It wasn't easy but the Boston Red Sox made it six wins in a row by taking Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox that was originally supposed to be opening day. The White Sox hung tough as Richard Dotson held the Red Sox to just 1 run through the first six innings. Bruce Hurst got the start for Boston and also held Chicago to one run through six innings. Glenn Hoffman put Boston on top in the seventh with an rbi single but Bill Almon answered with one in the bottom of the frame. Jim Rice broke the deadlock with an rbi hit in the top of the eighth and Luis Aponte (2-0. 0.93 ERA) got the win by slamming the door in the ninth. It was a tough one but the Red Sox made it six in a row with a 3-2 victory over the White Sox in Game 1 at Comiskey Park.
Dotson got the start for Chicago and the Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the first inning. Jerry Remy grounded out to first to start. Dwight Evans grounded out to second and Jim Rice grounded out to short to end the inning. Hurst got the ball in the bottom of the first and Ron LeFlore struck out swinging to start. Jerry Hairston grounded out to third and Tom Paciorek grounded out to second to end the inning.
Carl Yastrzemski struck out swinging to start the top of the second inning before Carney Lansford flied out to center. Rich Gedman grounded out to second to end the inning. The White Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Greg Luzinski singled to left to start. Who else but old friend Carlton Fisk caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single to third but Aurelio Rodriguez flied out to center to start. Harold Baines singled to right to load the bases and Vance Law beat out a double play ball to score Luzinski to put Chicago on top. Bill Almon grounded out to third to end the inning with the White Sox up 1-0.
The Red Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Glenn Hoffman popped up to second to start. Rick Miller flied out to center and rookie Wade Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning. LeFlore lined out to second to start the bottom of the third and Hairston grounded back to the mound. Paciorek singled to left and stole second but Luzinski popped up to first to end the inning.
The BoSox struck back in the top of the fourth as Remy singled to left to start. Fisk had Remy out at second on a steal attempt but Law dropped the ball for an error. Evans and Rice drew back to back walks to load the bases but Yaz struck out swinging. Lansford hit a sac fly to right to score Remy to tie the game but Gedman grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The White Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fourth as Fisk grounded out to second to start. Rodriguez grounded out to third and Baines grounded out to short to end the inning.
Hoffman singled in the hole at short to start the top of the fifth but Miller flied out to left. Hoffman moved to second on the grounder to second by Boggs but Remy struck out swinging to end the inning. Law grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth but Almon walked. LeFlore hit a bullet to Remy who doubled off Almon at first to end the inning.
Evans grounded out to short to start the top of the sixth but Rice singled in the hole at short. Yaz banged into a double play to end the inning. The ChiSox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the sixth as Hairston grounded back to the mound to start. Paciorek grounded out to short and Luzinski grounded out to second to end the inning.
The BoSox took the lead in the top of the seventh as Lansford grounded out to short to start. Gedman popped up to short but Hoffman crushed his third home run of the season to put the BoSox on top. Miller flied out to left to end the inning with Boston ahead 2-1.
The White Sox answered in the bottom of the seventh as Fisk grounded out to third to start. Rodriguez grounded out to short but Baines singled up the middle. Law singled in the hole at short and Almon ripped a base hit to center to score Baines and chase Hurst. Bruce hung tough but left after allowing 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Luis Aponte came in and LeFlore forced Almon at second to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Red Sox struck again in the top of the eighth as Boggs lined a single to left for his first major league hit to begin. Remy dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Wade to second but Evans grounded out to third. Rice struck a base hit to center to score Boggs and put Boston back on top. Yaz lined out to second to end the inning with the Red Sox ahead 3-2.
Aponte got Hairston to fly out to left to begin the bottom of the eighth but Paciorek singled to center. Luzinski flied out to right and Fisk grounded out to third to end the inning.
Lansford doubled to left to start the top of the ninth and chase Dotson from the game. Kevin Hickey struck out Gedman swinging but Hoffman was intentionally walked. Miller struck out swinging and Dave Stapleton pinch hit for Boggs. Dave grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Aponte returned to close out the bottom of the ninth and Rudy Law pinch hit for Rodriguez to start. Law grounded out to short and Baines flied out to right, but Steve Kemp pinch hit for Vance Law. Kemp ripped a base hit to left to put the tying run on and Lansford booted a grounder by Almon. With the game on the line...Aponte struck out LeFlore swinging to end the game. The BoSox had taken Game 1 by a score of 3-2.
Hero of the Night is Jim Rice. His clutch 2 out rbi single in the eighth put Boston up for good.
The Good:
Jerry Remy was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Carney Lansford was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Glenn Hoffman was 2 for 3 with a walk and a home run.
Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Bruce Hurst allowed 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed 7 hits and struck out 1.
Luis Aponte earned the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.
The Bad:
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rick Miller was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Dave Stapleton was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
Six wins a row for the surging Red Sox and this one was impressive. They got good starting pitching and clutch hits, especially late in the game, to pull this one out. Hoffman was so hot that he was intentionally walked, imagine that in 1980 or even last year. Rice finally got a big hit this month and hopefully this is the start of him getting back to being the power bat he's been for the last 7 years. Hurst turned in a good start which was desperately needed with Game 2 still to be played. The BoSox now have Mark Clear and Bob Stanley ready in the bullpen if things go haywire. Aponte has been virtually unhittable to start the year and that may not continue, but its what the doctor ordered. All in all it was a good win and the Red Sox have definitely turned it around to end the month. Hopefully they can ride this momentum for the rest of the season. The BoSox have no time to celebrate the win as they are back in action in a few minutes for Game 2 of the doubleheader. Chuck Rainey gets the start for Boston against Chico Escarrega of Chicago. The game begins at 9:05 PM Eastern time at Comiskey Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment