For eight innings it looked like the Boston Red Sox were going to gain a half game on the idle Detroit Tigers by beating the New York Yankees. Sox starter Bruce Hurst and Tommy John of the Yankees engaged in a 2-1 pitcher's duel through six innings. Then the Sox scored three runs in the top of the seventh to chase John. Then the Yankees rallied in the bottom of the eighth by chasing Hurst. Mark Clear (5-2, 1.70) had been money all season but he allowed the inherited runner to score and then a backbreaking two run home run by Ken Griffey. The Sox got two runners on in the top of the ninth but Goose Gossage got Jerry Remy to fly out to end the game. The Yankees had stolen this game 5-4 at Yankee Stadium.
John got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jerry Remy struck out swinging to start. Dwight Evans lined out to John and Carney Lansford grounded out to short to end the inning. The Yankees struck first against Hurst in the bottom of the second as Willie Randolph was plunked to start. Ken Griffey got a base hit to right but Dave Winfield grounded into a double play. Lou Piniella got a base hit to left to score Randolph and Graig Nettles flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.
Piniella puts New York on top
The Sox answered in the top of the second as Tony Perez doubled to left to start. Dave Stapleton grounded back to the mound but Glenn Hoffman got a base hit to left to score Perez. Gary Allenson popped up to second and Reid Nichols flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Butch Wynegar got a base hit to left but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double to start the bottom of the second. Old pal Butch Hobson took strike three and Dave Collins grounded out to second to end the inning.
Rick Miller grounded out to short to start the top of the third and Remy did the same. Evans walked but Lansford flied out to right to end the inning. Bucky "bleeping" Dent flied out to left to start the bottom of the third and Randolph grounded out to short. Griffey grounded out to first to end the inning.
Perez got a base hit to center to start the top of the fourth and Stapleton flied out to left. Hoffman grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Yankees took command in the bottom of the fourth as Winfield doubled to left to start. Piniella doubled to left to score Winfield and put the Yankees back on top. Nettles grounded out to first to move Lou to third and Wynegar walked. Hobson grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-1.
Piniella drives in another run
Andre Robertson came in for Randolph to start the top of the fifth and Allenson grounded out to second to start. Nichols got a base hit to center but Miller forced him at second. Remy forced Miller at second to end the inning. Collins grounded out to third to start the bottom of the fifth and Dent popped up to second. Robertson took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the sixth as Evans grounded out to second to start. Lansford grounded out to second and Perez grounded out to third to end the inning. Griffey flied out to right to start the bottom of the sixth and Winfield grounded out to third. Piniella flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh as Stapleton doubled to left to start. Hoffman flied out to center to move Dave to third and Allenson got a base hit to left to score Dave. Nichols got a base hit to center to move Allenson to third and Miller hit a sac fly to center to score Gary with the go-ahead run. Nichols took second on the throw and he scored on the Remy base hit to left. Remy took second on the throw home and Goose Gossage was brought in to face Evans. Dwight grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Nettles popped up to second to start the bottom of the seventh and Wynegar flied out to left. Hobson grounded out to short to end the inning.
Lansford grounded out to short to start the top of the eighth and Perez grounded out to first. Stapleton hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Hurst returned briefly for the bottom of the eighth only for Collins to double to left to chase him. He would be charged with 3 runs in 7 plus innings and Mark Clear was brought in to replace him. Roy Smalley pinch hit for Dent and popped up to short, but Robertson singled to center to score Collins. Suddenly Griffey hit a 2 run bomb all the way to Shea Stadium to put the Yankees on top. Winfield grounded out to second and Piniella struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 5-4.
Gossage returned to close out the top of the ninth and rookie Wade Boggs was sent to pinch hit for Hoffman. Boggs struck out swinging and Rich Gedman pinch hit for Allenson. Gedman got a base hit to left and Julio Valdez ran for him. Carl Yastrzemski pinch hit for Nichols and he popped up to third...shades of 1978. Valdez stole second base and Miller walked. Remy flied out to center to end the game. The Yankees had won it 5-4.
Jackass of The Night is Mark Clear. He allowed an inherited runner to score and two of his own to lose the game.
The Good:
Tony Perez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Glenn Hoffman was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Gary Allenson was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.
Rich Gedman got a base hit as a pinch hitter.
Julio Valdez stole a base as a pinch runner.
Reid Nichols was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Bruce Hurst tossed 7 innings of 3 run ball allowing 6 hits and a walk.
The Bad:
Carney Lansford was 0 for 4.
Wade Boggs struck out as a pinch hitter.
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Jerry Remy was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 but walked.
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Rick Miller was 0 for 2 but walked and drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
That game was frustrating for a variety of reasons. Hurst might have been yanked too early but Clear had been almost automatic all season to this point. Who would have thought he'd give up a 2 run home run to Griffey. Not only that, the Sox had their chance in the ninth against Gossage but once again Yaz couldn't get it done. After the Sox laid an egg yesterday against Ron Guidry, they couldn't get to Gossage today like it was 1978 all over again. The more things change, the more things stay the same. The worst part is Hurst had outpitched Tommy John and definitely deserved the victory. The Detroit Tigers didn't even play today and they gained a game on the Sox because they couldn't get this one finished. 10 years ago the Sox finished a game behind the Tigers when all was said and done, hopefully this year isn't a repeat. The loss dropped the Sox to 37-22, 0.5 games in front of the Tigers for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to avoid a sweep in the Bronx tomorrow night when John Tudor (5-4) takes on Dave Righetti of the Yankees. The game begins at 8:00 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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