The Sox wasted no time scoring against Royals starter Paul Splittorff in the top of the first inning. Wade Boggs drew a leadoff walk before taking off for second. The throw went into center and Boggs made it to third on the error. Dwight Evans struck out but Jim Rice tripled home Boggs to give the Sox the lead. A wild pitch scored Rice before Tony Armas walked. Reid Nichols banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Mike Brown (1-0, 3.18 ERA) got the start for the Sox and the Royals tagged him in the bottom of the first. Willie Wilson opened with a single and U L Washington singled him to third. George Brett forced Washington at second but Wilson scored. Amos Otis forced Brett at second and Hal McRae flied out to center to end the inning but it was 2-1 Sox.
Dave Stapleton singled and Glenn Hoffman walked to start the top of the second but Jeff Newman made his season debut by banging into a double play. Julio Valdez flied out to left to end the inning. Willie Aikens lined out to center to start the bottom of the second but Frank White singled to center. Jerry Martin singled but Don Slaught banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the third although Boggs struck out to start. Evans doubled to right but Rice flied out to center. Armas singled home Evans as an error moved Tony to second. Nichols looked at strike three to end the inning but it was 3-1 Sox.
Wilson singled and stole second to start the bottom of the third but Washington flied out to right. Brett grounded back to the mound and Otis flied out to right to end the inning.
The Sox attacked in the top of the fourth although Stapleton grounded out to second to begin. Hoffman singled and Newman got his first hit of the season when he doubled Glenn home. Valdez singled Newman to third but Boggs lined out to left. Evans hit a double play ball to short but Washington booted it. Newman scored, Valdez went to third and Evans moved to second on the error. That was it for Splittorff as Bill Castro came in to pitch. Rice walked to load the bases but suddenly Armas keeled over in the dugout and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital. Rick Miller pinch hit for Tony and singled home both Valdez and Evans. Nichols was plunked to load the bases but Stapleton lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.
The Royals struck back in the bottom of the fourth as McRae started the inning with a double. McRae moved to third on the fly ball to center by Aikens and scored on the sac fly by White. Martin popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-2.
The Sox continued to slug in the top of the fifth as Hoffman doubled to start. Hoffman went to third on the grounder by Newman before Valdez popped up to third. Boggs doubled home Hoffman and Evans singled home Boggs. Rice cracked his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Miller grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-2.
Brown held the fort in the bottom of the fifth as Slaught grounded out to third to start. Wilson walked before Washington flied out to center. Wilson grounded out to second before Brett flied out to left to end the inning.
Nichols singled to open the top of the sixth but Stapleton banged into a double play. Hoffman singled but Newman grounded into a force to end the inning. Brown came back for the bottom of the sixth and Otis began with a single. McRae flied out to center and that was it for Brown. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed just 2 runs, not bad. Bob Stanley came in and got Aikens to ground into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox tacked it on in the top of the seventh inning with Joe Simpson now playing center. Valdez grounded out to second to start but Boggs singled to left. Boggs moved to second on the grounder by Evans but Rice was plunked. Miller singled home Evans and moved Rice to third before Nichols hit a hard grounder to short. Washington booted it which allowed Rice to score and Miller to go to third. Stapleton hit a routine grounder to Brett and he booted it which allowed Miller to score and Nichols to go to third. Hoffman singled home Nichols to increase the lead. Newman struck out to end the inning but the massacre was now 15-2.
The Royals went quietly in the bottom of the seventh as White flied out to center to start. Martin looked at strike three before Slaught grounded out to second to end the inning.
Bob Tufts came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Valdez looked at strike three to start. Boggs popped up to short but Evans drew a walk. Rice popped up to first to end the inning. The Royals finally got to Stanley in the bottom of the eighth as Wilson singled to start. Washington flied out to left but Brett doubled home Wilson. Simpson singled in Brett but McRae flied out to left. Aikens flied out to right to end the inning with the Royals down 15-4.
The Sox kept at it in the top of the ninth when Miller was plunked to start. Nichols walked and Stapleton singled to load the bases. Hoffman struck out but Newman hit a routine grounder to Washington who booted another ball for an error that scored Miller and reloaded the bases. Valdez forced Nichols at home on a comebacker to the mound. Boggs singled home Stapleton and Newman to wrap up the scoring. Evans lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 18-4.
Stanley finished off the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth when White grounded out to third to start. Martin popped up to right but Slaught singled. Wilson walked but Washington grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had won it 18-4.
Hero of the Night is Jim Rice. He paced the offensive attack by going 2 for 4 with a walk, hit by pitch, 3 rbis, 3 runs scored and a 2 run home run.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 3 for 6 with a stolen base, a walk, 3 rbis and 3 runs scored.
Dwight Evans was 2 for 6 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Tony Armas walked, singled and drove in a run before leaving.
Rick Miller was 2 for 3 with a hit by pitch, 3 rbis and 2 runs scored off the bench.
Reid Nichols was 2 for 4 with a hit by pitch, walk, rbi and run scored.
Glenn Hoffman was 5 for 6 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Mike Brown earned his first win of the season with 5 1/3 innings of 2 run ball.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 5 but walked and scored a run.
Jeff Newman was just 1 for 6 but drove in two runs and scored twice.
Julio Valdez was just 1 for 6 but scored a run.
Bob Stanley allowed 2 runs in 3 2/3 innings to earn his first save of the season.
Final Thoughts:
Finally the streak is over. It was if the frustration of losing four in a row guided the Sox to pound the Royals into submission. The offense isn't built to be THIS good unless Tony Armas hits 40 home runs and Carl Yastrzesmki can the turn the clock back for one last year. It was nice to see the JV team so to speak with Valdez, Newman and Miller step up to help win this one. Brown got his first win and hopefully he can step up and be an ace pitcher to go with Dennis Eckersley. All in all it was a good win and maybe they can build on it. After an off-day the Sox are back in action Friday night at home. The Texas Rangers are in town and will be sending John Matlack to do battle with Dennis Eckersley (0-1) at 6:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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