Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Rem Dawg Sparks Angels in Rubber Game
August 14, 1975
August 14, 1975: Rem Dawg Sparks Angels in Rubber Game
After splitting their first two games in Anaheim, the Red Sox entered the series finale in need of a win. Having played .500 baseball over their last 10 games, Boston risked losing a game and a half off their AL East lead over that span if they dropped the rubber match.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
The Thursday night contest featured a pair of Southern California natives squaring off in their own backyard. Boston sent Burbank-bred lefty Bill Lee to the mound, while the Angels countered with Los Angeles native Bill Singer.
Boston’s lineup had a slightly different look at the top:
Cecil Cooper (1B)
Denny Doyle (2B)
Carl Yastrzemski (DH)
Fred Lynn (CF)
Jim Rice (LF)
Carlton Fisk (C)
Rick Miller (RF)
Rico Petrocelli (3B)
Rick Burleson (SS)
Game Recap
Boston wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. With one out, Denny Doyle singled to center and advanced to third on Yastrzemski’s single to right. Fred Lynn followed with his 84th RBI of the season, singling to right to score Doyle. Yaz moved to third and Lynn took second on the throw. When Singer hit Rice to load the bases, the Sox seemed poised to blow the game open early. However, Fisk popped out weakly to shallow center, and Rick Miller grounded out to first to end the inning.
For the first two frames, it looked like Boston wouldn’t need many more runs as Lee retired the first six batters he faced with ease.
But just like the night before, the third inning proved disastrous for a Red Sox starter. Angels DH John Balaz led off with a single, followed by a hit from catcher Ike Hampton. After Lee struck out the ninth hitter, he walked leadoff man Dave Collins to load the bases. Fall River native Jerry Remy doubled home two runs, giving California a 2–1 lead. Lee struck out the dangerous Mickey Rivers for the second out, but Leroy Stanton singled in two more, and Dave Chalk added an RBI single to make it 5–1.
Boston chipped away in the fifth when Lynn drove in Burleson for his second RBI of the day. They scored again in the seventh, when Juan Beniquez singled home Doyle to cut the deficit to 5–3. That would be as close as the Sox came though.
Pitching Notes
Lee took his seventh loss of the season despite settling down after the third inning. He went the distance, allowing five earned runs, all in that fateful frame, on 11 hits, walking one and striking out three.
Player Notes and Season Stats
The offense again collected double-digit hits, but Singer and reliever Don Kirkwood scattered them to keep Boston from mounting a serious rally. Lynn finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBI (85). Beniquez was 2-for-4 with an RBI off the bench, and Doyle went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.
Standings Update
The loss dropped Boston out of a tie for home field with the A’s, who beat the Yankees 5–1. With Baltimore idle, the Sox lead in the AL East fell to 6.5 games. Two rough outings from their starters and a sputtering West Coast offense had some fans concerned about Boston’s ability to hold their place in the standings.
Next up, the Sox head to the Windy City to open a series against the White Sox as their grueling 15-game road trip continues.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
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