Oakland starter Mike Warren hung tough in the top of the first inning as Jerry Remy struck out to begin the game. Dwight Evans singled but moved to second when Rickey Henderson botched the play. Wade Boggs beat out an infield single but Jim Rice banged into a double play to end the inning. Bruce Hurst began his mastery in the bottom of the first, getting Henderson to ground out to first to start. Bruce Bochte flied out to center and Davey Lopes grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the second inning as Mike Easler and Tony Armas both struck out immediately. Rich Gedman grounded out to first to end the inning. Hurst matched Warren in the bottom of the second inning by striking out Carney Lansford and Dave Kingman. Bill Almon grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third inning although Dave Stapleton grounded out to second to start. Jackie Gutierrez and Remy stroked back to back singles before Evans walked to load the bases. Boggs struck a sac fly that scored Jackie and advanced Remy to third to give the Sox the lead. A wild pitch moved Evans to second but Rice whiffed to end the inning. Still, Hurst had a lead to work with as it was now 1-0 Boston.
Could Hurst pitch with the lead? YES! Jim Essian flied out to left to begin the bottom of the third inning. Mike Davis doubled but Donnie Hill popped up to second. Henderson grounded out to third to end the inning.
Warren got back on track in the top of the fourth inning as Easler flied out to left to begin. Armas and Gedman both struck out to end the inning. Hurst almost had a clean inning in the bottom of the fourth when Bochte grounded out to first to start. Lopes walked and Lansford flied out to right. Lopes swiped second but Kingman struck out to end the inning.
The Sox scratched out another run in the top of the fifth inning and it began with Stapleton grounding out to short. Gutierrez walked and stole second but Remy flied out to center. Evans hit a routine grounder to Lopes who went OLE! allowing Jackie to motor home with another run. Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning but it was now 2-0.
Hurst kept the A's in check in the bottom of the fifth inning as Almon grounded out to first to start. Essian and Davis both flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox tacked on another run in the top of the sixth the more conventional way. Rice and Easler grounded out to short but Armas blasted his first home run of the year to give the Sox a commanding lead. Gedman flied out to center to end the inning but it was now 3-0.
Hurst kept up his end of the bargain in the bottom of the sixth when Hill grounded out to second to start. Henderson flied out to left but Bochte and Lopes lined back to back singles. Hurst struck out Lansford to end the inning and the threat.
The Sox threatened again in the top of the seventh when Stapleton singled and Gutierrez sacrifice bunted him to second. Remy flied out but Dave moved to third before Evans walked. Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning. Hurst remained tough in the bottom of the seventh as Kingman struck out again to start. Almon flied out to right but Eissan walked. Davis flied out to center to end the inning.
Keith Atheron replaced Warren in the top of the eighth inning and Davis hurt himself snaring a fly ball from Rice to start. Dwayne Murphy hustled out to center to replace Mike as Easler walked. Armas singled but Gedman hit one up the elevator shaft. Stapleton grounded out to third to end the inning. Hurst came back for the bottom of the eighth and Jeff Burroughs pinch hit for Hill. Hurst struck out Burroughs and got both Henderson and Bochte to fly out to center to end the inning.
Tony Phillips took over at short in the top of the ninth and right on cue Gutierrez grounded out to him. Remy singled but Evans popped up to second. Remy then gunned it for second but was thrown out to end the inning. Hurst came back to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth. Lopes popped up to first and Lansford flied out to right, but Kingman singled. Almon flied out to center to end the game. Hurst had tossed a 4 hit shutout and the Sox had won 3-0.
Hero of the Night is Bruce Hurst. He was masterful, tossing a complete game 4 hit shutout while walking 2 and striking out 6.
The Good:
Jerry Remy was 2 for 5.
Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.
Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with an rbi.
Tony Armas was 2 for 4 including his first home run.
Jackie Gutierrez was 1 for 2 with a walk, stolen base and 2 runs scored.
The Bad:
Jim Rice was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Mike Easler was 0 for 3 but walked.
Dave Stapleton was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
The offense still isn't there yet but that was a hell of a game pitched by Hurst. He had Kingman tied up in knots for most of the game and somehow kept the dangerous Lansford and Henderson off the bases most of the game. Rice is struggling out of the gate but his offense will be there once the season progresses. Only question is will the pitching match the offense? For one day at least it did. Tomorrow Mike Brown makes his season debut opposite Steve McCatty in the rubber game of this 3 game set at Oakland Coliseum.
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