By JOHN LIKANJE
Bob Galasso enjoyed the best season of his 15-year minor league career in 1976. The 6-foot-1 right-hander posted a 13-5 record with a 3.45 earned run average in 25 appearances, including 23 starts. Galasso fanned 75 batters over 141 innings as well.
One of Galasso’s best performances occurred on July 1st of that year in which he hurled one of his nine complete games. In the 5-2 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens, he limited the offense to four hits and two runs while striking out six.
“The only thing that has surprised me,” Galasso told the Democrat and Chronicle after tallying his sixth consecutive victory, “is that about a month ago I suddenly started taking the hill with the idea I was going to win. I wasn’t doubting myself. I’d never done that before.”
Galasso limited the damage to one run in both the second and fifth innings and improved his record to 8-2.
“He’s the surprise of the year,” Red Wings manager Joe Altobelli said. “He just keeps improving and improving.”
The 6-foot-1 right-hander received support from center fielder Larry Harlow. Harlow, who hit .247 in the 1976 season, broke a 2-all tie with a solo shot over the right field fence off Mud Hens pitcher Eric Raich. Bob Bailor scored on a wild pitch for the second run of the frame. Dave Skaggs roped an RBI single for another insurance run in the seventh.
“It bothered me being tabbed a good-field, no-hit player,” Harlow explained. “But I guess it’s true. Hitting takes time. It’s started to come. I’m concentrating more, waiting for the better pitch to swing at.”
The Red Wings struck early on a Tom Shopay RBI single and Jim Fuller sacrifice fly in the opening frame.
For the Mud Hens, Joe Lis cracked a solo homer in the second inning and Rick Cerone tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Raich struck out five batters over six innings.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 1st: Larry Harlow doubles. Rich Dauer singles. Harlow advances to third. Tom Shopay singles. Harlow scores. Red Wings 1, Mud Hens 0
Bottom 1st: Dauer scores on a sacrifice fly by Jim Fuller. Red Wings 2, Mud Hens 0
Top 2nd: Jos Lis cracks a solo home run. Red Wings 2, Mud Hens 1
Top 5th: Rick Cerone ties the game with a sacrifice fly. Mud Hens 2, Red Wings 2
Bottom 6th: Larry Harlow cracks a solo home run to right center field. Red Wings 3, Mud Hens 2
Bottom 6th: Bob Bailer scores on a wild pitch. Red Wings 4, Mud Hens 2
Bottom 7th: Dave Skaggs hits an RBI single. Red Wings 5, Mud Hens 2
Toledo batting
Batter | ab | r | h | bi | |
Dave | Oliver | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ben | Heise | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tommy | Smith | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Joe | Lis | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Jim | Norris | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Arturo | DeFreites | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Rick | Cerone | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rick | Oliver | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tom | McMillan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rochester batting
Batter | ab | r | h | bi | |
Larry | Harlow | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Rich | Dauer | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Tom | Shopay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Bob | Bailor | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mike | Fiore | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Jim | Fuller | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Tom | Kelly | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Taylor | Duncan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Royle | Stillman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dave | Skaggs | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Toledo pitching
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Eric | Raich | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Fred | Beene | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Rochester pitching
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Bob | Galasso | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Time-2:15 Attendance-4,115
Also on this day: 1933 – Fritz Ostermueller recorded his 13th win of the season as the Red Wings won the first game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs came back and won the second game, 7-4. 2005 – The Louisville Bats got out ahead and never looked back Friday night at Frontier Field, defeating the Red Wings 6-2. Terry Tiffee led the Wings’ attack going 3-of-4 with a solo home run and a pair of singles. 2006 – Jason Michaels’ go-ahead solo home run to help the Buffalo Bisons beat the Red Wings. Glenn Williams had two hits and a run batted in for the Red Wings.
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