Sprowl carried the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, having allowed only two hits to that point, but then surrendered a game-tying home run to Lee May.

[6] Sprowl's Boston teammates lauded his effort, and Zimmer gave him a second start on September 10 against the Yankees, in the fourth game of a four-game series at Fenway Park.

Sprowl walked the first two batters and got Thurman Munson to hit into a double play, but was unable to retire Reggie Jackson and escape the inning, surrendering an RBI single.

The Yankees won the game 7-4, tying Boston for the division lead, and subjecting Zimmer to much second-guessing due to Sprowl's perceived "nerves".

This was Sprowl's last start of the season, as Zimmer went with a four-man rotation of Tiant, Mike Torrez, Dennis Eckersley, and Stanley for the final two weeks.