1976 A.L. Championship Series - Red Sox vs Athletics (Games 1 & 2)

For the first two months of the season, it looked highly unlikely that the Oakland Athletics (99-63) would be playing for another A.L. Pennant, but here they are! They will have to play a very tough Boston Red Sox (88-74) team. The Red Sox didn't fare well against the Athletics this season, going only 3-9 against them.

Meanwhile, on the N.L. side, it's the St. Louis Cardinals facing the Cincinnati Reds.

The Athletics decided that they will likely go with the following 3-man rotation of Vida Blue (19-9, 2.05 ERA), Jerry Koosman (20-4, 1.84 ERA) & Ken Holtzman (11-12, 2.95 ERA), with Catfish Hunter (16-16, 3.57 ERA) as an emergency starter and long relief option. Hunter struggled down the stretch, while Holtzman pitched great during the end.


Vida Blue did not have his best stuff for Game 1, as he hit the showers early after 4 innings of work, allowing 8 runs (3 earned) while Oakland's fielding errors kept innings alive for Boston's hungry hitters. Boston won easily 11-6, with Oakland scoring 4 late runs during the 8th inning. Boston's Dave Roberts pitched a strong game for the most part (2 ER through first 7 innings) until running out of gas in the 8th which really mucked up line in the box score. Boston's team captain, Carl Yastrzemski started off the 7-run charge in the 4th inning with a RBI double, which was too much for Oakland to recover from.

Oakland demolished Boston in Game 2, winning 16-4! The Athletics' center fielder Chet Lemon batted 4-for-5, all singles with 2 RBI & 2 runs scored. Last game featured 7 runs during the 4th inning for the winning team, this time it was Oakland scoring 7 runs in the same inning. Oakland would later score 6 runs in the 7th inning. Short day for Luis Tiant, who pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 8 runs (7 earned) & 2 walks. Oakland's Koosman went the distance, striking out 8 Red Sox hitters, while allowing 8 hits, 2 walks & 3 earned runs. The Athletics scored 5 runs (4 earned) against former teammate Glenn Abbott in just 1.1 innings of relief. Abbott won 19 games for Oakland during the 1975 MLB Season. Gene Tenace and Doug DeCinces each added home runs for the Athletics.