Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Moret Muzzles Twins as Sox Build Momentum

July 23, 1975

July 23, 1975: Moret Muzzles Twins as Sox Build Momentum
With the Sox back to their winning ways, they were eager to continue their three-game series against the Twins in Minnesota. Boston maintained its six-game lead over the Yankees, but a new contender had entered the race: the Orioles, now tied with the Brewers, trailed by seven games in the American League East. While the division lead remained solid, Boston had begun shifting some attention to the overall league standings, where the front-running Oakland A’s held a 4.5-game advantage for home field in the ALCS.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups
The Red Sox handed the ball to left-hander Roger Moret, who was seeking his sixth win of the season. Minnesota countered with Jim Hughes, making his 16th start of the year.

The Red Sox lineup for July 23 was:
• Bernie Carbo (RF)
• Denny Doyle (2B)
• Carl Yastrzemski (1B)
• Fred Lynn (CF)
• Jim Rice (LF)
• Cecil Cooper (DH)
• Carlton Fisk (C)
• Rico Petrocelli (3B)
• Rick Burleson (SS)

Game Recap
As had become custom for the Sox in July, they struck first. After both starters posted zeroes in the opening inning, Boston broke through in the second. Two walks and two singles, including a clutch, bases-loaded two-run single from Rick Burleson, gave the Sox an early 2–0 lead.

The Twins answered quickly in the bottom half. Right fielder Lyman Bostock drove in a run with a double, and shortstop Danny Thompson tied the game with a sacrifice fly. But the Sox reclaimed the lead in the third when Denny Doyle doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Minnesota error.

Hughes and Moret settled into a rhythm through the middle innings, but Boston added insurance in the sixth. Cecil Cooper led off with a solo home run, his seventh of the year, to make it 4–2. Moret locked in from there, holding the Twins hitless over the next three innings.

With one out in the ninth, Bostock singled for his second hit of the day, bringing the tying run to the plate. Boston skipper Darrell Johnson turned to right-hander Jim Willoughby, who induced a groundball and flyout to secure the win.

Pitching Notes
• Roger Moret (W, 6–1) delivered a strong outing, going 8.1 innings while allowing two earned runs on seven hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.
• Jim Willoughby recorded his fourth save of the season, retiring the final two batters to preserve the victory.
• Jim Hughes (L, 8–8) went the distance for Minnesota, giving up three earned runs on nine hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.

Player Notes and Season Stats
Boston’s nine-hit performance was led by a trio of contributors:
• Rick Burleson went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
• Cecil Cooper finished 2-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, and a run scored.
• Denny Doyle was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

The Red Sox victory, combined with losses by the Orioles and Brewers and a day off for the Yankees, extended their division lead to 6.5 games over New York and 8 games over both Baltimore and Milwaukee.

In the race for home field advantage in the ALCS, Boston remained 4.5 games behind the A’s, who shut out the Tigers 3–0 behind their All-Star ace, Vida Blue.

With one more game left in Minnesota before heading to New York for a high-stakes four-game series in the Bronx, the Sox were focused on finishing strong and keeping their grip on both the East and reeling in the A’s.

Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.

Image courtesy of https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/283026/2018/03/22/the-catatonic-pitcher-and-a-shower-shoe-recalling-the-strange-demise-of-rangers-pitcher-roger-moret

/