Round 2–‘73 Halo’s edge ‘2001 Bosox in 4

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Game 1 – Fenway Park - Castillo vs. Singer

California bunched 5 of its 9 hits in one big inning to score 6 times, with Bob Oliver’s 2-run HR being the icing on the cake. They would only muster 4 measly singles for the other 8 innings. But the damage was done, and Angels’ starter Bill Singer yielded only 1 run (unearned) over 7 innings, striking out 8 Boston hitters.

Game 2 – Fenway Park - Nomo vs. Wright

Boston returns the favor in Game 2 banging out 14 hits, including a 3-run HR by Many Ramirez and a 2-run HR by Dante Bichette. Nomar Garciaparra also contributed with 3 hits as the Red Sox seemed to have no trouble handling California starter Clyde Wright. Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Hideo Nomo coasted through 7 string innings striking out 7 and allowing only 1 run on 4 hits to tie the Series at 1 game each.

Game 3 – Angels Stadium - Ryan vs. Martinez.

It was a classic match-up for Game 3. And Nolan Ryan and Pedro Martinez did not disappoint. Ryan scattered 7 singles and fanned 8 over 7 innings giving up only 1 run. Martinez pitched even better, yielding only 1 run on 2 hits over 6.2 innings. That tying run scored on a Ken Berry squeeze bunt plating Bob Oliver, who had tripled with 1-out in the bottom of the 7th inning. Angels broke it open in the 8th against the Boston bullpen on an RBI Richie Scheinblum double and a Bobby Valentine single. California reliever Steve Barber pitched the final 2 frames to pick up the win.

Game 4 – Angels Stadium - May vs. Cone.

The Angels and Red Sox treated the crowed to another nail-biter in Game 4. California scored 1 unearned run in the bottom of the 1st inning on a Vada Pinson double and 2 Red Sox errors. That was all the Halos could muster until the bottom of the 8th, when they pushed across 1 more run on a couple of singles, a walk and an infield groundout. It wasn’t much offense. But it would be enough for California starter Rudy May, who masterfully held Boston at bay, surrendering only 2 hits and 4 walks over 7 strong innings. Against May only 1 Red Sox batter would even reach 2nd base. Boston’s Brian Daubach’s 1-out solo HR in the top of the 9th off reliever Aurelio Monteagudo put the Sox on the board and made it a 1-run game. But Monteagudo managed to get the final two outs to preserve the win and give California the Series 3 games to 1.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--