Luis Tiant not only pitched a 5-hitter in game 1 of the 1975 World Series, but he also started the winning rally!
Quite an accomplishment when you consider he hadn't batted much the past 3 seasons. The Boston Red Sox hurler, who was an enormous fan favourite, had a lot going against him in game 1. Not the least of which was the Big Red Machine facing him!
Luis had batted once in 1975, under some unusual circumstances. For those unaware, if the designated hitter ever takes to the field to replace a player, the DH is abolished for the rest of the game by that team.
On July 12, Boston faced Texas. In the top of the 8th, Cecil Cooper (the Red Sox's starting DH) replaced veteran Carl Yastrzemski at first base. So Tiant was forced into that game. In the bottom of the inning, Tiant managed to get the bat on the ball and fly out. But hitting in the World Series would be even harder!
The Red Sox seemed to have Cincinnati's Don Gullett on the ropes early in the opening tilt. In the bottom of the 1st, the Red got two singles and a walk, but Dwight Evans was thrown out at home trying to score on a single by rookie sensation Fred Lynn.
Gullett then proceeded to give up a single and a walk to start the bottom of the 2nd. Then he settled down and got the next three men out. Tiant himself went down on a strikeout.
The Red Sox were retired 1-2-3 by Don in the top of the 3rd. In the 4th, Boston scratched out a single, but nothing more.
Luis managed to draw a walk in his next at bat in the bottom of the 5th. Then, a single by Denny Doyle gave the Sox a little hope. But Yastrzemski grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, Boston loaded the bases with just one out. But Fred Lynn was out at home attempting to score on a flyball.
Tiant came up in the bottom of 7th, trying to start a rally. Amazingly, he did just that!
Hitting a leadoff single, Tiant came around to score on a single by Yaz. The Red Sox didn't exactly stop there. The scored off Gullett and two Red relievers. Six runs had scored by the time Tiant was retired to end the uprising.
Tiant also kept Cincy off the scoresheet, finishing with a complete game 5-hitter. 6-0 was the final score.
But Tiant was simply doing it all on this day. He personally scored more runs than the entire Reds team!
Quite an accomplishment when you consider he hadn't batted much the past 3 seasons. The Boston Red Sox hurler, who was an enormous fan favourite, had a lot going against him in game 1. Not the least of which was the Big Red Machine facing him!
Luis had batted once in 1975, under some unusual circumstances. For those unaware, if the designated hitter ever takes to the field to replace a player, the DH is abolished for the rest of the game by that team.
On July 12, Boston faced Texas. In the top of the 8th, Cecil Cooper (the Red Sox's starting DH) replaced veteran Carl Yastrzemski at first base. So Tiant was forced into that game. In the bottom of the inning, Tiant managed to get the bat on the ball and fly out. But hitting in the World Series would be even harder!
The Red Sox seemed to have Cincinnati's Don Gullett on the ropes early in the opening tilt. In the bottom of the 1st, the Red got two singles and a walk, but Dwight Evans was thrown out at home trying to score on a single by rookie sensation Fred Lynn.
Gullett then proceeded to give up a single and a walk to start the bottom of the 2nd. Then he settled down and got the next three men out. Tiant himself went down on a strikeout.
The Red Sox were retired 1-2-3 by Don in the top of the 3rd. In the 4th, Boston scratched out a single, but nothing more.
Luis managed to draw a walk in his next at bat in the bottom of the 5th. Then, a single by Denny Doyle gave the Sox a little hope. But Yastrzemski grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, Boston loaded the bases with just one out. But Fred Lynn was out at home attempting to score on a flyball.
Tiant came up in the bottom of 7th, trying to start a rally. Amazingly, he did just that!
Hitting a leadoff single, Tiant came around to score on a single by Yaz. The Red Sox didn't exactly stop there. The scored off Gullett and two Red relievers. Six runs had scored by the time Tiant was retired to end the uprising.
Tiant also kept Cincy off the scoresheet, finishing with a complete game 5-hitter. 6-0 was the final score.
But Tiant was simply doing it all on this day. He personally scored more runs than the entire Reds team!
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