Once again the Boston Red Sox offense were shut down and in the top of the first inning, Mike Witt established dominance. Jerry Remy grounded out to first and Dwight Evans struck out. Wade Boggs singled but was foolishly thrown out trying to stretch a double. Red Sox starter Bob Ojeda was just as tough in the bottom of the first inning. Brian Downing flied out to right, Rod Carew grounded out to third and Juan Beniquez flied out to center.
Witt also dominated the top of the second inning. Jim Rice grounded out to first, Mike Easler struck out and Tony Armas flied out to center to end the inning. Ojeda matched Witt in the bottom of the second inning. Doug DeCinces grounded out to short, Fred Lynn struck out and Bobby Grich popped up to second.
Witt dominated the top of the third inning as well. Rich Gedman grounded out, Dave Stapleton flied out and Glenn Hoffman grounded out to end the inning. The Angels got their first hit off Ojeda in the bottom of the third although Dick Schofield flied out to start. Bob Boone grounded out but Gary Pettis singled and swiped second. Downing grounded out to end the inning,
The Sox looked to get something going in the top of the fourth when Remy singled only for Evans to bang into a double play. Boggs singled but Rice grounded out to end the inning. Carew singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth but was erased on the Beniquez force. DeCinces banged into a double play to end the inning.
Once again the Sox blundered a chance in the top of the fifth inning. Easler hit a routine ground ball to DiCinces only for Doug to boot it, allowing Mike to reach first. Armas singled Mike to third but Easler foolishly was picked off. Gedman flied out and Stapleton grounded out to end the inning. Right on cue the Angels took the lead when Lynn blasted a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Grich walked and advanced to second on the sacrifice bunt by Schofield. Boone walked but Pettis struck out. Downing flied out to end the inning with the Angels up 1-0.
The Sox went quietly in the top of the sixth inning. Hoffman flied out, Remy grounded out and Evans flied out to end the inning. Ojeda ran into major trouble in the bottom of the sixth although Carew grounded out to start. 3 straight singles by Beniquez, DiCinces and Lynn loaded the bases. Ojeda showed some balls by getting Grich to pop up to short and Schofield to pop to third to end the inning.
Unfortunately the Sox couldn't capitalize on the break in the top of the seventh inning. Boggs worked a leadoff walk but Rice and Easler both struck out. Armas grounded into a force to end the inning. Ojeda got some defensive help in the bottom of the seventh inning. Boone walked but Pettis flied out to right. Downing walked but Carew banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the eighth although Gedman flied out to center to start the inning. Stapleton walked and Rick Miller pinch hit for Hoffman. Miller walked to chase Witt. Angels manager Gene Mauch pulled Witt for Luis Sanchez. Remy grounded back to the pitcher but both runners advanced. With a chance to take the lead....Evans struck out to end the inning. The Sox had been shutout in 16 of 17 innings to start the season. Ojeda returned for the bottom of the eighth with Jackie Gutierrez now at short. Ojeda was quickly chased after Beniquez doubled. Normally 7 innings of 1 run ball means a victory, poor Bobby.
Mark Clear made his season debut by keeping Beniquez at second on the DiCinces ground out. Lynn was intentionally walked but Grich flied out. Schofield struck out to end the inning.
Somehow the Sox broke through in the top of the ninth inning. Boggs led off with a single but Rice flied out. Sanchez then tossed a pitch to Easler who BLASTED IT OUT OF THE YARD FOR A HOME RUN! Just like that the Sox had a 2-1 lead. Armas walked and Pettis made a great diving catch to rob Gedman of extra bases, although Armas tagged up and moved to second. Stapleton was intentionally walked to get to Gutierrez and Jackie flied out to end the inning but the Sox had the lead.
Now could Clear nail down the win in the bottom of the ninth despite having serious control issues? Daryl Sconiers pinch hit for Boone and Clear walked him. Pettis dropped down a sac bunt to move Sconiers to second and Downing walked. There would be no back to back walkoffs as Carew struck out and Beniquez flied out to end the game. The Sox had stole one 2-1.
Hero of the Night is an easy choice. Mike Easler's 2 run home run gave the Sox the victory in the top of the ninth.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored
Tony Armas was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Dave Stapleton walked twice in 4 plate appearances.
Rick Miller pinch hit for Hoffman and walked.
Bob Ojeda pitched 7 innings and allowed only 1 run on 6 hits and 5 walks.
Mark Clear earned the win win 2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Bad:
Dwight Evans was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jim Rice was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 4.
Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 2.
Jackie Gutierrez was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Jerry Remy was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
If you're looking for offense this season you may have to wait a minute. Scoring 3 runs in two games is not a recipe for success but on the flip side is the Sox have only allowed 1 earned run in 2 games. Bob Ojeda pitched his ass off and Mark Clear got a little shaky, but shut down the Angels big time. If only the Sox could get this kind of pitching all year, they'd be in business. The offense definitely needs to wake up though, especially on this West Coast trip. Tomorrow night Dennis Eckersley makes his season debut opposite Ron Romanick.
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