Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Wise Outduels Bahnsen as Sox Take Lead for Homefield
August 29, 1975
August 29, 1975: Wise Outduels Bahnsen as Sox Take Lead for Homefield
With another day off behind them and the final regular season battle with Oakland about to unfold in the Fens, the Red Sox were poised to take hold of their playoff destiny. On Thursday, Oakland was beaten by the Yankees 3–2, which placed the two clubs in a flat-footed tie. Baltimore defeated Chicago 2–1 and picked up a half game in the East, now sitting 6.5 games back. As August prepared to turn to September and summer to fall, there was a definite playoff feeling oozing out of Fenway.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
Both teams turned to trusted veteran pitchers in hopes of getting off to a strong start in this important series. Lefty Rick Wise had the ball for Boston, while Oakland countered with right-hander Stan Bahnsen.
Boston’s lineup:
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
Wise got the Sox started on the right foot, retiring the A’s in order in the top of the first. The Boston offense wasted no time showing Oakland they would be no pushover come October.
In the bottom of the first, Cecil Cooper led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Denny Doyle. With two outs, fortune shined on Boston when Gene Tenace failed to handle a Bahnsen delivery, allowing Cooper to score the game’s first run on a passed ball.
After Wise worked another scoreless frame, Boston doubled its lead in the bottom of the second thanks to Bahnsen’s wildness and a Sal Bando error. Rice and Evans drew walks to open the inning, and when Burleson tried to sacrifice, Bando failed to field the bunt cleanly. With the bases loaded, McAuliffe hit into a double play, but Rice crossed the plate to make it 2–0.
In the third, Cooper once again sparked the offense, leading off with his 12th home run of the year. Later in the inning, Jim Rice singled home Denny Doyle with two outs, stretching the lead to 4–0.
Oakland got its lone run in the fourth when Bando singled and scored on a Billy Williams two out double, but Wise shut the door from there.
Boston added insurance in the fifth with a two-out rally. Fred Lynn ripped his 36th double of the season, and after Rice was intentionally walked, Evans lined an RBI single to score Lynn and move Rice to third. Burleson then followed with another two-out single to plate Rice and extend the lead to 6–1.
Pitching Notes
Rick Wise (17–8) was masterful, firing a complete game. He allowed just one earned run on eight hits, walked one, and struck out four in a dominant performance.
Player Notes and Season Stats
Cecil Cooper: 4-for-5, two doubles, HR (12), RBI, 2 runs scored
Jim Rice: 2-for-2, RBI (88), 2 runs scored
Dwight Evans: 2-for-3, double, RBI
Rick Burleson: 2-for-4, RBI
Fred Lynn: 1-for-4, double (36), run scored
The win not only sent a message to the A’s but also pushed Boston into sole possession of first place. Meanwhile, the White Sox dispatched Baltimore 4–2, extending Boston’s AL East lead to 7.5 games. New England buzzed with excitement not felt since the Impossible Dream season.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the unforgettable 1975 Red Sox season.
Image courtesy of https://deadspin.com/rick-wise-had-the-greatest-game-in-baseball-history-50-1847159351/