Sox Defeat Yanks; Hunter Backslides As Cooper Excels

Cecil Cooper triggered a five-run seventh inning and Catfish Hunter was foiled in a bid for his first New York victory yesterday as the Boston Red Sox rallied for an 11-7 victory over the Yankees.

Hunter allowed just four hits, including a homer by Dwight Evans, before Cooper started the seventh inning with his line-drive single to right center field.

When Bernie Carbo followed with a single, reliever Sparky Lyle replaced Hunter in an effort to salvage Hunter's first victory in four starts this season.

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But Lyle wasn't equal to the task. He walked Evans and struck out Carl Yastrzemski before giving up run-producing singles to rookies Fred Lynn and Jim Rice.

Lyle was quickly replaced by Dick Tidrow, who fell prey to Bob Montgomery's two-run double and then was nicked for three more runs in the eighth.

Hunter was philosophical about his loss, saying "I'm disappointed to see a 7-3 lead go down the drain, but it's all water over the dam now."