1973 World Series - Tiante El Terrifico

 

Luis Tiant was dazzling over seven innings extending his playoff unbeaten streak to three games as Boston took Game 1 of the World Series by a 3-1 count over the Cincinnati Reds. Tiant allowed only four hits and the only blemish of his outing was an unlikely solo shot issued by Reds' shortstop Dave Concepcion in the eighth inning. Since surrendering 6 runs in 6 innings against the Oakland A's in Game 1 of the ALDS, Tiant has gone 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA.

The Red Sox got all the offensive they needed in the first inning courtesy of a two-run blast by centerfielder Reggie Smith. It was the fifth homer of the playoffs for Smith who has been a linchpin of the Boston offense. Smith is batting .313 and has drove in eight runs. Luis Aparicio was a sparkplug for Boston leading off the contest with a single, swiping his first of three bags, and coming in to count on Smith's homer. Aparicio went 4-5 to push his playoff batting average to .333.

Cincinnati starter Ross Grimsley has been their ace during their playoff run and settled in nicely after a rough first inning to blank Boston for the next five innings.

Things got a bit precarious for Tiant in the fifth inning as Cincinnati had two runners aboard with one out. Bobby Tolan singled and Cesar Geronimo coaxed a free pass. Tiant wiggled free getting Concepcion to ground into an inning-ending twin killing. Another tense scenario arose in the seventh with Tony Perez smoking a one-out triple into the gap in left field. Tiant notched two of his seven strikeouts to snuff out the threat punching out Bobby Tolan and Cesar Geronimo.

Carl Yastrzemski gave the Red Sox a much-needed cushion in the eighth cranking his first bridge ball of the playoffs. After Concepcion's reply to lead off the bottom of the inning, Tiant gave way to the bullpen. Bob Veale set down the Reds in the eighth with Bobby Bolin working around a lead-off single in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the playoffs.