4/6/73: Red Sox hang on to beat Yankees in the inaugural DH game, 4-2

The Crimson Hose jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but hung on to beat their hated rivals from the Bronx by a final of 4-2 in the game which inaugurated the DH at Fenway Park.

After the Yanks went scoreless in their half of the 1st, Tommy Harper led off the Sawx half with a walk, then stole second. Luis Aparicio brought him home with an RBI single, then was forced on a Carl Yastrzemski grounder to short.  Reggie Smith singled to left, moving Yaz to 3rd, then DH Orlando Cepeda walked to load the bases. Rico Petrocelli then lined to short, followed by a 2-out bases loaded single by Carlton Fisk bringing home Yaz and Smith.

The Sawx continued to make things worse for Yankee starter Mel Stottlemyre in the 2nd when Tommy Harper drew another walk, stole 2nd and scored on a 2-out single by Yaz. Reggie Smith singled to left, but could only watch as Yankee LF Roy White uncorked a perfect throw to 3rd to cut down Captain Carl, ending the inning.

Luis Tiant was cruising along in the top of the 4th when with 2 out, Graig Nettles reached on a 2-base error by LF Tommy Harper. Ron Blomberg in his 2nd at-bat as a DH, drove in Nettles with the 1st Yankee run. Blomberg would go 2-3 while his Boston counterpart Orlando Cepeda went 1-3.

The Yanks would chase Tiant in the 8th when with 1 out, Bobby Murcer and Nettles had back-to-back singles. Blomberg walked to load the bases, then Felipe Alou bounced to 1st to score Murcer, cutting the Sox lead to 4-2. Tiant then gave way to Boston lefty reliever Bob Veale, who then retired Thurman Munson on a bouncer to short. After Veale recorded the 1st 2 outs in the 9th, Roy White walked, Matty Alou singled White to 3rd, then Bobby Murcer walked to load the bases. Graig Nettles bounced to Veale, ending the game, the Sox hanging on thanks to 12 stranded Yankees, including 8 in the final 3 innings.

BOS 4-8-1 NYY 2-10-1 WP-Tiant (1-0) LP-Stottlemyre (0-1) SV-Veale (1) BOS 1-0 NYY 0-1

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