Joe Morgan had two game-winning RBI hits in the 1975 World Series.
It was a great Fall Classic. Only two of the games, one and five, were routs. And even there, you had some great pitching.
The Cincinnati Reds lost the opener to the Boston Red Sox. They took game two in the top of the 9th. Game 3 was in Cincinnati!
Game three also seemed to be a home run affair. Carlton Fisk (not game six yet here, folks. Settle down!) hit one to give the Sox and early lead. Johnny Bench squared things at 1 with a big blast in the bottom of the 4th. Then, Cincy came to bat in the bottom of the next inning.
Dave Concepcion took Boston starter Rick Wise deep. And then, Cesar Geronimo followed with one of his own. With one out, Pete Rose did the next best thing, a triple. Wise was out of the game.
Jim Burton took over and walked Ken Griffey. Joe Morgan was actually the next hitter. He flied out to Fred Lynn in centrefield, but it was deep enough to score Rose. Now it was 5-1 for the Reds.
The Red Sox got one run back in the top of the 6th as Lynn himself hit a sacrifice fly off starter Pat Darcy (Yes, the same Darcy who gave up the home run to Fisk in game six). In the 7th, following a double play, Bernie Carbo came off the bench (relax, it's still not game six!) and went yard. 5-3, Cincinnati.
It was Dwight Evans who was then clutch for the Boston Red Sox. With one down in the 9th, and the Sox just 2 outs away from defeat.
But the man they call Dewy, did it for Boston.
Rico Petrocelli, the veteran, singled for Boston. Willie McEnaney was pulled from the game by Reds manager Sparky Anderson. In came in Rawly Eastwick to face Dwight Evans. And Evans hit a dramatic game-tying 2-run home run.
The game was destined for extra innings. And a little controversy.
In the bottom of the Reds' 10th inning, it was Geronimo who led off with a single. Eastwick was set to hit so he was replaced. The batter was Ed Armbrister. He laid down a bunt right in front of home plate. Carlton Fisk collided with Armbrister. Was this interference? The Red Sox thought so, but Larry Barnett behind the plate, did not. Fisk was in no position to make the play, but tried for second for the force. Fisk's toss ended up in center field Now it was 2nd and 3rd and nobody out.
Pete Rose walked to load the bases. Then the Reds' sent up another pinch hitter, Merv Rettenmund. Roger Moret, who had come in for Jim Willoughby (and walked Rose) fanned him. It was up to Joe Morgan. He could be the hero here. Or he could hit into a double play!
Morgan took a ball. Then he missed with two swings to fall behind 1-2. But on the next pitch, Joe stroked a single to center, scoring Geronimo and winning the game for Cincinnati.
But given the none-call and Morgan's game-winning hit in game 7, this vital contribution by the little second basement is sometimes forgotten. But in a Fall Classic where every game seemed to go beyond the limits of everyone's expectations, Morgan came through for the Reds when it mattered most.
It was a great Fall Classic. Only two of the games, one and five, were routs. And even there, you had some great pitching.
The Cincinnati Reds lost the opener to the Boston Red Sox. They took game two in the top of the 9th. Game 3 was in Cincinnati!
Game three also seemed to be a home run affair. Carlton Fisk (not game six yet here, folks. Settle down!) hit one to give the Sox and early lead. Johnny Bench squared things at 1 with a big blast in the bottom of the 4th. Then, Cincy came to bat in the bottom of the next inning.
Dave Concepcion took Boston starter Rick Wise deep. And then, Cesar Geronimo followed with one of his own. With one out, Pete Rose did the next best thing, a triple. Wise was out of the game.
Jim Burton took over and walked Ken Griffey. Joe Morgan was actually the next hitter. He flied out to Fred Lynn in centrefield, but it was deep enough to score Rose. Now it was 5-1 for the Reds.
The Red Sox got one run back in the top of the 6th as Lynn himself hit a sacrifice fly off starter Pat Darcy (Yes, the same Darcy who gave up the home run to Fisk in game six). In the 7th, following a double play, Bernie Carbo came off the bench (relax, it's still not game six!) and went yard. 5-3, Cincinnati.
It was Dwight Evans who was then clutch for the Boston Red Sox. With one down in the 9th, and the Sox just 2 outs away from defeat.
But the man they call Dewy, did it for Boston.
Rico Petrocelli, the veteran, singled for Boston. Willie McEnaney was pulled from the game by Reds manager Sparky Anderson. In came in Rawly Eastwick to face Dwight Evans. And Evans hit a dramatic game-tying 2-run home run.
The game was destined for extra innings. And a little controversy.
In the bottom of the Reds' 10th inning, it was Geronimo who led off with a single. Eastwick was set to hit so he was replaced. The batter was Ed Armbrister. He laid down a bunt right in front of home plate. Carlton Fisk collided with Armbrister. Was this interference? The Red Sox thought so, but Larry Barnett behind the plate, did not. Fisk was in no position to make the play, but tried for second for the force. Fisk's toss ended up in center field Now it was 2nd and 3rd and nobody out.
Pete Rose walked to load the bases. Then the Reds' sent up another pinch hitter, Merv Rettenmund. Roger Moret, who had come in for Jim Willoughby (and walked Rose) fanned him. It was up to Joe Morgan. He could be the hero here. Or he could hit into a double play!
Morgan took a ball. Then he missed with two swings to fall behind 1-2. But on the next pitch, Joe stroked a single to center, scoring Geronimo and winning the game for Cincinnati.
But given the none-call and Morgan's game-winning hit in game 7, this vital contribution by the little second basement is sometimes forgotten. But in a Fall Classic where every game seemed to go beyond the limits of everyone's expectations, Morgan came through for the Reds when it mattered most.
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