The Red Sox wasted no time pounding Renko in the top of the first inning. Jerry Remy singled and Dwight Evans hit a roller to the mound that Renko threw away to put runners at the corners. Jim Rice doubled home both men to give the Sox the lead. Carl Yastrzemski popped up to short and Carney Lansford flied out to left but Dave Stapleton singled home Rice. Rick Miller flied out to left to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.
Eckersley started off well in the bottom of the first although Brian Downing singled to start. Rob Wilfong forced Downing at second and Rod Carew banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Rich Gedman grounded out to second to start. Glenn Hoffman flied out to right and Remy flied out to center to end the inning. Eck got Reggie Jackson to ground out to second to start the bottom of the second before Fred Lynn flied out to right. Don Baylor flied out to right to end the inning.
Renko got Evans to strike out to open the top of the third before Rice grounded out to short. Yaz flied out to left to end the inning. Disaster struck in the bottom of the third as Ron Jackson popped up to third to start. Tom Foli popped up to third but after Eck made the pitch he fell to the ground clutching his arm. Eck had to be carried out on a stretcher after just 2 2/3 innings. Bob Stanley came in and got Bob Boone to ground out to third to end the inning but Eck was gone.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth inning as Lansford began with a double. Stapleton doubled him home and Gedman singled in Stapleton. At this point it was 5-0 and the Angels were on the ropes but the Sox let them off the hook. Bruce Kison came in and dominated as Gedman flied out to right but Hoffman walked. Remy grounded out to first but both runners advanced. With a chance to hit a knockout punch, Evans struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.
Stanley got Downing to ground out to first to start the bottom of the fourth before Wilfong flied out to left. Carew grounded out to second to end the inning.
Kison got Rice to ground out to third to begin the top of the fifth before Yaz flied out to left. Lansford singled to center but Stapleton struck out to end the inning. The Angels began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning as Jackson walked to start. Lynn popped up to third but Baylor walked. Jackson beat out an infield single to load the bases but Foli beat out a double play ball to score Jackson. Boone flied out to left to end the inning but it was now 5-1 Sox.
Miller grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth before Gedman also grounded out to second as well. Hoffman singled to right but was foolishly thrown out trying to stretch a double to end the inning. The Angels inched closer in the bottom of the sixth although Downing grounded out to first to begin. Wilfong singled and Carew doubled before Jackson singled home both runners to chase Stanley. Mark Clear came in and walked Lynn but Baylor popped up back to Mark. Jackson walked to load the bases but Foli took strike three to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 5-3.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the seventh as Remy flied out to left to start. Evans grounded out to third but Rice singled to center. Yaz lined out to first to end the inning. The Sox fell apart in the bottom of the seventh as Boone doubled to start. Bob moved to third on the grounder by Downing before Wilfong grounded to the mound. Carew and Reggie Jackson both walked to load the bases and chase Clear. Lynn singled home Boone and Carew to tie the game before Baylor singled to left. Rice fired home but Jackson beat the throw to give the Angels the lead. Both runners advanced before Ron Jackson hit a routine grounder to third. Lansford went OLE! and Lynn scored with Baylor moving to third. Foli singled home Baylor and Sox manager Ralph Houk had enough of Burgmeier. He came in with the bases loaded and allowed all the runners to score plus two of his own. Luis Aponte got Boone to fly out to center but the Angels put up 5 runs to take the lead for good, 8-5.
Lansford tried to atone for his error with a walk to open the top of the eighth but Stapleton flied out to right. Miller banged into a double play to end the inning. Aponte held the fort in the bottom of the eighth as Downing popped to short to start. Wilfong and Carew hit back to back singles but Jackson flied out to left. Lynn flied out to center to end the inning.
Juan Beniquez came in to play first and Bobby Clark came in to play right in the top of the ninth. Gedman grounded out to short before Wade Boggs pinch hit for Hoffman. Boggs hit one up the elevator shaft and Remy grounded out to short to end the game. The Angels had come back to win the game 8-5.
Jackass of the Night is Tom Burgmeier. He came in with the bases loaded and the Sox still in the lead, allowed all 3 runs to score and 2 of his own to put the Sox behind to good.
The Good:
Jim Rice was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Carney Lansford was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Dave Stapleton was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Glenn Hoffman was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Dennis Eckersley tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving with an injury.
Luis Aponte tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Carl Yastrzemski was 0 for 4.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 4.
Wade Boggs popped up as a pinch hitter.
Bob Stanley allowed 3 runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Mark Clear took the loss with 3 runs allowed in 1 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jerry Remy was just 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Rick Miller was just 1 for 4 with an rbi.
Final Thoughts:
Well this game was a sucker punch to the balls. Not only did they lose Eckersley but the bullpen blew the game as well. Blowing a 5 run lead is almost hard to do especially since the bullpen has been one of the strong points this year. Stanley, Clear and Burgmeier combined to give up 8 runs between them against an Angels you can't afford to let get hot. If Eckersley is done for a month that could end the season for the Sox considering they're relying on the aging Mike Torrez and the spot starters like Chuck Rainey to carry them to the playoffs. As good as the offense has been, they don't have enough starting pitching. It was a tough loss but the Sox are now 65-54, 4 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the AL East. The Sox are back in action tomorrow night with a set against the Oakland A's in Oakland. Brian Kingman goes for the A's with Mike Torrez going for the Sox at a horrible 10:30 PM Eastern time start at the Oakland Coliseum.
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