Fenway Flashback: 1975 - Lee Shuts Out Royals as Sox Reclaim First

August 19, 1975: Lee Shuts Out Royals as Sox Reclaim First

After 32 straight days of games, the Red Sox finally enjoyed a much-needed day off on August 18. During the break, Boston saw its AL East lead extend to seven games, and the team moved back into a tie with Oakland for home field advantage. Rested and recharged, the Sox were ready to battle both the Kansas City Royals and the sweltering mid-August Missouri heat as their grueling 15-game road trip neared its end.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups

The matchup appeared to favor Boston, with Bill Lee taking the mound against Kansas City’s Al Fitzmorris, who had lost two of his three starts against the Sox earlier in the year.

Boston’s lineup:

Cecil Cooper (DH)

Denny Doyle (2B)

Carl Yastrzemski (1B)

Fred Lynn (CF)

Jim Rice (LF)

Carlton Fisk (C)

Dwight Evans (RF)

Rick Burleson (SS)

Bob Heise (3B)

Game Recap

Both pitchers controlled the early going, blanking the offenses through the first two innings. Boston broke through in the third when Dwight Evans stayed hot, leading off with a double. Rick Burleson sacrificed him to third, and Bob Heise delivered a clutch RBI single to put the Sox on top 1–0.

The score held until the sixth, when Boston struck again. Fred Lynn opened the frame with his 33rd double of the year and came around to score on a throwing error by Royals first baseman John Mayberry. Carlton Fisk then walked, stole second, and moved to third on an Evans single. Rick Burleson delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-0. In the seventh, Carl Yastrzemski…