Luis Tiant continued the Red Sox dominance of the Tiger offense allowing only 4 hits in 7.1 innings of work to lead Boston to a 3-0 win and a sweep of their ALDS. Detroit managed to scratch out a meager 15 hits and 5 runs in the series. The Tigers only held the lead for 4 innings in the entire series as their offense ran the gauntlet of potent Red Sox pitching.
Boston only used 5 pitchers in the series, and all the starters were backed by the shutdown offerings of Dick Radatz who was a huge factor in the ALDS. Before Radatz was called on in the eighth, Tiant mesmerized the Detroit hitters, keeping them off balance while only allowing two runners to reach scoring position. The weak contact by the Detroit offense featured 13 groundouts and 3 pop outs to the catcher.
David Ortiz's sacrifice fly in the third would be the only run support Tiant needed, but Jim Rice and Carlton Fisk added solo homers in the fourth for good measure off Tiger starter Max Scherzer. After only 5 innings, Scherzer gave way to Mike Henneman and John Hillier, and they kept the scoresheet clean. However, Detroit only managed 2 singles in the final 4 innings.
Rice was the offensive star of the series. He bashed three homers to go along with 7 RBI, leading the team in both categories. Boston's 'Fearsome Foursome" of Rice, Boggs, Williams, and Yastrzemski went a combined 19 - 42 with 4 homers, 10 RBI, 4 doubles and 8 walks in the series.
Boston's unsung hero of the ALDS, Dick Radatz, tossed 5 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, picking up a win and a save along the way. He struck out 4 batters and did not allow a hit.
The Red Sox now await the winner of the New York/Cleveland ALDS. That series is currently tied at a game apiece as Cleveland roared back in Game 2 from a 2-0 deficit scoring 5 times in the top of the eighth for a 5-2 victory. The scene now shifts to Progressive Field where the Indians will send Bob Lemon up against the Yankees' Andy Pettitte will duel in a pivotal Game 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment