Culp-ability !

[Anaheim Stadium - Boston 5, California 2]

Boston got on the board quick when John Kennedy led off the game with a shot that went deep into the left field bleachers. The Angels tied it when Ken Berry singled home Roger Repoz in the bottom of the 2nd. Angel starter Andy Messersmith beaned Joe Lahoud to open the third. Both benches looked ready to clear, but thankfully cooler heads prevailed. Reggie Smith followed it up with a clean single to right that Lahoud went from first to third on. Yaz, who hasn't been able to get on track, lined out to Sandy Alomar for the first out. Rico Petrocelli hit into a fielder's choice to score Lahoud and put the Bosox up 2-1. To start the 4th Messersmith jammed Doug Griffin who dropped a Texas leaguer into no man's land. Messersmith got distracted and Griffin swiped second easily. Josephson and pitcher Ray Culp fanned, but John Kennedy had another clutch hit to score a run. This time he lined one in between Alomar and Jim Spencer.

For the third consecutive inning the Bosox were able to get their leadoff hitter on. Reggie Smith walked and Yaz finally found his bat and singled up the middle to put

runners on the corners with no out. Petrocelli hit into a force play at second to score Smith and put the Bosox up 4-1. George Scott then legged out an infield single, but Messersmith was able to induce Doug Griffin into a room service DP to end the inning. Jerry Moses doubled for the Angels to lead off the bottom of the 5th. Ken Berry followed with a clean single up the middle to put runners on the the corners. Messersmith came up looking to bunt, but the Bosox had their infield in daring him to do so. Messersmith bunted it too hard to the hard charging Petrocelli who didn't miss a beat and threw to Griffin at second. Berry took Griffin out, but not before he could get Messersmith at first to complete the DP. Alomar grounded weakly to third and the Angels blew a golden opportunity. The Angels loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th, but again couldn't capitalize. The did score a run on a sac fly, but they lost the opportunity for the "big inning" once more. Leading off the top of the 9th Duane Josephson hammered a 2-1 offering 384 feet for his 8th homer of the season. This would give Boston a much needed insurance run and a 3 run lead. Ray Culp set the Angels down in order in the 9th to win his 7th game of the season.