Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Fatigue Shows, but Sox Salvage Split with Chicago

August 17, 1975 (Game 1): White Sox Walk Their Way Past Wise

Thirty-four straight games in thirty-one days since the All-Star break without a single day off was almost at an end for the Red Sox. All that remained was a Sunday doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, after which they would finally get a much-needed rest day before heading to Kansas City to close out their grueling 15-game road trip. Entering the twin bill, Boston was 7–5 on the trip, still holding the Orioles at arm’s length in the AL East and tied with Oakland for the league’s best record. But they knew there was still work to do.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups

The opener featured Rick Wise for Boston against Chicago lefty Terry Forster.

Darryl Johnson stacked his lineup with right-handed bats:

Juan Beníquez (LF)

Doug Griffin (2B)

Carl Yastrzemski (1B)

Jim Rice (LF)

Carlton Fisk (C)

Fred Lynn (CF)

Dwight Evans (RF)

Rick Burleson (SS)

Bob Heise (3B)

Game Recap

Boston grabbed the early lead in the second when Fisk doubled and scored on a Dwight Evans single. But Wise didn’t have his best stuff. In the bottom half, he walked two men, watched Jerry Hairston bunt them over, and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Bucky Dent. After another walk, Jorge Orta singled home two runs, giving Chicago a 3–1 advantage.

Both pitchers worked around traffic until the sixth, when Wise’s control betrayed him again. Carlos May drew a walk and scored on a Deron Johnson double, stretching the White Sox lead. An inning later, Pat Kelly tacked on an RBI single, and the White Sox never looked back.

Boston scratched across another run in the eighth on Evans’ second RBI single of the day, but Chicago answered immediately in the bottom half. The Sox…