Boston -- Washington games two and three

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Game two ..

Washington 5 Boston 4
In 14 innings

Washington emerged 2-1 in extra innings and Washington won their first extra inning game and is now 1-0.

Rob Heath and Juan Marichal, the fifth starters on each staff were making their first starts of the season and each matched up well with the other. Marichal went 8 innings allowed 7 hits and 3 runs, all earned, walked 2 struck out 6. Heath went 8 innings as well goiving up three runs on 6 hits walked 1 struck out 3.

Boston struck for a run in the first and only a good defensive play kept them from scoring more. Les Hollondsworth drew a walk from Marichal. Jeff Combs got him to second base with a grounder to first. Paul Funk doubled to left easily scoring Hollondsworth. Bruce Hess followed with Boston's second hit of the inning, a single to right field, fielded quickly by Jimmie Foxx, Foxx's throw to the plate was on line and in plenty of time for catcher Steve St. Vrain to catch it and block the plate. for the out.

Marichal still was not out of it. That was out only number two and he walked Mike Keeton to put ruinners on first and second. Doug Tyson struck out to end the threat.

Boston picked up a second run in the 2nd inning thanks to an error by the pitcher, Marichal. Belaggio singled with no one out. Bunker, the catcher reached when Marichal booted a grounder back to him. Pitcher Rob Heath got a good bunt down to advance the runners and a ground ball to shortstop by Hollondsworth was good enough for an RBI.

Boston led 2-0 on one hit, one error and one was left on base.

Heath gave up just two singles over the first five innings. Boston did not score any runs in the third, fourth, fifth or sixth innings either, being limited to just one hit by Marichal.

In the 6th inning the speedy Marichal beat out a slow roller to shortstop. Marichal, a good base runner, stole second base and was able to easily sprint home on a double by Compton Jr.

Boston led 2-1 and picked up a third run in the 8th when Mike Keeton hit his second homerun of the season and the first allowed by Marichal this season to put Boston up by two again, 3-1.

In the bottom of the 8th Washington got new life. Gwynn led off with a free pass. Pinch hitter Richie Allen tripled driving in Gwynn. Compton Sr got the tying run in with a ground out. Heath got the next three out, two on strikes, to close out his stint on a good note. But the score was now tied 3-3.

Bil Hershey and Bob Edgerton pitched five scoreless innings for Boston allowing 2 hits no runs 2 walks and striking out two.

Jose Alvarez pitched four innings for Washington.

In the top of the 14th Boston got to him for a run. Doug Tyson doubled and scored on a two out single by Paul Dollarhead.

Mike Vrwinkle came on to nail it dwon for Boston but got no one out.

Jerry Tabb singled to left field and scored on a triple by Lyman Bostock tying the game. St. Vrain, who had a great game defensively, won it with a two out single.

Final 5-4 Senatorz --- setting up a rubber game for the series in game three.

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Game three

Game tree of this series was played before a large expectant crowd ready to roar for the home team. The capacity crowd saw both teams continue to get excellant starting pitching.

Stephen Strasburg started for Washington and went seven innngs (8 hits 3 runs 4 walks 6 strikeouts).

Dalton Kelly took the hill for Boston asnd gave them 8 innings giving up 6 hits and 2 runs 2 walks 4 strikeouts.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning.

Strasburg struck out the first batter, Larry Grimshaw. Mike Keeton singled with one put. Strasburg got a favorable call on strike three getting Hess for the second out. Belaggio got a favorable call on ball four to walk with two outs. Strasburg was visibly upset at the umpire and made a location mistake on a 1-2 pitch to catcher Bob Bunker, who tomahawked a soft line drive single to left field to score Keeton. After a mound visit from his catcher, and the pitching coach, Strasburg retired the side getting the pitcher, Dalton Kelly, to ground out to third baseman Sabestian Compton Sr.

Strasburg got into trouble again in the 4th inning, some of it of his own making, because he walked the first batter of the inning, Larry Grimeshaw. Srasburg fanned Mike Keeton. Bruce hess singled to right sending Grimshaw to thrid base. Center fielder Jim Belaggio lofted a fly ball to right foeld to get Grimshaw in. Bunker, a weak hitter, hit Strasburg like he owned him in this game, singled again, sending the runner to third. Strasburgh walked Hollondsworth to load the bases getting action started in the Washington bullpen. Jeff Combs grounder to first was wide of the bag so firsdt baseman Lyman Bostock came home for the force on Bunker, a slow footed catcher. 3-0 Boston.

Vladimer Guerreo's two run homerun in the 6th inning woke the crowd up and made it a ballgame again as Boston's lead was cut to one; 3-2.

Washington was not able to get the equalizer and the losing pitcher in game two, Mike Vorwinkle, came in once again and redeemed himself by picking up his first save of the season as Boston took game three and the series and kept pace with New York who also won.

The two clubs are tied at the top of the American League.