August 13, 1977 – Angels 6, Yankees 5 (12)
- Sal Maiorana
- Aug 13, 2017
- 2 min read
NEW YORK – Ken Holtzman finally got the chance to pitch in a game that meant something.
With Don Gullett disabled, and the Yankees coming off a doubleheader, Billy Martin needed a spot starter and Holtzman was really the only choice Martin had on Old Timer’s Day at the stadium.
Unfortunately for Holtzman, he pitched so poorly, he may have had difficulty getting the graying Yankee legends out during the pre-game exhibition, thus offering more proof of why Martin didn’t trust him. Working with an early 3-0 lead courtesy of red-hot Chris Chambliss’ three-run homer in the first inning, Holtzman was bounced off the mound in the third by a four-run California uprising. He faced only 13 batters and got just seven of them out. Six made hits, four of them scored, and he was gone, replaced by young Ken Clay.
On the other side, there was Nolan Ryan, recovering from the early deficit to pitch through 11 innings and getting the credit for the win when the Angels scored the tiebreaking run in the 12th as Mario Guerrero laced an RBI single off Sparky Lyle, who was working in his sixth inning of relief. Seriously, his sixth inning of relief.
Ryan faced 49 batters over 11 innings while allowing five runs on nine hits and seven walks with 11 punch-outs, the 100th time in his career he had produced double-digit strikeouts. “He pitched a great game, I’ve got to say that,” Martin said, though great may have been a bit strong. Yes, his endurance was impressive, but he did allow 16 men to reach base.
Lyle went 5.2 innings and gave up only the solo run that decided the game on five hits and three walks, facing 25 batters. Most starting pitchers these days don’t face 25 batters in a game. “The fastball didn’t look like it did when he first came in,” Guerrero said of the pitch he hit. “He worked a long time out there.”
It was a crazy game. After blowing the 3-0 lead, the Yankees went back ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the third when Chris Chambliss reached on an error that allowed a run to score, and then Carlos May drove in a run with a single. However, the Yankees never scored again as they went 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base. Four times in the last five innings New York had the winning run at second base and never got it home.
Meanwhile, Gil Flores’ RBI double in the fourth tied the score, and after seven scoreless innings, Lyle finally blinked.
Fittingly, in the bottom of the 12th with Mike Barlow on in relief of Ryan, May singled and Graig Nettles walked, but Mickey Klutts and Bucky Dent grounded out to end the game.
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