The BoSox struck first against Hoyt in the top of the first although Jerry Remy flied out to left to start. Dwight Evans walked and Wade Boggs singled him to third before Armas scored Dwight with a base hit. Mike Easler banged into a double play to end the inning but it was 1-0 Boston.
The White Sox answered in the bottom of the first against Eckersley although Rudy Law grounded out to first to begin. Old pal Carlton Fisk continued to hound his old team with a 70,000 foot home run into the Atlantic Ocean to tie the game. Harold Baines hit a routine grounder to Jackie Gutierrez who went OLE! and Harold reached on the error. Ron Kittle singled to left and Baines tried to score. Nichols fired home...YOU'RE OUT! Baines was out at home and Greg Walker flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
The game didn't stay tied long as the BoSox answered in the top of the second. Rich Gedman blasted his second home run of the season to put Boston back on top. Reid Nichols and Rick Miller both grounded out to second and Gutierrez popped up to second to end the inning but it was 2-1 BoSox.
Eck cruised in the bottom of the second as Tom Paciorek grounded out to third to start. Vance Law also grounded out to third and Scott Fletcher hit a squibber in front of the plate to end the inning.
Hoyt cruised in the top of the third as Remy flied out to left to start. Evans was retired on a squibber in front of the plate and Boggs took strike three to end the inning. Julio Cruz singled to start the bottom of the third but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. Rudy Law singled and took second when Easler muffed a pickoff throw. Fisk whiffed and Baines grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The BoSox struck again in the top of the fourth although Armas struck out to start. Easler and Gedman pounded back to back home runs to increase the lead. Nichols and Miller both flied out to right to end the inning but the BoSox led 4-1.
The White Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the fourth as Kittle doubled to start. Walker walked and a wild pitch moved both runners over. Eck bore down to strike out both Paciorek and Vance Law. Fletcher grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Gutierrez grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth before Remy grounded out to second. Evans singled and Boggs singled him to third but Armas flied out to center to end the inning. Eck cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Cruz grounded out to short to start. Rudy Law flied out to center and Fisk popped up to first to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the sixth as Easler popped up to second to start. Gedman popped up to third and Nichols flied out to left to end the inning. Baines popped up to short to start the bottom of the sixth and Kittle struck out. Walker grounded out to first to end the inning.
Miller grounded out to second to open the top of the seventh and Gutierrez grounded out to second as well. Remy flied out to center to end the inning. Paciorek doubled to start the bottom of the seventh and Mike Squires pinch hit for Vance Law. Squires popped up to Eckersley and Paciorek forgot the infield fly rule and was thrown out at second for the double play. Fletcher grounded out to second to end the inning.
Evans walked to chase Hoyt to begin the top of the eighth. Juan Agosto came in and Boggs sacrifice bunted Dwight to second. Armas was intentionally walked and Easler flied out to left. Gedman walked to load the bases and Salome Barojas replaced Agosto. Nichols walked home Evans to increase the lead and Miller struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.
The White Sox threatened in the bottom of the eighth as Cruz grounded out to second to start. Law singled but Fisk flied out to left. Law stole second and Baines walked, but Kittle flied out to center to end the inning.
The BoSox did nothing in the top of the ninth as Gutierrez grounded out to second to start. Remy flied out to left and Evans flied out to center to end the inning. Eck came back to finish the bottom of the ninth but ran out of gas. Walker struck out but Paciorek singled. Paciorek moved to second on the grounder by Squires and Jerry Hairston pinch hit for Fletcher. Hairston doubled home Paciorek and Cruz singled Hairston home to cut the lead and bring the tying run to the plate. Cruz stole second but Law flied out to center to end the game. Eck held on to toss a complete game and guide the BoSox to a 5-3 win.
Hero of the Night is Dennis Eckersley. He tossed a complete game and held the White Sox to just three runs.
The Good:
Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Wade Boggs was 2 for 3.
Tony Armas was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Rich Gedman was 2 for 3 with a walk and two home runs.
The Bad:
Jerry Remy was 0 for 5.
Jackie Gutierrez was 0 for 4 with an error.
The Ugly:
Mike Easler was just 1 for 4 with an error but the one hit was a home run.
Reid Nichols was 0 for 3 but walked, drove in a run and threw out a runner at home.
Rick Miller was 0 for 4 but nailed Cruz at second base for a big assist.
Final Thoughts:
That's more like it Eckersley. The Sox finally managed to get a good start and save the bullpen some wear and tear thanks to Eck going the distance. I know it was against the White Sox but its encouraging to see Eck do well. If he and Bruce Hurst can continue to throw the way they are, the Sox may have a chance to topple Baltimore this season. Unfortunately it looks like the Detroit Tigers are off to a hot start and that losing streak earlier this month could come into play come September. The offense got timely hits when they needed with Jim Rice out and held on at the end to pull out the victory. With a rested bullpen the Sox look to make it two in a row over the White Sox when they send Bob Ojeda to the mound against future hall of famer Tom Seaver at 2:00 PM Eastern Time at Commiskey Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment