Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Lee Shuts Out Royals as Sox Reclaim First
August 19, 1975
August 19, 1975: Lee Shuts Out Royals as Sox Reclaim First
After 32 straight days of games, the Red Sox finally enjoyed a much-needed day off on August 18. During the break, Boston saw its AL East lead extend to seven games, and the team moved back into a tie with Oakland for home field advantage. Rested and recharged, the Sox were ready to battle both the Kansas City Royals and the sweltering mid-August Missouri heat as their grueling 15-game road trip neared its end.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
The matchup appeared to favor Boston, with Bill Lee taking the mound against Kansas City’s Al Fitzmorris, who had lost two of his three starts against the Sox earlier in the year.
Boston’s lineup:
Cecil Cooper (DH)
Denny Doyle (2B)
Carl Yastrzemski (1B)
Fred Lynn (CF)
Jim Rice (LF)
Carlton Fisk (C)
Dwight Evans (RF)
Rick Burleson (SS)
Bob Heise (3B)
Game Recap
Both pitchers controlled the early going, blanking the offenses through the first two innings. Boston broke through in the third when Dwight Evans stayed hot, leading off with a double. Rick Burleson sacrificed him to third, and Bob Heise delivered a clutch RBI single to put the Sox on top 1–0.
The score held until the sixth, when Boston struck again. Fred Lynn opened the frame with his 33rd double of the year and came around to score on a throwing error by Royals first baseman John Mayberry. Carlton Fisk then walked, stole second, and moved to third on an Evans single. Rick Burleson delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-0. In the seventh, Carl Yastrzemski walked with two outs, and Lynn followed with his 20th home run of the season, giving Boston a commanding 5–0 edge.
That was more than enough for Lee, who silenced the Royals’ bats the rest of the way.
Pitching Notes
Bill Lee (16–7) was superb, firing a four-hit complete game shutout. He walked just one and struck out three in a masterful performance.
Player Notes and Season Stats
Fred Lynn: 2-for-3, double (33), HR (20), 2 RBI (88), 2 runs scored
Dwight Evans: 2-for-4, double, run scored
Denny Doyle: 2-for-5
The win lifted Boston into sole possession of first place in the American League as Oakland dropped a 3–1 decision to Mickey Lolich and Detroit. In the AL East, the Twins beat Baltimore for the second straight game, dropping the Orioles eight back.
With fresh spirits and renewed focus, the Red Sox were poised to wrap up their road trip on a high note and head home to continue their playoff push.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
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