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Russ
Nixon's 9th inning pinch-hit homer
edges the Indians, 3 to 2
June 26,
1964 ... Russ Nixon came through in the last
of the ninth inning to give the Sox a walk-off win over the Cleveland
Indians. With two outs and Felix Mantilla on first base, the Red Sox
were trailing 2 to 1, and Nixon took Tommy John deep into the right
field grandstand for the game winner.
The game had been a pitcher's duel from the start. Dave Morehead and
John set a fast pace for the first five innings. The Sox got their
first hit in the third inning when Bob Tillman singled. Mantilla then
hit a scorching line drive to right center. Indians' rookie Bob
Chance raced over from right field and back-handed the liner at the
420 ft mark in center field to choke of the threat.
In the fourth inning, the Sox grabbed the lead. Carl Yastrzemski led
off with a double to left center and moved to third on Dick Stuart's
ground out to second base. Frank Malzone hit a one-hopper between the
mound and third base, which John got to. He looked at Yaz but threw
to first. In that instant, Yaz broke for home and made it well ahead
of the return throw from firstbaseman, Fred Whitfield, to score the
first run of the game.
In the sixth, the Indians got their first hit off Morehead on Dick
Howser's double. Vic Davalillo flew out to Lee Thomas in right and
Howser easily tagged up and coasted into third base. He scored the
tying run when Leon Wagner hit a high fly to Yaz in center.
Thomas opened the sixth for the Sox with a line drive headed for the
Indian's bullpen. But Chance was on his horse again and back-handed
the ball just as it headed over the fence.
The Sox had another opportunity in the last of the eighth, but John
stopped them with the bases loaded. Stuart led off with a base hit
and Roman Mejias ran for him. Frank Malzone bunted him over to second
and he was safe when he beat catcher, Joe Azcue's throw. Lee Thomas
put down another bunt and everyone was safe when secondbaseman Billy
Moran dropped Whitfield's throw. John then got Eddie Bressoud to hit
into a doubleplay, but he filled the bases again intentionally by
walking Tillman. He fanned Dick Williams to end the inning and the
Sox' opportunity was wasted.
In the bottom of the eighth, Howser and Wagner reached on base hits.
Young Mr. Chance continued to be a thorn in the Red Sox' side when he
lined a single to center, that scored Howser from second base and put
the Indians ahead, 2-1.
Dick Radatz came in and shut down the Indians in the top of the
ninth. In the Sox half of the inning, after Chuck Schilling grounded
out, Mantilla reached on an infield hit. Yaz lined out to left and
that brought up Radatz's spot in the batting order. Nixon came up to
pinch hit for Radatz and took the second of John's pitches into the
right field grandstand and the game was over ... 3 to 2, Red Sox |
