1975 World Series – Game 4

Game 4

The 1975 World Series might be considered the Second Best World Series ever, but Game 4 was a real snoozer.  Even the announcers seem bored, with many (too many) conversations focusing on which camera angles they like best. 

The Cincinnati Reds kick off the scoring in the bottom of the 1st when Pete Rose singles, Ken Griffey doubles (but gets thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple) – scoring Rose – and Johnny Bench doubles in Joe Morgan.

At the end of the 1st, Reds lead 2-o.

The Red Sox respond with five runs in the top of the 4th, just minutes after Marty Brennaman says that Sparky Anderson really needs starting pitcher Fred Norman to go at least six innings so he can rest his bullpen.

Fred Norman would last 3.1 innings.

The Reds managed to knock in a couple of runs in the bottom of the inning to get within one of the Red Sox (5-4), but that’s as close as they would get until the 9th inning.

Coming up later this week on NBC Sports:

• The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola
• World Series Game #7 (if necessary)
• Grandstand
• NFL Football (Dolphins vs. Jets / Raiders vs. Bengals)

Bottom of the 9th, two on, one out, Ken Griffey at the plate.  He hits a drive… to deep centerfield… but some guy on the Red Sox named Fred Lynn robs (ROBS!) Griffey of a hit with a great catch, preventing the runs from scoring.  Joe Morgan popped out to end the game.

Luis Tiant pitched his second complete game of the World Series, throwing an impressive 163 pitches (Do you hear that Mark Prior?  Kerry Wood?) and getting the win.

A frustrated Pete Rose had this to say after the game:

“Tough loss tonight… tough loss.  Doctors tell me I have the body of a thirty year old. I know I have the brain of a fifteen year old. If you’ve got both, you can play baseball.”

Boston ties the World Series 2-2