The Sensational 70s - Sawx Clip Orioles' Wings

Happy New Year, everyone! After a holiday sabbatical full of family festive fun, I finally made my way back to the PS4, and I' m pleased to announce that the Red Sox have brought in 2016 in fine style.

Boston took 2 of 3 from Baltimore to knock the Orioles off their perch as the AL East leaders. In the opener, Bill Lee went 7 strong innings for his 10th win of the campaign as Boston whipped the O's 8-2. All the offense needed was provided by veteran third baseman Rico Petrocelli as he attempts to pry the starting job from Juan Beniquez who has cooled as of late. Petrocelli hit 2 homers and drove in 5 runs. In the series, Petrocelli went 4-9 with three homers and 6 RBI as he clubbed one in a losing effort in the finale. Below, Petrocelli is admiring his second homer in the opening win.

Luis Tiant was the starter in game two but would not figure in the decision going only 6 innings before giving way to the bullpen. This game featured some erratic play as the Orioles literally threw the game away. With the Orioles leading 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, Boston was granted two free passes by Baltimore starter Dennis Martinez: one to Denny Doyle and then another to Cecil Cooper. Tim Stoddard was then called into the fray and Fred Lynn promptly lined a single to center to score Doyle. Carl Yastrzemski pushed Cooper to third reaching on a fielder's choice as Baltimore cut down Lynn at second and Yaz would make his way to second on a wild pitch. Stoddard got Jim Rice swinging on a slider that would get past Rick Dempsey to the backstop. In an attempt to nail Rice at first, Dempsey then uncorked a wild throw to Eddie Murray that ended up in right field. Both Cooper and Yastrzemski scored on the subsequent gaffes and Boston was up 4-3. Baltimore roared back with a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game, but their pen could not hold on as Fred Lynn ripped an RBI double down the line in right, and Jim Rice scored him with an RBI single which would be the game winning run. Boston closer Dick Drago had some anxious moments in the ninth as O's Gary Roenicke would single, move to second and score on a passed ball that made its way into the stands, but Boston hung on for a 6-5 win.

The sweep wasn't in the cards early in the third game as Rick Wise was touched up for 3 runs in the second inning. Despite settling in, a high pitch count drove him from the game after only 5 innings, and Diego Segui was battered for 4 runs in only two-thirds of an inning in a 7-2 loss. A silver lining in this was the emergence of lefty Rick Kreuger. A rarely used option in the pen, Kreuger went 3.1 scoreless innings to finish the game, giving hope that manager Darrell Johnson could have another reliable portsider in the pen. Boston is now 5 -1 on the current homestand having swept the Cubs to kick things off.

A few tidbits worth noting as the AL Central leading White Sox now come to town for a 4 game set to finish the ten game homestand: 

• Luis Tiant and Bill Lee are in the top ten for overall ERA  in the  America League, sitting eighth and ninth respectively. Tiant has registered a mark of 2.63 while Lee is not far behind at 2.72. 
• Tiant has also accounted for 17 quality starts out of his 20 outings, leading the Majors in that category. 
• Dick Drago is tied for third in saves in the AL with 22. 
• Jim Rice leads the AL in doubles with 28, tied with Baltimore's Al Bumbry. Carl Yastrzemski hit his team leading 15th homer in the 7-2 loss and also leads the club with 56 RBI.