Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Moret Works Magic as Sox Edge White Sox
August 22, 1975
August 22, 1975: Moret Works Magic as Sox Edge White Sox
After playing 35 straight games, the Red Sox finally enjoyed their second off day of the week. With a good night’s sleep in their own beds behind them, Boston returned to Fenway refreshed and ready to open a homestand against several familiar opponents. Still, thanks to wins by both Oakland and Baltimore during the Sox’ idle day, Boston entered Friday night trailing the A’s by half a game for home field and holding a 6.5-game lead in the AL East.
Fresh off taking three of four from the White Sox in Chicago, Boston welcomed the sub-.500 Pale Hose to Fenway for a three-game weekend set.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
Roger Moret got the call for the opener, while Chicago countered with veteran lefty Claude Osteen, making what would be his final career start at Fenway Park.
Boston’s lineup for the Friday Night Opener :
Cecil Cooper (DH)
Doug Griffin (2B)
Carl Yastrzemski (1B)
Jim Rice (LF)
Fred Lynn (CF)
Carlton Fisk (C)
Dwight Evans (RF)
Rick Burleson (SS)
Bob Heise (3B)
Game Recap
The pair of lefties were dominant early, keeping the game scoreless through four innings. Moret handled Chicago in the top of the fifth, and then Boston finally broke through. The red-hot Dwight Evans launched his 12th homer of the year over the Monster to give the Sox a 1–0 lead.
In the sixth, Carl Yastrzemski created another run with his legs. After leading off with a single, Yaz stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Brian Downing. Fred Lynn followed with an RBI single, extending the lead to 2–0.
The run proved crucial, as the White Sox chipped back in the seventh. Moret issued back-to-back two-out walks to Downing and Jerry Hairston, and Bucky Dent singled to cut the lead in half. Fenway grew uneasy, but Moret settled in, escaping the jam and then retiring six of the final seven batters he faced to secure Boston’s 76th win of the season.
Pitching Notes
Roger Moret (10–2): Complete game, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 9 walks, 6 strikeouts.
Despite a season-high nine walks, Moret was a magician, somehow navigating traffic all night without breaking.
Player Notes and Season Stats
Boston managed only six hits off Osteen, but they made them count.
Dwight Evans: 2-for-3, HR (12), double, run, RBI
Carl Yastrzemski: 1-for-4, run, stolen base
Fred Lynn: 1-for-3, RBI (89)
Boston’s win, paired with an Oakland rainout, put the Sox back into a flat-footed tie for the American League’s best record. In the East, they remained 6.5 games ahead of Baltimore, who beat Texas behind starter Mike Torrez.
And for those of you keeping track, apologies for putting the names Torrez and Dent into the same article. It may be three years before a certain nickname is born, but we all know what’s coming.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
Image courtesy of https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/roger-moret