Bruce Hurst (1-2, 2.55 ERA) never got out of the box as he was ambushed by the angry Tigers. Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell worked back to back walks before Barbaro Garbey hit a routine double play ball to Glenn Hoffman at short. Hoffman fielded the ball and threw it straight up in the air before catching it in his hat much to the chagrin of the irate crowd. Glenn was charged with an error but the bases were loaded with nobody out. Hurst somehow managed to strike out Lance Parrish but Larry Herndon walked to drive in the game's first run. Chet Lemon singled home Trammell and Garbey to increase the lead before Rod Allen singled in Herndon. Rusty Kuntz singled home Lemon and that was it for Hurst. He lasted just 1/3 of an inning although the insane error by Hoffman didn't help and was on the hook for 5 runs with two runners still on base.
Mike Brown came in and poured gas on the fire by allowing a double to Tom Brookens. Whitaker hit a routine tapper in front of Rich Gedman who was so angry at Hoffman that he wrestled with the ball instead of throwing it to a base, allowing Kuntz and Brookens to both score, causing half the crowd to get up and leave. Trammell doubled and for some reason Tigers manager Sparky Anderson pinch hit Dave Bergman for Garbey. Bergman was intentionally walked to re-load the bases but Brown got Parrish to bang into a double play to end the inning. The Tigers put up 8 runs on 5 hits and 2 errors to take an 8-0 lead.
Somehow the Sox came roaring back in the bottom of the first inning against Milt Wilcox. Remy singled and Dwight Evans was hit with a pitch. Wade Boggs walked to load the bases and Jim Rice singled home Remy and Evans. Mike Easler singled home Boggs but Tony Armas banged into a double play, still managing to score Rice but it cleared the bases. This was huge because Gedman belted a solo home run to chase Wilcox and put the Sox back in striking distance. Doug Bair replaced Wilcox and got Dave Stapleton to strike out to end the inning but the Sox put up a five spot to trail 8-5.
Brown trudged back to the mound for the top of the second inning and Herndon doubled to lead off. Lemon struck out then Darrell Evans pinch hit for Rod Allen only to strike out. Herndon took third on a wild pitch but Kuntz flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox inched closer in the bottom of the second inning although Hoffman struck out to start. Remy popped up to first but Evans launched a solo home run to cut the lead to just two. Boggs struck out to end the inning but the Sox were back in it, 8-6.
All Brown had to do was hold the fort until the offense kept clawing back in the top of the third and somehow he did. Brookens grounded out to first before Whitaker hit a routine ground ball to Hoffman at short. This time Hoffman picked the ball up, threw it over his head like a grenade and stuck his fingers in his ears waiting for the explosion that never came. The only reason Whitaker didn't take second was he was too busy laughing at Glenn. Whitaker was forced at second by Trammell and Alan was thrown at second trying to steal by Gedman to end the inning. The Sox didn't do much in the bottom of the third although Rice led off with a single. Mike Easler struck out and Tony Armas forced Rice at second. Gedman struck out to end the inning.
Brown couldn't tame the Tigers in the top of the fourth inning although he got Bergman to ground out to begin. Parrish then launched a 1,000 foot home run to give the Tigers their 3 run lead back. Herndon flied out to left and Lemon grounded out to third to end the inning with the Tigers up 9-6.
The Sox failed to answer in the bottom of the fourth as Stapleton singled but Hoffman banged into a double play. Remy popped up to short to end the inning.
Brown recovered in the top of the fifth to get Evans to fly out to right. Kuntz struck out but Brookens singled. Whitaker popped up to third to end the inning. The Sox failed to score in the bottom of the fifth although Evans walked to begin. Boggs flied out to left but Rice banged into a double play to end the inning.
Brown finally ran out of gas in the top of the sixth inning although Trammell hit one up the elevator shaft to begin. Bergman singled but Parrish popped up to first. Herndon doubled and Sox manager Ralph Houk made the change to bring in Bob Stanley. Brown had allowed 2 runs in nearly 6 innings pitched, it could have been a lot worse. Stanley got Lemon to fly out to right to end the inning. Glenn Abbott came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Easler greeted him with a single. Armas got hit with a pitch to put the tying run at the plate. Gedman grounded out to first but both runners moved into scoring position. Stapleton walked to load the bases and Houk pinch hit Rick Miller for Hoffman hoping for a spark. The opposite happened as Miller banged into a double play to end the inning. What a waste.
Jackie Gutierrez took over at short as Stanley returned for the top of the seventh. Evans grounded out to short, Kuntz struck out and Brookens grounded out back to Stanley to end the inning. The Sox hit into ANOTHER double play as Evans bounced into one after Remy singled. Boggs flied out to center to end the inning but that was 5 double plays in 7 innings...that ain't funny.
The Tigers finally iced the game in the top of the eighth inning. Whitaker, Trammell, Bergman and Parrish all singled to score two runs and put runners at the corners. Herndon beat out a double play ball to score another run and Lemon singled Parrish to third. Evans beat out a double play ball to score yet another run although Kuntz struck out to end the inning with the Tigers up 13-6. Game over.
Willie Hernandez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth with Dwight Lowry taking over behimd the dish in the bottom of the eighth. Rice struck out but Easler and Armas struck back to back singles. Gedman walked to load the bases for some hope but Stapleton hit one up the elevator shaft. Reid Nichols pinch hit for Gutierrez and came through with a double to score Easler and Armas. Remy followed through with a single to score Gedman but Evans struck out to end the inning. The Sox did manage to get closer but was still too far out of reach 13-9.
Mark Clear came in to pitch with Ed Jurak taking over at short for the top of the ninth inning. Brookens struck out but Whitaker doubled. Trammell walked but Bergman flied out to right. Lowry grounded out to second to end the inning. The end finally came in the bottom of the ninth although Boggs walked to begin. Naturally Rice grounded into the SIXTH double play of the game. Easler doubled but Armas grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox lost their fourth straight 13-9.
Jackass of the Night is Bob Stanley. Had he held the fort after Mike Brown left, the Sox could have taken the game or at least had a solid chance. Instead he allowed 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings that ended up being the difference in the game.
The Good:
Jerry Remy was 3 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with a walk, hit by pitch, solo home run and 2 total runs scored.
Jim Rice was 2 for 5 with 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Mike Easler was 4 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.
Dave Stapleton was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Reid Nichols doubled in 2 runs as a pinch hitter.
Mike Brown tossed 5 1/3 innings of relief allowing just 2 runs to keep the Sox in the game.
Mark Clear pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Bad:
Glen Hoffman was 0 for 2 with a strikeout and 2 errors committed in the field.
Rick Miller hit into a double play as a pinch hitter.
Bruce Hurst sucked, allowing 7 runs (5 earned) in just 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.
Tony Armas was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch and scored.
Rich Gedman was 1 for 3 with a walk, solo home run and 2 total runs scored but his error in the first allowed 2 runs to score which ended up being crucial.
Honorable Mention:
Jackie Gutierrez played shortstop in the top of the eighth.
Ed Jurak played shortstop in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
It was nice for the offense to finally wake up but the pitching picked a fine time to take the day off. The Sox couldn't get anyone out whether it was Hurst, Brown or Stanley. The good news is THIS is the offense the front office expected going into the season and its unlikely Hurst is going to suck like that too often. If they can keep this kind of offense going, they have a chance to catch Baltimore in the AL East race, even if they have no ace. Tomorrow night the Texas Rangers are in town as the Sox look to snap their four game losing streak. Old buddy Frank Tanana matches up with Dennis Eckersley (0-1) in the first game of the series at Fenway Park.
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