1970 Postseason Replay: Rico's Reprieve Falls Short

Rico Petrocelli's throwing error permitted the Orioles an extra out, and Elrod Hendricks took advantage belting a two-run double into the left-center field gap to stake Baltimore to an 8-7 victory in Game 1 of their ALDS. Petrocelli's miscue marred a solid relief effort by Cal Koonce who tossed 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run. The loss went to Sawx starter Ray Culp who was battered for 6 runs in only 4 innings of work. Culp had been the most reliable Boston starter in the 1970 season with a 17-14 record and a 3.04 ERA, but his inability to retire Oriole leadoff hitters precipitated his demise.

The teams lit up the scoreboard for 15 combined runs with 5 of those coming in the first two innings. Both squads traded leadoff homers in the first. Reggie Smith was the spark for Boston while Don Buford handled the honors for Baltimore. The Orioles tacked on an extra run as Paul Blair was granted a free pass after the Buford blast and came all the way around to score on a wild pitch by stealing second and moving up on a ground out. Boston would take a 3-2 lead in the second on a two-run blast by Billy Conigliaro.

In the third, the teams traded runs as Tony Conigliaro hit a sacrifice fly, and this was countered by another Oriole leadoff homer as Paul Blair launched a 407-foot shot into the seats in left. Baltimore tied the score 4-4 in the fourth as Davey Johnson hit the third leadoff extra-base hit off Culp clubbing a double to left. He moved to third on a flyout and came in to score on a Mark Belanger sacrifice fly. Johnson walked in his first trip to the plate and later delivered a clutch singled to go 2-2 with two runs scored.

Culp would not get out of the fifth surrendering yet another leadoff hit. Consecutive singles by Paul Blair and Frank Robinson were enough for Boston manager Eddie Kasko. Lefty Ken Brett came on to face Boog Powell, and Powell won this match up singling to load the bases. Brooks Robinson went down swinging, but Merv Rettenmund scratched out an RBI single to make the score 5-4. Baltimore had the bases drunk once again, and Davey Johnson chipped in with a sacrifice fly. Elrod Hendricks singled to load the bases for the third time in the inning, but Cal Koonce relieved Brett and held the deficit to 6-4.

Billy Conigliaro brought Boston within one with an RBI single in the sixth. It was Conigliaro's third RBI of the game bringing home Carl Yastrzemski who led of the inning with a walk. A baserunning boner by Petrocelli ended the inning abruptly. Petrocelli got aboard lining a ball back to the box that glanced off Oriole starter Jim Palmer, and he then took third on Conigliaro's single. Palmer broke off a curveball to Red Sox pinch hitter Joe Lahoud that bounced in front of catcher Elrod Hendricks. Petrocelli attempted to take third, but Hendricks recovered quickly and pegged Rico to end an adventurous inning for Palmer. The Oriole ace certainly didn't have his best stuff giving up 5 runs and 7 hits in 7 innings, but his offense coupled with another huge lapse by Petrocelli preserved the win

In the seventh, Petrocelli threw wide of first on a Brooks Robinson grounder. Koonce managed to get two outs, but the pesky Davey Johnson kept the inning alive with a single, and Hendricks cleared the sacks with a deciding double. 

Boston rallied in the eighth off Oriole reliever Marcelino Lopez, and it was Petrocelli attempting to erase his earlier blunders. Carl Yastrzemski spanked a single to left, and Tony Conigliaro benefitted from a throwing error by the usually sure-handed Mark Belanger. Rico lined a single up the middle to bring both men home. Moe Drawbowsky cleaned up Lopez's mess securing the final two outs for Baltimore. Again, Boston was within one run of the Orioles and had the leadoff man aboard in the ninth. Pete Richert had beaned pinch hitter John Kennedy, but then retired the Red Sox in order for the save.