Angels Rally Past Sox (7/10/83)

Is it possible for the Boston Red Sox to get any kind of relief pitching this season? Time and time again their bullpen has blown one game after another and today was no different. The Sox were leading 3-1 when the California Angels rallied for 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning. Their bullpen was able to slam the door and the Angels dropped the Sox back to .500 with a 5-3 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                  "I hate bad relief pitching" - Carl

Hurst took the ball in the top of the first inning and Rod Carew singled up the middle to start. Rick Burelson banged into a double play and Reggie Jackson whiffed on a breaking ball to end the inning. Tommy John got the start for the Angels and Jerry Remy led off the bottom of the first with a routine ground out to second. Dave Stapleton popped up to center before Jim Rice poked a seeing eye single to left. Tony Armas grounded into a force to end the inning.

Brian Downing led off the top of the second inning with a base hit before Ellis Valentine hit a pop up to right. Remy and Dwight Evans collided and the ball fell in for a single. Bobby Grich beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners but Bobby Clark hit into a real one to end the inning. Angels manager John McNamara came out to argue but the call stood. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second although Evans was foolishly thrown out at second trying to stretch a single to left. Reid Nichols singled down the left field line and Ed Jurak (replacing the injured Wade Boggs) singled to center. Glenn Hoffman lined a bullet to Tim Foli at third who bobbled it for an error to load the bases. Gary Allenson smacked a sac fly to right to score Nichols to give the Sox the lead. Remy grounded into a force to end the inning but the Sox had taken the lead 1-0

                                              Nichols scores to put Boston on top

Could Hurst pitch with the lead in the top of the third inning? YES! Foli popped up to first before Bob Boone hit one up the elevator shaft. Carew reached on a bunt single in front of the plate and Burelson smacked a single to right. Jackson was rung up for strike three by the third base umpire to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Stapleton popped up to right to begin before Rice lined out to a jumping Downing in left. Armas grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Angels beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fourth inning as Downing grounded out to a bumbling Remy to start. Valentine also grounded to second before Grich grounded out to short to end the inning. Evans flied out to right to begin the bottom of the fourth before Nichols doubled off the Monster. Jurak grounded to second and Hoffman flied out to center to end the inning.

The Angels wasted no time tying the game in the top of the fifth inning as Clark opened the inning with a home run into the screen in left. Foli singled but Hurst picked him off in a rundown. Boone grounded out to second and Carew grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                       The Angels tie it

Allenson dumped a single to right field to begin the bottom of the fifth but made a big boo-boo. Remy hit a drag bunt back to the mound and John looked to second but Allenson was already there. He turned and threw to first and Remy was safe. Allenson got greedy and took off for third but was thrown out by a mile. Grich thought he had Remy at first and shouted at first base umpire Steve Palermo. Palermo had to be restrained by Rod Carew and Angels manager John McNamara from attacking Grich.

                            "I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOU, GRICH!"

When action resumed Stapleton popped up to second but Rice swatted his 23rd home run of the season into the bullpen. Armas flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox now led 3-1.

                                                   Number 23 for Rice

Hurst shut down the Angels in the top of the sixth as Burleson flied out to left to begin. Jackson looked at strike three to earn a hat trick before Downing grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth as Evans was robbed at the warning track in right to begin. Nichols flied out to the centerfield warning track before Jurak hit a routine grounder to Burleson. Rick threw it just wide to first and Jurak was safe on the error. Hoffman struck out to end the inning.

The Angels exploded in the top of the seventh as Valentine beat out a great throw by Jurak to start. Valentine advanced to second on a wild pitch before Grich walked. Clark beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners before Valentine scored on the infield hit to third by Foli to chase Hurst. Bob Stanley came in and got Foli at second on the force by Boone but Allenson muffed a pitch from Stanley which allowed Clark to score the tying run. Carew was intentionally walked and Burleson made the Sox pay by getting a base hit to score Boone to give the Angels the lead. Jackson singled home Carew for the insurance run. Downing flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels ahead 5-3.

                                                        Not good enough Hurst

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the seventh as Allenson grounded out to short to start. Remy hit a chopper that ate up Carew for a single but Stapleton flied out to center. That was it for Tommy John as McNamara brought in Luis Sanchez to pitch to Rice. Rice grounded out to short to end the inning.

Stanley returned for the top of the eighth and got Valentine to ground out to second on the first pitch. Grich grounded out to short on the first pitch he saw before Clark hit a routine grounder to short. Hoffman fielded it cleanly but threw the ball completely out of Fenway for an error to allow Clark to reach second. Foli grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the eighth as Armas grounded out to short to begin. Evans lined out to center but Nichols blooped a single to left. Jurak took strike three to end the inning. If Wade Boggs didn't pull his groin, he probably would have hit here.

Stanley finished up the top of the ninth as Boone grounded out to short to start. Carew also grounded out to short before Burleson popped up to first to end the inning. Stanley finished strong but where was this in the 7th inning? Clark moved to left with Fred Lynn taking over in center for the bottom of the ninth. Rick Miller pinch hit for Hoffman but Foli snared a high chopper to retire him. Carl Yastrzemski pinch hit for Allenson and doubled off the Monster to bring the tying run to the plate. Marty Barrett pinch ran for Yaz but Remy grounded back to the mound. Stapleton grounded out to third to end the game. The Angels had won it 5-3 to send the Sox back to .500.

                                                                Sox lose again


Jackass of the Night is Bob Stanley. He allowed 2 inherited runners to score and one of his own in a disasterous 7th inning to blow the game.

                                                        Stanley The Jackass



The Good:

Jim Rice was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run.

Reid Nichols was 3 for 4 with a run scored.

Carl Yastrzemski singled as a pinch hitter.

Gary Allenson was 1 for 2 with an rbi.



The Bad:

Dave Stapleton was 0 for 5.

Tony Armas was 0 for 4.

Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 3 with an error.

Rick Miller grounded out as a pinch hitter.

Bruce Hurst took the loss by allowing 4 runs in just 6 1/3 innings. He allowed 9 hits and a walk.



The Ugly:

Jerry Remy was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4.

Ed Jurak was just 1 for 4.



Honorable Mention:

Marty Barrett ran for Yaz in the bottom of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Another tough loss for a mediocre team. There's really nothing that can be done unless a miracle happens and the Sox can get an ace pitcher sometime soon. Still, the team could have won the game and Stanley has been solid all season but just couldn't slam the door this time. The offense had their chances but just didn't have anyone to deliver the knockout blow. I know Boggs was hurt but the lack of a power threat with the decline of Yaz is glaring. Hurst pitched well but once again ran out of gas in the 7th inning. If he ever learns command then he could be a good lefty pitching. He's shown it in the past this season, maybe his time will come with more experience. As for this game, the less said of it the better. The loss dropped the Sox to 40-40, 6.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox return home for a set with the Seattle Mariners. Bob Ojeda gets the start for the Sox opposite Mike Moore. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park

Righetti No-Hits Red Sox (7/4/83)

Talk about an unhappy Fourth of July for the Boston Red Sox. Looking for a series win against the New York Yankees, the Yankees avoided that in historic fashion as Dave Righetti no-hit the Red Sox. The Sox had their best lineup available and nobody could get a single hit against him. John Tudor (5-5, 3.57 ERA) was game, allowing 4 runs in 7 2/3 innings but the Sox bats failed him big time. Andre Robertson's rbi single in the fifth was all the scoring the Yankees would need although Don Baylor hit a home run as well. The Sox dropped a crucial game the day before the All-Star break in record fashion as the Yankees took the game 4-0 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                         Wrong side of baseball history

Righetti got the ball in the top of the first and Jerry Remy struck out swinging on a high fastball to start. Wade Boggs took strike three on the outside corner but Jim Rice took a close pitch for ball four. Tony Armas struck out swinging to end the inning. Tudor got the ball to start the bottom of the first and Bert Campaneris led off with a base hit to left. Campaneris swiped second but Don Mattingly flied out to left. Dave Winfield drew a walk and Lou Piniella hit a bullet...right to Glenn Hoffman who stepped on second for the double play to end the inning.

Dwight Evans led off the top of the second by striking out swinging on a curveball before Reid Nichols lined out to a running Steve Kemp. Dave Stapleton struck out swinging on the same pitch that got Evans to end the inning. Don Baylor led off the bottom of the second by popping up to a running Rice to start. Butch Wynegar hit a bullet right through the legs of Boggs for an "error" but he ended up on second base. Wynegar moved to third on a grounder to first by Kemp and Roy Smalley grounded out to Stapleton to end the inning.

                                                               "OLE" - Boggs

Jeff Newman led off the top of the third by striking out swinging before Glenn Hoffman struck out swinging on a slider down and in before Remy grounded out to short to end the inning. Andre Robertson flied out to left to begin the bottom of the third but Campaneris blooped a single to right. The Yankees goofed when Campaneris had second base stolen....had Mattingly not popped up to Remy. Remy doubled Bert off first to end the inning.

Righetti was unhittable in the top of the fourth as Boggs lined out to center to start. Rice flied out to right and Armas grounded out to third to end the inning. Tudor stayed tough in the bottom of the fourth as Winfield flied out to center to start. Piniella flied out to the left field wall and Baylor flied out to Armas to end the inning.

Evans led off the top of the fifth by striking out swinging to start. Nichols drew a walk but was immediately picked off. Stapleton popped up to Robertson to end the inning. The Yankees struck first in the bottom of the fifth as Wynegar popped up to Remy to start. Kemp then hit a ball off the glove of Stapleton but it was ruled a base hit. The Yankees made Stapleton pay as Smalley grounded a base hit to right and Robertson singled to left to score Kemp with the go-ahead run. Campaneris walked to load the bases but Mattingly struck out swinging. Winfield struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

                                                          Yankees take the lead

Newman flied out to right to start the top of the sixth inning before Hoffman popped up to a running Smalley. Remy popped up to third to end the inning. Righetti was just nine outs away from a no-hitter. The Yankees iced the game in the bottom of the sixth as Piniella flied out to the centerfield warning track to start. Baylor then hit a home run all the way to Yonkers to increase the lead. Rice then caught a Wynegar line drive at the left field wall and Kemp grounded out to first to end the inning with the Yankees leading 2-0.

                                                          Baylor hits one out

Boggs flied out to Winfield to start the top of the seventh before Rice drew a walk. Armas banged into a double play to end the inning. Righetti was six outs from the no-no. Smalley popped up to a running Rice to start the bottom of the seventh before Robertson flied out to right. Campaneris also flied out to right to end the inning.

Kemp jumped into the right field bleachers to catch a fly ball by Evans to start the top of the eighth. Nichols flied out to center and Stapleton popped up to Mattingly in foul territory to end the inning. Righetti was three outs from the no-hitter. The Yankees finally chased Tudor in the bottom of the eighth as Mattingly popped up to first to start. Winfield hit a routine grounder to Hoffman but the throw was low and Stapleton dropped it for a "hit." Jeff Newman dove into the stands to corral a pop up by Piniella but Winfield made a heads up play to run to second base. Umpire Steve Palermo knocked himself goofy running into the wall trying to follow Newman. Baylor was intentionally walked but Wynegar walked on a very close pitch to load the bases. Kemp lashed the first pitch he saw into right field for a base hit to score Winfield and Baylor to put the game out of reach. That was it for Tudor who did the best he could but got knocked out in the eighth inning, surrendering 4 runs in 7 2/3 innings. Bob Stanley came in and with one pitch, got Smalley to ground out to first to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 4-0.

                                                         Tudor got no help here

Somehow the Sox got a baserunner when Newman walked to start. Hoffman just barely beat out a double play ball and moved to second on a grounder by Remy to Robertson, but there were two outs. Yankee Stadium went crazy when Boggs struck out swinging to end the game. Righetti had pitched a no-hitter and the Yankees had won it 4-0.

                                                     Righetti has done it

Jackass of the Night is a tough one since nobody got a hit. I gotta go with Wade Boggs. Not only did he go 0 for 4 with the final out, but he booted a grounder for an error.

                                                    Thanks for the final out, ya Jackass

The Good:

Jim Rice walked twice in three at-bats.

Bob Stanley retired the only man he faced.

The Bad:

Jerry Remy was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Tony Armas was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Dave Stapleton was 0 for 3 with a strikeout

Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 3.

John Tudor allowed 4 runs in 7 2/3 innings to take the loss. He allowed 8 hits and 4 walks while striking out two.

The Ugly:

Reid Nichols was 0 for 2 but drew a walk.

Jeff Newman was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but drew a walk.

Final Thoughts:

What a way to lose a game. The Sox needed this game to take three out of four from New York and keep pace in the division race and instead they get no-hit. The only thing close to a hit was Jerry Remy's grounder to short in the top of the third. That was as dominant a performance as anyone's ever seen despite the walks. Tudor ran out of gas in the eighth inning otherwise he pitched well. If he was removed after the seventh after allowing just two runs, more often than not that would win the game. Once again the bottom of the order makes you want to hurl with the way the bats have performed this season. Remember last year when we said that if the bullpen wasn't great, the Sox wouldn't be either? Here we are. There's not much they can do but hope the starters can pull it together in the second half. The loss drops the Sox to 39-38, 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox now take a three day break for the All-Star game and come back on Friday night against the California Angels. Looks like it'll be Dennis Eckersley (5-5) getting the ball for Boston against Bruce Kison of the Angels. The game begins at 7:00 PM at Fenway Park.