Gullet, Perez Lead Reds Past Sox, 6-2

Cincinnati's Don Gullett pitched a brilliant game and Tony Perez slugged two home runs to power the Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox last night. The victory gives Cincinnati a 3-2 lead in the Series, which moves back to Fenway Park for the final two games.

Boston scored first, getting to Gullett in the first inning. Denny Doyle tripled down the right field line with one out, and Carl Yastrzemski got him home with a long flyball.

The Reds were able to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Tony Perez, who was 0-15 to that point in the series, hit a home runiover the fence in the left field and the score was 1-1.

In the fifth, Cincinnati went ahead. The pitcher continued to be an unexpected offensive force in this series. This time it was Don Gullett, who singled to start the Cincinnati threat. Pete Rose brought him home with a double, and the Reds led, 2-1.

Joe Morgan led off the Cincinnati sixth and drew a walk. Bench followed with a hit-and-run single to center, and Morgan dashed to third. Tony Perez came up again and hit a Reggie Cleveland fastball off the facing of the upper deck in leftfield. Cincinnati then had a safe 5-1 lead.

Meanwhile, Don Gullett was choking off Boston's offense. After giving up Doyle's triple in the first inning, he retired 23 of the next 25 men he faced, striking out seven.

With only one out to go in the top of the ninth, he had a two-hitter going, but he tired. Yastrzemski and Fisk singled, and Fred Lynn doubled to get Boston's second run.

Gullett left to a standing ovation, and manager Sparky Anderson went to his bullpen for Rawly Eastwick. The young hurler struck Rico Petrocelli out on three pitches to nail down the win.