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