Sonny Siebert hits two homeruns and pitches the Red Sox to a 3 – 0 win over the Orioles
On September 2, 1971 — Sonny Siebert hits and pitches the Red Sox to a 3 – 0 win over the Orioles. Siebert hits two home runs, the last American League pitcher to do so.
Maybe it’s more than just a coincidence. When Sonny Siebert hits, he usually wins for the Boston Red Sox.
Siebert, an outfielder-first baseman who switched to pitching in 1960 because of a weak bat, picked on his cousin’s Baltimore Thursday. Siebert had power and pitching, leading the Red Sox to 3-0 victory over the mighty O’s.
The 34-year-old .right-hander drove in all the runs with fifth and sixth homers of the season and checked the Orioles on three hits in earning his 16 victory in 24 decisions. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but when I was winning early in the season, I was hot with the bat,” Siebert said. Then when I was losing, I wasn’t hitting well. Now I hope to stay hot with the bat for the season.” Siebert appeared a cinch to win 20 games for the first time in his career when he picked his 14th victory on July 21. However, he ran into bad luck and made seven starts before’ finally earning No. 15. “I don’t think I’ve been pitching too badly,” Siebert said. Just haven’t had much luck the last few weeks. I’ve pitched better in my last five starts than I did when I won nine in a row at the start season.”
The statistics confirm Siebert’s ‘thinking. He allowed no more than two in four games in seven starts before facing Baltimore. In his five losses in the stretch, including a 1-0 and a pair of 2-1 heartbreakers in the stretch, he had a 3.44 earned run average. Siebert struck out seven and walked just two, both in the ninth inning, as he out dueled Pat Dobson for his fourth victory without a defeat against the Orioles this year. Dobson allowed just six hits before being lifted for a pinch batter in the eighth.
Siebert’s booming bat frustrated Dobson’s bid for his 18th victory. Siebert drilled a shot into the left field screen on a 2-0 pitch for his 10th career home in the third inning.
Then, after Duan Josephson singled with two out in the fifth, Siebert hoisted a drive into the screen for two more runs.
In his 4-0 record vs. Baltimore this year, he has h four homers and driven in 11 runs. All pitchers know anybody can hit and hurt you. I guess I proved that today,” Siebert said jokingly, “after I hit the two homers, I thought he (Dobson) would knock me down the ‘third time up. But I’m not insulted he didn’t.” Siebert lined a shot just foul before he grounded out third trip to the plate.
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