Halos hang ringer on Pale Hose

Aug 03-05 – Comiskey Park

Game 1 – Angels 9, White Sox 4

Horlen vs. Tanana

This Opening Day game was closer than the final score indicated. Each team traded a couple single runs through 5 innings. Chicago went up 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th on a Chet Lemon squeeze bunt. But the Angels came back in the top of the 7th to go up 4-3 on a Doug DeCinces 2-run HR off of Joe Horlen. Jim Fregosi’s 3-run long ball in the top of the 8th put the game out of reach for the White Sox. Andy Messersmith (1-0) earned the win in emergency relief of starter Frank Tanana, who went down with an injury in the bottom of the 5th. Horlen (0-1) took the loss.

Game 2 – Angels 6, White Sox 0

Peters vs. Brunet

Game 2 started out as another pitcher’s duel, still scoreless after 5  innings. Angels got on board in the top of the 6th, as Dave Chalk scored on a Gary Peters wild pitch. Two batters later, Doug DeCinces increased the margin to 4-0 with a 2-out, 3-run bomb. In the end, though, this one belonged to George Brunet (1-0) with 8.1 innings of 4-hit shutout baseball. Peters (0-1) could get no run support and took the loss.

Game 3 – Angels 10, White Sox 1

John vs. May

California completed the series sweep going away. Sandy Alomar’s triple and a Doug DeCinces sacrifice fly gave the Angels an early 2-0 lead. After a Rod Carew RBI single in the 4th, White Sox Lamar Johnson’s solo shot off Rudy May in the 6th again made it a 2-run game. It appeared as if that score would hold for the Chicago 7th after the first two Angels hitters were retired in the top of the 7th. But the next four batters all singled to load the bases off Wilbur Wood. Up stepped Doug DeCinces, who capped his series performance with a grand slam, making the score 8-1 and sending the Windy City fans to the exists. Rudy May (1-0) pitched 6 strong innings for the win, and Tommy John (0-1) the loss.

For the series, DeCinces finished 5 for 10 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs.

--submitted by Douglas Zaner--