1972 Chicago White Sox Replay

SERIES #41. THREE GAMES, WON ONE, LOST TWO. CHICAGO AT BOSTON

Well, a 7-2 Chicago win in game three prevented a total Boston Massacre, but the final result was much less than the White Sox hoped for in their latest series. The Red Sox routed the White Sox in the opening game, 10-1, then edged Chicago, 3-2 in the middle contest. The Oakland A’s took advantage, sweeping Cleveland all three games in their series.

So now, Chicago’s lead is back to a razor thin, half game.

Game one: Eddie Fisher(11-8) toed the slab against Sonny Siebert and quickly fell behind, 5-0, after just two innings. Fisher surrendered two homeruns to leadoff hitter, Tommy Harper and doubles to Reggie Smith, Rico Petrocelli and to Siebert himself. The extra base hit barrage continued against reliever, Steve Kealy. He was taken deep by Andy Kosco, while John Kennedy and Harper tagged him for two baggers. The debacle continued against Dave Lemonds, who was pressed into emergency service after pitching ten innings just two days ago. Goose Gossage pitched the bottom of the eighth, just for the hell of it. Just to show that errors don’t always turn a game, Boston committed five in this series, Chicago, none.

Game two: Starter, Stan Bahnsen(13-6) was treated to a 1-0 lead, when Dick Allen stroked homerun #36, in the first inning. Bahnsen helped himself by knocking in Ed Spiezio in the second, but then Boston spoiled the party by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third, two of those on a Carlton Fisk homerun. That would be the extent of the run scoring, as Luis Tiant went the distance for the win.

Game three: The Red Sox avoided being swept, by waking up and rolling to a 7-2 victory. Wilbur Wood started against Lynn McGlothen, but it was Cy Acosta(6-4) who notched the win in relief. Wood pitched quite well until the seventh, where he gave up back to back homers to Petrocelli and Fisk. Acosta pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way, while Boston’s bats tallied four runs over the final three innings. Allen, no surprise, had three doubles, scored twice and drove in two runs. What was a surprise, was bench player, Buddy Bradford(1), who must have tired of picking splinters out of his backside and responded with a 3-4 day, including his first homerun. He drove in one run and crossed the dish three times.

Boston is off tomorrow, then heads to the Big Apple to play three against the New York Yankees. Oakland visits Detroit.

American League Western Division Standings(August 30, 1972)

Chicago/123/72/51/.585/—

Oakland/124/72/52/.581/.5

Minnesota/121/64/57/.529/7

Kansas City/122/63/59/.516/8.5

California/123/54/69/.439/18

Texas/124/51/73/.411/21.5