1967 American League Pennant Race

May 31, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 3 (22-20), Twins 2 (20-22)

The Red Sox held off a late inning surge by the Twins to win their fourth straight game.  Bucky Brandon improved to 2-5 on the season with a nice start.  He gave up two unearned runs on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  For the Twins, Jim Perry dropped to 0-3 on the season with a tough start.  He gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Carl Yastrzemski homered twice in a big day.  He brought his season homer total up to ten with both homers being solo shots.  For the Twins, Russ Nixon singled and he scored a run.

May 30, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 5 (20-20), Angels 4 (18-25)

Tom Horton doubled home Reggie Smith in the bottom of the eighth inning to win it for the Red Sox in the first game of their doubleheader with the Angels. The win was the Red Sox second in a row and once again they had pushed themselves back up to .500.

For the Red Sox, Jose Santiago was shelled and he lasted just three innings but the bullpen picked him up. Dan Osinski picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief and John Wyatt pitched a shutout ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Bill Kelso took the loss for the Angels as he gave up the eighth inning run. He tempted fate in all three of his inning with four walks but he was able to pitch himself out of the jams with six strikeouts. Jack Sanford had a mediocre start and he gave up three runs in five innings.

At the plate for the Sox, Mike Andrews doubled twice and he drove in one and scored a run. Jose Tartabull went two for five and he scored a run. For the Angels, Don Mincher went two for three with a two run homer (his tenth of the season) and Jimmie Hall also went yard with a two run shot.

May 30, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 6 (21-20), Angels 1 (18-26)

Dennis Bennett pitched the Red Sox to their third straight win and a sweep in their doubleheader over the Angels.  He gave up just one run on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in a complete game.  For the Angels, George Brunet dropped to 1-6 on the season with a poor start.  He gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in just four innings.

Rico Petrocelli provided most of the offense in the win.  He went three for four with two runs and two RBIs.  For the Angels, Bobby Knoop went two for four and he drove in the lone run with a solo homerun.

May 28, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Red Sox 4, Orioles 3  (19-20)

The Red Sox avoided a sweep at the hands of the Orioles and ended a three game losing streak behind another nice start by Jim Lonborg.  He got into trouble early and gave up two runs in the first but he calmed down to collect his sixth run of the season.  In all, he gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.  John Wyatt pitched the final 1 1/3 and he picked up his third save of the season.

Reggie Smith had a big day at the plate.  He went three for five with three runs.  Rico Petrocelli went two for four with a solo homerun and Mike Andrews had three hits in the game.

May 27, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 10, Red Sox 0  (18-20)

This game was plain ugly.  Bucky Brandon was shelled for seven runs in four innings and five errors resulted in four unearned runs in the game.  The loss dropped Brandon to 1-5 on the season.

To make matters worse, the Sox hitters picked up ten hits but they couldn’t push a single runner across the plate.  Tom Horton and Mike Andrews led the way with two hits a piece.

May 26, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 4, Red Sox 3  (18-19)

The Red Sox dipped below .500 again with their second straight loss on the road.  Rookie Billy Rohr was tagged for four runs in just three innings and he dropped to 2-2 on the season.  He’d make only one more start for the Red Sox before getting sent down to the minors.

Reggie Smith had a nice day at the plate in the loss. He went two for five with a run and an RBI.  Mike Andrews also hit the ball well and he went two for four with an RBI.

May 25, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 9 (22-13), Red Sox 3 (18-18)

The Tigers avoided a sweep at the hand of the Red Sox and snapped a three game losing streak with a nine run attack.  The big inning for the Tigers was the fifth, in which they scored six runs.

Jim Northrup definitely got it done for the Tigers.  He went two for three with a homerun and five RBIs.  Dick McAuliffe also homered and he scored three times in the game.

Reggie Smith drove in two of the three Red Sox’ runs and finished with two hits.  Mike Ryan hit a solo shot in the third inning and that was the extent of the Red Sox offense.

Earl Wilson went the distance and improved to 6-3.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  Jose Santiago took the loss for the Red Sox.  He gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

May 24, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 1 (18-17), Tigers 0  (21-13)

A solo shot by Dalton Jones in the second was the only run of the game in this pitcher’s dual.  Jim Lornberg threw a gem.  He gave up four hits and four walks with eleven strikeouts in the complete game shutout.

Denny McLain was good but he would have had to be perfect in this one.  He gave up only the single run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in seven innings.  Jose Tartabull and Jones were the only two players for either team to rack up two hits.

May 23, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 5 (17-17), Tigers 2 (21-12)

Dennis Bennett got the better of Mickey Lolich in this pitching battle.  The game was tied 1-1 until the Red Sox got to Lolich with two runs in the fifth.  That lead would hold even after Tiger reliever George Korince gave up two more to the Red Sox in the top of the eighth.

Rico Petrocelli and Carl Yastrzemski both homered for the Red Sox.  Yaz’s homerun was a two run shot.  Al Kaline drove in each of the Tiger’s two runs.

Bennett picked up the win and improved to 2-1.  He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7 1/3.  Lolich dropped to 5-3 and he struck out seven in seven innings.

May 21, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 4, Indians 3  (15-17)

The Red Sox rallied and scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and beat the Indians.  Carl Yastrzemski tripled home two runs to pull the Red Sox to within one run and then George Scott hit a big two run homer to give the Red Sox the win.

Billy Rohr had a pretty good start that almost went to waste.  He gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in 7 1/3 innings.  John Wyatt picked up the win and he got the final two batters out in the ninth.  Lee Stange picked up the save with a shutout ninth.

May 21, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 6, Indians 2  (16-17)

The Red Sox made it two in a row and finished their doubleheader sweep over the Indians.  Bucky Brandon picked his first win of the season with a nice start.  He gave up two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in a complete game.

Carl Yastrzemski had another nice day at the plate.  He went two for three with two runs and two RBIs.  Rico Petrocelli doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one.

May 20, 1967 at Fenway Park
Indians 5, Red Sox 3  (14-17)

Don McMahon gave up a two run homer in the top of the tenth as the Red Sox lost to the Indians 5-3.  The loss dropped McMahon to 1-2 on the season and it’s unfortunate because he did a very nice job against the Indians in his first two innings.

Tony Jones had a pinch hit double and he drove in two runs.  In all, the Red Sox were held to just six hits and no player had more then one.

May 19, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 3, Indians 2  (14-16)

The Red Sox needed a win and their ace gave them one although the offense didn’t come through until the ninth inning.  Jim Lonborg improved to 4-1 on the season with an outstanding outing.  He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks and he just missed his season high with twelve strikeouts in the complete game.  It was only the third win in the Red Sox last eight games.

Joe Foy hit a solo homerun to put the Red Sox on the board.  Then Reggie Smith tripled home Jose Tartubull in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and Smith scored on Tony Horton’s single to win it.

May 17, 1967 at Fenway Park
Orioles 12, Red Sox 8  (13-16)

The Red Sox continued to fall further below .500 in a blowout loss by the Orioles.  Dennis Bennett gave up three runs in 3 1/3, Galen Cisco gave up five runs in 2 2/3 and Bill Landis gave up four runs in just one inning in the beatdown.

Carl Yastrzemski had a big day at the plate in the loss. He went two for four with two homerun, four RBIs and three runs scored.  Don Demeter also made a big contribution with a three run homer.

May 16, 1967 at Fenway Park
Orioles 8, Red Sox 5  (13-15)

The Red Sox blew a 5-2 lead and lost their series opener with the Orioles.  Bucky Brandon gave up four runs on six hits and he pitched six innings but it was John Wyatt who really got bombed.  He gave up four runs in the final two innings and he dropped to 2-2 on the season.

Carl Yastrzemski hit homerun number five and he went one for three with two runs.  George Scott also had a nice game and he went two for four with two triples and a run.

May 14, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 8 (12-14), Tigers 5 (17-8)

The Red Sox snapped the Tigers seven game winning in the first game of a Sunday double header.  Denny McLain was pummelled and the primary suspects were George Scott and Rico Petrocelli.  Scott went two for four with three RBIs and Petrocelli went  two for three with two homeruns, three runs and three RBIs.  Jim Lonberg improved to 3-1 with six solid innings and Hank Fischer picked up his first save with three solid innings of relief.

Dick McAuliffe and West homered for the Tigers.  Roy Oyler finished the game three for three with a run and an RBI and McAuliffe scored twice and drove in two runs.

May 14, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 13 (13-14), Tigers 9 (17-9)

The Red Sox dismantled the Tigers as they swept their doubleheader.  This one was closer then it looked because of a five run eighth inning by the Tigers.  Prior to that, the Red Sox were up 12-4.

Every Red Sox pretty much contributed in this one.  Four Red Sox had at least two RBIs and four scored at least four runs.  Jose Santiago, Carl Yastrzemski and Joe Foy all homered and all nine starters either scored at least one run or drove in one run.

Santiago picked up the win despite getting tagged for seven runs.  He improved to 2-1.

Willie Horton led the offense for the Tigers. He homered twice.  Norm Cash homered and drove in three runs and Bill Freehan hit a solo shot.  Mickey Lolich was pulled in the second inning after getting tagged for five runs but the pen didn’t fare much better.  Each of the four Tiger relievers gave up at least one run with Korince leading the way with five.

May 13, 1967 at Fenway Park
Tigers 10 (17-7), Red Sox 8 (11-14)

The Tigers demolished the Red Sox in a ninth inning that saw both teams combine for nine runs.  The Tigers scored six of those though and that turned out to be the difference in the Tigers seventh straight win (10 of their last 11).

Bill Freehan hit his sixth homerun and Earl Wilson hit his first (as a pinch hitter) in this one.  Freehan drove in three and scored twice while Jim Northrup went four for five with two runs and an RBI.  Sparma got the start but lasted only five innings.  Reliever Korince picked up the win for the Tigers and Wickersham picked up his second save despite getting tagged for three runs.

Foy homered for the Red Sox and he finished with three hits and two runs.  Petrocelli went three for four with two doubles, a run and an RBI wihle Conigliaro had two hits, two runs and two RBIs.  Wyatt took ehte loss and was credited with all six of those ninth inning runs.  He dropped to 2-1 in relief of Bennett.

May 12, 1967 at Fenway Park
Tigers 5 (16-7), Red Sox 4 (11-13)

The Tigers held back a late inning surge by the Red Sox in the Tigers sixth straight win.  Earl Wilson locked horns with Braydon in this one and Wilson got the better of his Red Sox counterpart.

The Tiger drew first blood in the third inning.  Earl Wilson scored on a wild pitch and Dick McAuliffe scored when Al Kaline reached base on Petrocelli’s error.  The Tigers added a run in the fourth on Norm Cash’s third homerun of the season.

The Red Sox scored singled runs in the fourth and fifth.  Carl Yastrzemski scored on Conigliaro’s fielder’s choice in the fourth and Tartabull scored on Foy’s single in the fifth.

The Tigers matched that with runs in the seventh and eighth.  Cash scored on Freehan’s double to make it 4-2 and then Al Kaline scored on Willie Horton’s sac. fly in the eighth to make it 5-2.

Things looked promising for the Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth.  Conigliaro singled and Petrocelli followed that up with a walk.  Wilson was replaced by Gladding, who didn’t help matters by walking Jones.  Congligiaro scored on Horton’s fielders choice and then Petrocelli scored on Demeter’s single to make it a one run game.  Fortunately for the Tigers, Tartabull lined out and Foy grounded out to end the game.

Wilson improved to 4-2 and Gladding picked up his fifth save of the season.  Brandon dropped to 0-4.

May 10, 1967 at Munical Stadium
Athletics 7, Red Sox 4 (11-12)

The Red Sox continued their rough May with their third straight series loss.  Things got off to a bad start in this one as Billy Rohr was hit hard for three runs in the third inning.  That only tied the game up though and it was Billy Stange who took the loss.  He gave up two runs in the seventh and he dropped to 0-2 on the season.

George Scott singled and drove in two runs in the loss.  Carl Yastrzemski doubled twice, drove in a run and scored.

May 9, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Athletics 4, Red Sox 3  (10-11)

Don McMahon had a rough eighth inning and he gave up what proved to be the losing run in a 4-3 loss to the Athletics in game one of their doubleheader.  It didn’t help that Jim Lonborg had his worst start of the season so far this year. He gave up three runs in four innings and it was the first time Lonborg didn’t go at least five innings.

All three runs were provided by Tony Conigliaro. He went two for four with a three run homer.  Carl Yastrzemski and George Scott both went two for four with a run.

May 9, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Red Sox 5, Athletics 2  (11-11)

The Red Sox salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the Athletics behind a strong outing by Jose Santiago.  He gave up two runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings. He didn’t pick up the win though because the Red Sox scored all of their runs in the ninth inning.  The win went to John Wyatt, who threw a shutout eighth inning.

Yaz had the game winning hit.  The Red Sox had already tied it up with two in the ninth and the Yaz hit a bases loaded clearing double to make it a 5-2 game.  It was the only extra base hit of the game for the Red Sox.  Rico Petrocelli was the only Red Sox with two hits.  He went two for four with a run.

May 7, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Red Sox 9 (10-10), Twins 6 (9-11)

The Red Sox got their bats going and ended their four game skid at the expense of the Twins, who lost for the first time after a four game winning streak.  Mike Andrews was one of the hitting stars.  He went three for four with a double, two runs and an RBI.  Rico Petrocelli also had a nice game and he went drove in two and scored a run.

Dennis Bennet was hit hard in his loss but the Sox hitters picked him up.  Dan Osinski picked up the win and he improved to 1-0 with the win.  He gave up just one run in five relief innings.  John Wyatt threw a shutout ninth and he picked up his first save of the season.

For the Twins, Harmon Killebrew hit his third homer, a two run shot in the third.  Cesar Tovar went three for four with a run and Zoilo Versalles went one for two with two RBIs and a run.  Jim Kaat had a rough start and he gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings while Jim Perry took the loss and gave up three run in his three relief innings.

May 6, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 4 (9-10), Red Sox 2 (9-10)

The Twins handed the Red Sox their fourth straight loss by winning their fourth straight, and in the process, they tied the Red Sox in the standings.  Dean Chance was the star of the game and he improved to 4-1 on the season.  He gave up two runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in a complete game.  The two runs didn’t come until the ninth inning when the Red Sox tagged him for two runs to break up his shutout.

For the Red Sox, Bucky Brandon had a decent enough start but he dropped to 0-3 on the season.  He gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Ron Clark hit a solo homerun for the Twins.  Zoilo Versalles went two for three with two RBIs and a run.  Cesar Tovar went one for two with an RBI and two runs.

The Red Sox didn’t manage much at the plate.  Jose Tartabull was the only Red Sox with two hits and he scored one of the two runs.

May 5, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 5 (8-10), Red Sox 2 (9-9)

The Twins won their third straight and the Red Sox lost their third straight in what turned into the Mudcat Grant show.  He picked up his first win in a nice start and whle he gave up two runs, they didn’t come until the ninth inning.  He gave up eight hits and two walks with eight strikeouts and Al Worthington struck out the final batter to lock up the win.

Billy Rohr was hit hard by the Twins and he dropped to 2-1 on the season. HE gave up four runs on six hits and two walks in just two innings of work.

Zoilo Versalles had a big day at the plate in the win.  He went four for four and he drove in two runs.  Ron Clark also contributed with a two run homer.  For the Red Sox, Reggie Smith singled and drove in a run in a game where all eight of the Red Sox hits were singles.

May 3, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 2 (10-10), Red Sox 1 (9-8)

Jim Lonborg took a one hit shutout into the ninth inning and in a collapse, he turned a fine pitching performance into a loss for the Red Sox.  He gave up three straight singles with the final one being an RBI single by Rick Reichardt that tied the game up.  After an intentional walk, he got Don Wallace to fly out to put himself one out away from extra frames but he threw a wild pitch that allowed Jay Johnstone to scamper home with the winning run.

It was Lonborg’s first loss of the season and he dropped to 2-1 on the season.  He gave up the two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts.  For the Angels, Bill Kelso picked up the win after a nice six inning start by Nick Wilhite in which he gave up one run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

There wasn’t a lot of offense in this one.  Mike Andrews hit a solo homerun for the Red Sox only run in the fifth inning and I already ran through what the Angels did.  Jim Fregosi was the only hitter on either side with two hits.  He went two for four and he scored on Reichardt’s single in the ninth.

May 2, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 3 (9-10), Red Sox 2 (9-7)

Jim McGlothlin threw a complete game and he struck out eleven in the Angels win over the Red Sox.  He gave up two runs on just three hits and a walk and the win pushes his record to 1-0 on the season.  For the Red Sox, Hank Fischer was tagged for three runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in five innings.  The loss drops him to 1-2 on the season.

Jim Fregosi hit a solo homerun to help out the cause for the Angels.  Jimmie Hall went two for three with a double and an RBI.  For the Red Sox, George Scott hit a solo homerun and Tony Conigliaro singled and drove in a run.

May 1, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Red Sox 4 (9-6), Angels 0 (8-10)

Dennis Bennett improved to 1-1 on the season with a six hit shutout over the Angels.  He gave up three walks and struck out two and it would be Bennett’s last shutout of his career.  For the Angels, Jorge Rubio was hit hard and he dropped to 0-2 on the season.  He gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings.

Bennett helped out his own cause with a big three run homer in the fourth inning.  George Scott drove in the other run for the Red Sox earlier in the inning with a solo homer.  Jose Cardenal was the only Angel with more then one hit.  He went two for four in the loss.