Fisk gets the last laugh
Dennis Eckersley was Boston's opening day starter and he began the 1981 season by allowing a base hit to Ron LeFlore. If that wasn't enough, Eck had LeFlore picked off but Tony Perez missed the throw for an error which allowed Ron to reach second. Mike Squires grounded right back to Eck to hold LeFlore but he took third on another grounder to the mound, this time by the returning Fisk. Greg Luzinski looked at strike three to end the inning. Britt Burns got the start for Chicago and Dwight Evans popped up to first to start. Dave Stapleton flied out to right but Joe Rudi made his Sox debut by walking. Jim Rice singled Joe to third but Perez whiffed to end the inning.
Eck got in trouble in the top of the second by hitting Chet Lemon was hit with a pitch to start. Harold Baines got a base hit to left but Jim Morrison (no, not The Doors frontman) popped up a bunt to Eck. Tony Bernazard grounded into a force before Bill Almon whiffed to end the inning. Carney Lansford made his Red Sox debut in the bottom of the second by flying out to center. Glenn Hoffman whiffed and Gary Allenson looked at strike three to end the inning.
LeFlore whiffed to begin the top of the third but Squires walked. Fisk singled but Squires got greedy and was thrown out at third trying to stretch. Luzinski whiffed to end the inning. Rick Miller was back with the Sox and began the bottom of the third by striking out swinging. Evans lined out to right but Stapleton walked. Rudi lined out to left to end the inning.
Eck cruised in the top of the fourth as he struck out Lemon to begin. Baines popped up to third before Morrison grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Rice whiffed to start. Perez doubled to left but Lansford whiffed. Hoffman grounded out to short to end the inning.
Eck ran into trouble in the top of the fifth although Bernazard popped up to second to begin. Almon grounded out to third before LeFlore hit a routine grounder to second. Stapleton threw himself on the ball and swam on it for an error. LeFlore then swiped second but Squires popped up to short to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the fifth as Allenson whiffed to start. Miller grounded out to short but Burns left a fastball right down the middle, Evans crushing a home run for the first run of the season. Fans in the crowd started throwing frisbees on the field that were giveaways for the game. Stapleton popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Evans puts the Sox on top
Eck cruised in the top of the sixth inning as Fisk whiffed to start. Luzinski popped up to third and Lemon grounded out to third to end the inning. Rudi began the bottom of the sixth with a lineout to center to begin. Rice popped up to first but Perez singled to left. Lansford popped up to second to end the inning.
Eck came back for the top of the seventh and got Baines to line out to second to begin. Morrison grounded out to short and Bernazard whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the seventh although Hoffman whiffed to start. Allenson then smashed his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Miller grounded out to short but Evans walked. Stapleton hit a routine fly ball to right but Baines dropped it for an error. White Sox manager Tony LaRussa brought in LaMarr Hoyt and he whiffed Rudi to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 2-0.
Allenson increases the lead
Just 6 outs from a shut-out victory everything fell apart in the top of the eighth. Eck came out but walked pinch hitter Bob Molinaro (for Almon). LeFlore singled to center and new BoSox manager Ralph Houk brought in Bob Stanley to get the last 6 outs. Squires sacrifice bunted the runners over to set the stage for Fisk. Carlton was looking for Stanley's sinker and he got it on the first pitch, driving it into the screen in left to put Chicago on top. To show how angry Red Sox fans were at their own front office, the fans in the crowd CHEERED Fisk as he rounded the bases. Luzinski whiffed but Lemon was plunked and swiped second. Baines whiffed to end the inning but Chicago was up 3-2.
Holy Cow!
Greg Pryor came in for Molinaro in the batting order but at short with Rusty Kuntz taking Lemon's spot while playing center. The BoSox rolled over and died in the bottom of the eighth as Rice and Perez whiffed before Lansford popped up to second to end the inning.
Stanley gagged again in the top of the ninth as Morrison singled and Bernazard singled him to third. Stanley managed to get Morrison in a run down but Allenson muffed the throw home and Morrison was safe with Bernazard taking second. Pryor sacrifice bunted Bernazard over to third and LeFlore scored him with a groundout for the kill shot. Squires flied out to center to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 5-2.
The Sox did rally in the bottom of the ninth when Gary Hancock pinch hit for Hoffman and walked. Allenson whiffed before Miller hit a picture perfect double play ball to second....under the glove of Bernazard to bring the tying run to the plate. Evans popped up to first but Stapleton singled home Hancock to put the tying run at first. Ed Farmer was brought in to pitch to Rudi and with a chance to be the hero in his first game....Joe flied out to center to end the game. The White Sox had won the game and Fisk got his revenge 5-3.
Jackass of the Night is Bob Stanley. He served up the go-ahead dinger to Fisk and the insurance runs to take the loss.
Stanley The Jackass
The Good:
Tony Perez was 2 for 4.
Gary Hancock walked and scored as a pinch hitter
Dennis Eckersley pitched well until the 8th inning but still went 7 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and he struck 7 batters.
The Bad:
Carney Lansford was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Rick Miller was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 with a walk but the one hit was a solo home run.
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 4 with a walk but drove in a run.
Joe Rudi was 0 for 4 but drew a walk.
Jim Rice was just 1 for 4.
Gary Allenson was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts and an error...but the one hit was a home run.
Final Thoughts:
The Red Sox deserved that loss big time. If they were foolish enough to let their franchise catcher walk then it serves them right for him to be the hero today. The trade of Fred Lynn didn't yield much merritt as Rudi, Miller and Lansford did almost nothing today. Still its only one game and there are 161 to go. Eckersley pitched well today and its encouraging to see him look like the ace of old. The question is can the rest of the rotation keep up? After an off-day the Sox are back in action against the White Sox with Richard Dotson going for Chicago and Frank Tanana making is Sox debut. The game starts at 2 PM Sunday at Fenway Park.
Just 6 outs from a shut-out victory everything fell apart in the top of the eighth. Eck came out but walked pinch hitter Bob Molinaro (for Almon). LeFlore singled to center and new BoSox manager Ralph Houk brought in Bob Stanley to get the last 6 outs. Squires sacrifice bunted the runners over to set the stage for Fisk. Carlton was looking for Stanley's sinker and he got it on the first pitch, driving it into the screen in left to put Chicago on top. To show how angry Red Sox fans were at their own front office, the fans in the crowd CHEERED Fisk as he rounded the bases. Luzinski whiffed but Lemon was plunked and swiped second. Baines whiffed to end the inning but Chicago was up 3-2.
Greg Pryor came in for Molinaro in the batting order but at short with Rusty Kuntz taking Lemon's spot while playing center. The BoSox rolled over and died in the bottom of the eighth as Rice and Perez whiffed before Lansford popped up to second to end the inning.
Stanley gagged again in the top of the ninth as Morrison singled and Bernazard singled him to third. Stanley managed to get Morrison in a run down but Allenson muffed the throw home and Morrison was safe with Bernazard taking second. Pryor sacrifice bunted Bernazard over to third and LeFlore scored him with a groundout for the kill shot. Squires flied out to center to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 5-2.
The Sox did rally in the bottom of the ninth when Gary Hancock pinch hit for Hoffman and walked. Allenson whiffed before Miller hit a picture perfect double play ball to second....under the glove of Bernazard to bring the tying run to the plate. Evans popped up to first but Stapleton singled home Hancock to put the tying run at first. Ed Farmer was brought in to pitch to Rudi and with a chance to be the hero in his first game....Joe flied out to center to end the game. The White Sox had won the game and Fisk got his revenge 5-3.
Jackass of the Night is Bob Stanley. He served up the go-ahead dinger to Fisk and the insurance runs to take the loss.
The Good:
Tony Perez was 2 for 4.
Gary Hancock walked and scored as a pinch hitter
Dennis Eckersley pitched well until the 8th inning but still went 7 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and he struck 7 batters.
The Bad:
Carney Lansford was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Rick Miller was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 with a walk but the one hit was a solo home run.
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 4 with a walk but drove in a run.
Joe Rudi was 0 for 4 but drew a walk.
Jim Rice was just 1 for 4.
Gary Allenson was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts and an error...but the one hit was a home run.
Final Thoughts:
The Red Sox deserved that loss big time. If they were foolish enough to let their franchise catcher walk then it serves them right for him to be the hero today. The trade of Fred Lynn didn't yield much merritt as Rudi, Miller and Lansford did almost nothing today. Still its only one game and there are 161 to go. Eckersley pitched well today and its encouraging to see him look like the ace of old. The question is can the rest of the rotation keep up? After an off-day the Sox are back in action against the White Sox with Richard Dotson going for Chicago and Frank Tanana making is Sox debut. The game starts at 2 PM Sunday at Fenway Park.
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