Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Fisk Powers Sox Past Brewers in Fenway Return
July 28, 1975
July 28, 1975: Fisk Powers Sox Past Brewers in Fenway Return
Fresh off a gritty series victory over the Yankees in Queens and a strong 8–3 road trip, the Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park to open a three-game set with the struggling Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee had just been swept at home by Baltimore and was clinging to the fringes of contention. A poor showing in Boston could all but doom their postseason hopes. Meanwhile, Oakland continued to fight off all challengers out west, still clinging to their 3.5-game lead in the fight for homefield with Boston
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
The opener featured a pair of right-handers: Pete Broberg took the mound for the Brewers, while Rick Wise got the call for the Red Sox.
Boston’s lineup to kick off the homestand:
Rick Miller (RF)
Denny Doyle (2B)
Carl Yastrzemski (1B)
Fred Lynn (CF)
Jim Rice (LF)
Carlton Fisk (C)
Dwight Evans (DH)
Rico Petrocelli (3B)
Rick Burleson (SS)
Game Recap
If it felt familiar, that’s because it was: the Red Sox once again jumped out quickly with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. With one out, Denny Doyle singled, and both Yaz and Fred Lynn walked to load the bases. Jim Rice delivered a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Doyle, and Carlton Fisk followed with an RBI single to plate Yaz and make it 2–0.
Milwaukee answered in the third. Don Money walked, and Darrell Porter followed with a two-run homer to tie the game. In the fourth, Robin Yount singled with two outs, and Kurt Bevacqua, still seeking his first home run of the year, found it off Wise to put the Brewers up 4–2.
The lead didn’t last. In the bottom of the fourth, Rice reached on an error, and Fisk quickly made Milwaukee pay, crushing a two-run homer into the screen above the Monster to tie the game 4–4. Both pitchers navigated fifth-inning trouble without further damage, but Milwaukee struck again in the sixth. Sixto Lezcano led off with a solo shot, and Robin Yount followed with a single before scoring on a Money double to make it 6–4. Manager Darrell Johnson turned to Jim Willoughby, who retired the next two batters to hold the deficit.
The Sox scratched one back in the bottom of the frame. After Broberg hit pinch-hitter Juan Beníquez with two outs, Doug Griffin, pinch-hitting as well, singled up the middle. Center fielder Gorman Thomas booted the ball, allowing Beníquez to race all the way around and cut the lead to 6–5.
Willoughby kept Milwaukee off the board in the seventh, and then Fisk delivered again in the bottom half, this time tying the game with his second homer of the night.
The score held at 6–6 into the bottom of the ninth, when the Red Sox summoned the late-inning Fenway magic that would become a hallmark of their 1975 season. Yaz led off with a single, Lynn walked, and Rice singled to load the bases. That set the stage for Carlton Fisk, who capped off his unforgettable night with a walk-off single to give Boston the 7–6 victory.
Pitching Notes
Rick Wise struggled through 5.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Jim Willoughby was brilliant in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings while allowing just one walk and striking out four. He earned his first win of the season out of the bullpen.
Player Notes and Season Stats
The Red Sox offense pounded out 12 hits, with contributions up and down the lineup:
Carlton Fisk had a career night, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs, and the game-winning hit.
Jim Rice went 1-for-4 with an RBI (71) and a run scored.
Carl Yastrzemski went 1-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Denny Doyle went 1-3 with a run scored.
Standings Update
With the dramatic win, Boston extended its lead over Milwaukee to 12 games. The Yankees also fell again, slipping 11 games off the pace. Baltimore, idle on Monday, lost a half-game in the standings and now sat 8.5 back. Out west, the A’s stayed hot, thumping Texas 12–6 to maintain their 3.5-game cushion over the Red Sox in the race for home field advantage in the ALCS.
The Sox look to build on their momentum as they continue the homestand against Milwaukee, with their eyes on burying another division rival and closing the gap on Oakland.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
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