Game 1 in Boston
Reggie Cleveland (21-9, 2.98) v Wilbur Wood (19-9, 3.22)
Opening blood to the Red Sox as most of the runs come early in a tougher win for the hosts than the 8-3 final might suggest. Henry Aaron homers in his first-ever World Series game, one of four Boston hitters to go deep, while Stretch McCovey belts two solo shots in a losing cause.
Game 2 in Boston
Jim Rooker (11-8, 4.12) v Sam McDowell (14-9, 2.54)
Red Sox lead series 1-0
The Sox fall behind early but claw their way back into the game and ten score 6 in the 6th en route to a 9-2 win. Reggie Smith has three hits including two doubles while driving in 5 and Rico Petrocelli also knocks in a trio. Darrell Evans has a night to forget in the field, with his two miscues resulting in 6 of Boston’s runs being unearned. Such wastefulness costs you exponentially more in these big games, and the Giants will have to get their heads in the game on the way home, or else this is going to be a much shorter series than anyone anticipated.
Game 3 in San Francisco
Gaylord Perry (18-10, 2.77) v Luis Tiant (20-5, 3.26)
Red Sox lead series 2-0
Nothing doing again for the Giants, who simply haven’t turned up to play in this series. Just six hits all game as Tiant pitches well over 6, with Aaron doubling and driving in 3 to power the Red Sox bats in a 6-1 victory. He needs just one more win for that treasured bit of jewellery to finally be in his possession - not to forget Yaz as well, who has been in three losing World Series and never won one.
Game 4 in San Francisco
Chris Short (8-14, 4.72) v Nelson Briles (10-11, 3.46)
Red Sox lead series 3-0
Nellie Briles with easily the most important start of his career takes on veteran Chris Short. That first win can change everything if you can just get it. Sadly for Giants fans, they’ll never know as the Red Sox finish them off with a vicious 12-4 coup de grace. If you’re too cynical to believe in fairy tales then maybe Henry Aaron going 5-for-6 with a home run and 5 ribbies en route to his first title might change that. The MVP judges clearly fall into that category, giving the award instead to Reggie Smith (4 HR, 11 RBI). Fairly sure the Hammer won’t give two hoots about that. 10 titles now for the Sox, second only to ourselves.
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