ON THIS DATE (June 17,
1977) ...
The Sox bombed Catfish Hunter and equaled a club record
with four home runs in one inning, winning 9 to 4. Rick Burleson led
off the first inning with a rising line drive into the net. Fred Lynn
followed with a towering drive into the right field bleachers. After
retiring the next two batters, Carlton Fisk bombed one over the left
field screen. After a quick visit to the mound from Billy Martin, and
before he had a chance to get back to his spot in the dugout, George
Scott drove one onto Lansdowne Street.
Bill Lee couldn't hold the 4-0 lead however, getting shelled in the
second inning for three runs and one in the third. The Sox then
responded to re-take the lead in the fifth inning. Ken Clay, who had
come on to replace Hunter after the bombing gave up a walk to Rick
Burleson, who was forced at second by Lynn. Then Jim Rice lined a
single to center that allowed Lynn to move over to third, scoring on
a ground out by Carl Yastrzemski.
Dick Tidrow replaced Clay to start the sixth inning and gave up three
singles for another run and a 6-4 Sox lead. In the seventh, Yaz
belted his 10th homer of the season and Carlton Fisk put his second
homer of the game into the screen. Meanwhile, Bob Stanley, who had
come in after Lee faltered, kept the Yankees in check until the
seventh inning, handing the ball over to Bill Campbell, who slammed
the door shut, earning his 13th save.
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