Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Oakland Edges Sox in Extra-Inning Thriller
August 30, 1975
August 30, 1975: Oakland Edges Sox in Extra-Inning Thriller
Up a game in the series, and a game ahead in the race for homefield advantage, the Red Sox were poised to seize control of the American League lead. But the defending AL champion A’s were no strangers to pressure, and they weren’t about to be overwhelmed by the moment at Fenway Park on the final Saturday night of August.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
A pair of right-handers squared off in the middle game of the series. Boston sent Luis Tiant to the mound, while Oakland countered with swingman Glenn Abbott, making just his second start in his last eight appearances.
Darryl Johnson’s lineup card looked the same for the third game in a row:
Cecil Cooper (DH)
Denny Doyle (2B)
Carl Yastrzemski (1B)
Fred Lynn (CF)
Jim Rice (LF)
Dwight Evans (RF)
Rick Burleson (SS)
Dick McAuliffe (3B)
Tim Blackwell (C)
Game Recap
Like the opener, the Red Sox bats were hot early, but unlike Friday night, Tiant couldn’t contain the A’s offense. In the first inning, Reggie Jackson launched a two-run homer into the right-field bleachers to give Oakland a quick lead. Boston answered in the bottom half. Cecil Cooper doubled, Doyle reached on an error by second baseman Phil Garner that also scored Cooper. Yaz walked and then Fred Lynn tied the game with an RBI single. Jim Rice then grounded into a double play that plated another run, putting Boston briefly ahead 3–2.
Oakland came right back in the second. With two outs, Ted Martinez singled and Bill North doubled to tie the game. Claudell Washington followed with a clutch two-run single, and the A’s led 5–3.
The Sox tied it again in their half of the second. Yaz drilled his 14th homer of the year after a Cooper walk, making it 5–5. Lynn added a single, but Alvin Dark went to his bullpen early, bringing in Jim Todd to stop the rally.
In the third, Oakland struck once more. After Tiant issued two walks, Garner atoned for his earlier miscue with an RBI single. That was the end of Tiant’s night, his shortest outing of the season. Dick Drago came on to end the inning, but Boston trailed 6–5.
The Sox pulled even in the fourth when Yaz tripled and scored on Lynn’s second RBI single of the night. But from there, both bullpens took over. Drago and Todd matched zeros into the ninth, where late drama unfolded.
With two outs in the ninth, former Red Sox speedster, Tommy Harper reached on a Burleson error, and Gene Tenace followed by reaching on a McAuliffe misplay. With the go-ahead run in scoring position, Burleson redeemed himself by handling Garner’s grounder to end the threat.
In the bottom half, Rollie Fingers relieved Todd, who had thrown 6.1 brilliant innings. Fingers fanned Yaz and Lynn, then gave up a single to Rice, who promptly stole second. But Bernie Carbo struck out, sending the game to extras.
Dick Williams sent Drago back out for the tenth. He retired the first two A’s but walked Claudell Washington, who then stole his 38th base before Sal Bando lined an RBI single to right, giving Oakland a 7–6 lead. Fingers then retired the bottom of the Red Sox lineup in order, striking out pinch-hitter, Rick Miller to end it.
Pitching Notes
Luis Tiant lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing 6 earned runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. His shortest start of the season.
Dick Drago (1-2) took the hard-luck loss despite a stellar outing: 7.1 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts.
Jim Todd was superb in relief, tossing 6.1 innings of one-run ball to give Oakland a chance. Rollie Fingers earned the win with two scoreless frames striking out four.
Player Notes and Season Stats
Fred Lynn: 3-for-5, 2 RBI (93)
Carl Yastrzemski: 2-for-4, triple, HR (14), 2 RBI, 3 runs
Jim Rice: 2-for-4, run
Cecil Cooper: 1-for-4, double, 2 runs
The back-and-forth battle was a tale of two games: explosive offense early, then dominant bullpen work late. Oakland’s extra-inning win pulled them even with Boston in the homefield race, while Baltimore’s Jim Palmer earned his 20th win as the Orioles trimmed the Sox’ AL East lead back to 6.5 games.
If the first two contests of this Fenway showdown were any indication, the finale promised to be unmissable.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
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