White Sox Walkoff Red Sox (8/26/85)

Murphy's Law in the month of August continued for the Boston Red Sox. Today's game against the Chicago White Sox was supposed to be played on August 7th that was cancelled due to the brief player's strike and the BoSox wish this game was never played. Boston broke out to a 2-0 lead over Joel Davis and Chicago but the White Sox answered with 5 runs against Oil Can Boyd. The BoSox tied the game in the top of the seventh and Dwight Evans put them on top with an eight inning home run. Who else but Carlton Fisk tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with a home run and Greg Walker settled matters with a home run off Bob Stanley in the bottom of the 10th to win it for Chicago, 7-6 at Comiskey Park.

                                                          Dammit

The BoSox wasted no time getting to Davis in the top of the first as Dwight Evans tripled over the head of Rudy Law to begin. Wade Boggs chopped a base hit up the middle to score Evans but Bill Buckner flied out to center. Rich Gedman grounded a base hit up the middle to move Boggs to third and Wade scored on the Mike Easler sac fly to left. Ozzie Guillen bobbled a grounder by Tony Armas for an error and Marty Barrett walked to load the bases. With a chance to do some huge damage, Steve Lyons flied out to right to end the inning with Boston up 2-0.

                                                           BoSox take the lead

Boyd got the ball in the bottom of the first and Law struck out swinging to start. Bryan Little flied out to right and Harold Baines flied out to the left field wall to end the inning.

Jackie Gutierrez struck out swinging to start the top of the second and Evans flied out to center. Boggs flied out to left to end the inning. Greg Walker hit one up the elevator shaft to start the bottom of the third before Carlton Fisk popped up to third in foul territory. Joe DeSa took strike three to end the inning.

Buckner flied out to center to start the top of the third but Gedman got a base hit up the middle but Easler grounded into a double play to end the inning. The White Sox rallied in the bottom of the third as Ron Kittle got a base hit to left to start. Guillen hit a double play ball to Barrett but Marty bobbled it, only able to throw Ozzie out at first. That proved costly as Luis Salazar doubled to center to score Kittle. Law grounded out to third but Little hit a ground rule double into the right field seats to score Salazar. Baines lined a base hit up the middle and Little came around third. Lyons' throw was late and Kittle scored with Harold taking second on the throw to give the White Sox the lead. Walker grounded out to second to end the inning with Chicago up 3-2.

                                                    Baines puts Chicago on top

The BoSox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Armas flied out to right to start. Barrett hit a routine grounder to the mound but not only did Davis miss it but Little bobbled it as well for an error. Lyons dumped a check swing base hit to center but Gutierrez struck out swinging. Evans grounded out to third to end the inning. Fisk hit a routine grounder to Gutierrez who bobbled it for an error to start the bottom of the fourth. DeSa hit a double play ball to Gutierrez but instinctively flipped to Barrett rather than take it himself. Instead of a double play, they ended up with a force. It ultimately didn't matter as Kittle flied out to left and Guillen grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Boggs grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth but Buckner drew a walk. Gedman also walked and Easler slashed a base hit to left but Buckner was thrown out at home. Armas lined out to left to end the inning.

                                                             Yerrrrrr out!

The White Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Salazar hit a roller to short and Buckner dropped the throw from Gutierrez for a "single". Law popped up to second and Little flied out to left but Salazar swiped second. Baines then crushed a home run all the way to Florida to increase the lead. Walker lined out to right to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 5-2.

                                                        Baines hits one out

The BoSox fought back in the top of the sixth as Barrett walked to start. Lyons flied out to center but Gutierrez got a base hit to left. Evans walked to load the bases, chasing Davis. Jerry Don Gleaton came in to pitch to Boggs and Wade beat out a double play ball to score Barrett. Buckner forced Boggs at second to end the inning with the BoSox down 5-3.

                                                                  Barrett scores a run

Fisk grounded out to third to start the bottom of the sixth before DeSa flied out to left. Kittle singled past the diving Gutierrez but Guillen flied out to center to end the inning.

The BoSox came back in the top of the seventh as Gedman dribbled one to second and Little bobbled it for a "single". Easler struck out swinging and that was it for Gleaton. Dan Spillner came in to pitch to Armas and Tony struck out swinging. Barrett doubled to the left field wall to score Gedman who would have been thrown out at the plate if the White Sox didn't lollygag the throw to short. Lyons blooped a base hit just out of reach of Little to score Barrett with the tying run. Lyons swiped second but Gutierrez took strike three to end the inning with the game tied 5-5.

                                                           Boston ties it up

The White Sox finally chased Boyd in the bottom of the seventh as Salazar singled off the glove of Gutierrez to start. Salazar was thrown out at second trying to steal but Law walked to send Boyd to the showers. Oil Can lasted 6 1/3 innings allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and a walk. Bob Stanley came in to pitch and Little drilled a base hit to right to put runners at the corners. Baines struck out swinging on a sinker that didn't sink and Walker grounded out to third to end the inning.

                                                   Boyd gets knocked out

The BoSox shocked Chicago as Evans led off the top of the eighth with his 16th home run of the season to put Boston on top. Juan Agosto came in to pitch and Boggs walked, but Buckner forced Wade at second. Buckner was picked off....but somehow wormed his way to second for a "stolen base". He was doubled off anyway on a failed hit and run when he took off for third but Gedman's liner to center was caught. The inning was over but the BoSox now led 6-5.

                                                    Evans puts Boston ahead

The lead lasted 8 seconds in the bottom of the eighth as....who else....Fisk hit a home run off the left field foul pole to tie the game. Does THAT LOOK FAMILIAR???? DeSa popped up to right, Kittle grounded out to second and Guillen grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 6-6.

                                                           Fisk ties it up

Old pal Reid Nichols came in for Kittle to start the top of the ninth and Easler grounded out to first to start. Bob James came in to pitch to Armas and Tony grounded out to short. Barrett dropped a base hit in front of Nichols and took second on a balk. Lyons grounded out to first to end the inning. Stanley returned for the bottom of the ninth and Salazar flied out to right to begin. Law took strike three and Little's bunt attempt was snuffed out by Stanley to end the inning.

Gutierrez lined out to center to start the top of the tenth but Evans flied out to left. Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning. For whatever reason, Stanley returned for the bottom of the tenth and Baines grounded out to second to start. Walker then hit a home run all the way to Lake Michigan to end the game. The White Sox had walked off the Red Sox 7-6.

                                                             White Sox win

Jackass of The Night is Bob Stanley. He gave up the game tying and game winning home runs.

                                                        Jackass Stanley

The Good:

Dwight Evans was 2 for 5 with a walk, a home run and 2 total runs scored.

Rich Gedman was 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Marty Barrett was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Steve Lyons was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a stolen base.

The Bad:

Tony Armas was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was just 1 for 5 but walked, drove in two runs and scored a run.

Bill Buckner was 0 for 4 but walked and stole a base.

Mike Easler was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.

Oil Can Boyd allowed 5 runs in just 6 1/3 innings on 8 hits and a walk while striking out 2.

Jackie Gutierrez was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts and an error.

Final Thoughts:

This game, this month and this season has been one giant sucker punch to the gonads. Losing Roger Clemens for the season was bad enough but losing games as gutwrenching as this is just pouring salt in an open wound. Boyd hasn't been the same since the All-Star break and he wasn't good at all in this one. Still, the Red Sox had this game won but Stanley blew it. Why was he still even in the game in the bottom of the tenth? Where was Steve Crawford or Mark Clear? Was John McNamara asleep in the dugout? Just another tough loss in a season full of them. Can't even blame the offense who scratched and clawed to not only come back from the deficit but to take the lead as well. The way the Sox fell apart this month can be seen clear as day. They needed starting pitching and they didn't get it. Guess trading John Tudor was a bad idea huh? The loss dropped the Sox to 58-64, 18.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Cleveland for a set with the Indians. Mike Trujillo (3-2) takes on Curt Wardle of the Indians. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Cleveland Stadium.

Twins Four Run 7th Sink Sox (8/23/85)

For 6 innings it looked like Tim Lollar (5-8, 4.81 ERA) and the Boston Red Sox were about to best Frank Viola and the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Instead the Twins scored 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning and Viola went the distance to defeat the Sox 5-2.

                                  "That damn Frank Viola" - Sonny Crockett

Lollar took the mound in the top of the first inning and got Kirby Puckett to strike out. Mickey Hatcher grounded out to short and Kent Hrbek popped up to short to end the inning. Boston wasted no time scoring as Dwight Evans led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off Viola to give the Sox the quick lead. Wade Boggs walked but Bill Buckner banged into a double play. Jim Rice struck out to end the inning but it was 1-0 Boston.

                                            Dewey says "Take that Viola!"

Lollar stayed tough in the top of the second by getting Tom Brunansky to ground out to third. Dave Engle flied out to right but Tim Laudner singled. Gary Gaetti grounded into a force to end the inning. Viola blanked the Sox in the bottom of the second by getting both Mike Easler and Marty Barrett to ground out to short. Jackie Gutierrez struck out to end the inning.

The Twins struck back in the top of the third inning. Tim Teufel doubled to start and moved to third on the Alvaro Espinoza bunt single. Puckett beat out a double play ball to score Teufel with the tying run then stole second base himself. Hatcher grounded to third and Hrbek grounded to second to end the inning but it was 1-1.

                                           "Damn you Teufel...and you too Puckett!" - Pierce

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third inning as Steve Lyons popped up to third, Marc Sullivan struck out and Evans popped to second to end the inning.

Lollar recovered to get Brunansky to ground out o open the top of the fourth inning. Engle flied out to center but Laudner walked. Gaetti lined out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Boggs singled and moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Buckner. Rice walked but was foolishly picked off. That lost run loomed large as Easler doubled home Boggs to give the Sox the lead. Barrett grounded out to end the inning but a 2-1 lead should have been 3-1.

                                                Easler says "Come on Rice, I had it!"

Lollar cruised in the top of the fifth as he got Teufel to fly out to right to begin. Espinoza grounded out to third and Puckett grounded out to short to end the inning. Viola matched Lollar in the bottom of the fifth as he got Gutierrez to ground out to second to start. Lyons struck out and Sullivan lined out to center to end the inning.

Lollar returned for the top of the sixth inning and got Hatcher to ground to second to begin. Hrbek singled but Brunansky struck out. Engle grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox accomplished nothing in the bottom of the sixth inning as Evans grounded meekly to third, but Boggs singled. Buckner flied out but Boggs was distracted by a rodeo clown falling down the steps in the stands, getting doubled off first to end the inning.

Somehow the Twins exploded in the top of the seventh inning. Laudner doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Gaetti walked but Teufel struck out. Espinoza singled home Laudner tied the game. Puckett iced the game with a scintillating triple to send the fans home angry. That was it for Lollar and Steve Crawford came in, only to give up an rbi single by Hatcher to score Puckett. Hrbek singled but Brunansky struck out. Ron Smalley pinch hit for Engle and popped to second to end the inning but it was now 5-2 Twins.

                              "I can't believe Lollar can't get Puckett out" - Ms Fletcher

Viola put it on cruise control in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Rice flied out and Easler grounded out but Barrett doubled. Gutierrez ended the rally with a 360 strikeout, falling over in the process to end the inning.

Crawford returned for the top of the eighth and Laudner singled AGAIN, but Gaetti struck out. Teufel flied out and Espinoza struck out to end the inning. Viola would not be denied in the bottom of the eighth in a near empty Fenway Park as Lyons flied out to right to start. Sullivan and Evans both whiffed to end the inning.

Crawford returned for the top of the ninth and was greeted by a Puckett single. Hatcher banged into a double play and Hrbek lined out to center to end the inning. Viola came back to finish his work in the botom of the ninth. Boggs flied out to left, Buckner grounded out to second and Rice flied out to left to end the game. The Twins had won it 5-2.

Jackass of the Night is Tim Lollar. He had a 2-1 lead to protect and he let the team down by getting pounded in the 7th, giving up 5 total runs.

                                                    Lollar is the Jackass


The Good:

Wade Boggs was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Mike Easler was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Marty Barrett was 1 for 3.

Steve Crawford tossed 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.




The Bad:

Bill Buckner was 0 for 3.

Jackie Gutierrez was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Steve Lyons was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Marc Sullivan was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.




The Ugly:

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.

Jim Rice was 0 for 3 but walked..




Final Thoughts:

Another pitiful loss for a team going absolutely nowhere. I know Tim Lollar isn't exactly Jack Morris but with Roger Clemens got, SOMEBODY has to step up and win some games down the stretch, if nothing else but for personal pride. Frank Viola going the distance hurt plus he's lost 10 games this year, the offense should have smacked him around. This year can't end fast enough and Clemens get healthy quick enough. The loss dropped the Sox to 58-62, 17 games behind Toronto for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow Bruce Hurst matches up against Mike Smithson for the Twins. Isn't this year over yet? Ugh.

Yankees Down Sox Late (8/18/85)

As 1985 continues to be a mediocre season for the Boston Red Sox, one thing is for sure and that's the New York Yankees catch every lucky break in the world. A day after being held to a single run, this time the Sox could barely score two against Phil Neikro and Bob Shirley. Meanwhile Roger Clemens had to be scratched from his start due to shoulder stiffness and Tim Lollar (5-7, 4.68 ERA) continued to struggle, getting lit up by the Yankees for 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Sox and Yankees battled to a 2-2 tie after the top half of the seventh inning but the Yankees rallied for two runs against Lollar before Sox manager John McNamara yanked him. The Sox did manage to load the bases against Dave Righetti in the top of the ninth but Brian Fisher got Dwight Evans to fly out to end the game. Clemens may have been able to make a difference but the Yankees still made it two in a row over the Sox as they took the game 4-2 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                      Sox fans are not happy

Niekro got the ball in the top of the first inning and Marty Barrett dumped a base hit to left on the first pitch of the game. Bob Meacham threw a double play ball by Wade Boggs away to allow Wade to take second and Boggs moved to third on the warning track fly ball to center by Dwight Evans. Bill Buckner struck out swinging to end the inning. Lollar got the emergency start in the bottom of the first and Willie Randolph flied out to right to start. Don Mattingly walked on four pitches but Dave Winfield banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the second although Mike Easler flied out to center to start. Jim Rice clobbered his 20th home run of the season to put Boston on top but Rich Gedman flied out to Billy Sample. Jackie Gutierrez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                 Number 20 for Rice

The Yankees answered in the bottom of the second as Don Baylor walked to start. Ken Griffey got a line drive base hit to left to put runners at the corners and Baylor scored on the grounder to third by Sample. Andre Robertson grounded out to short and Butch Wynegar grounded out to third to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                       Yankees tie it up

Steve Lyons walked to start the top of the third but Barrett grounded into a double play. Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning. Meacham struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third but Randolph worked a walk. Mattingly forced Randolph at second and Winfield popped up to third to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Evans grounded out to third to start. Buckner grounded out to first and Easler flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning. The Yankees struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Red Sox broadcaster Bob Montgomery said Roger Clemens "couldn't get it up today." Baylor walked but Griffey flied out to left and Sample grounded back to Lollar. Baylor moved to second on the play and scored on the base hit to center by Robertson. The fans cost the Yankees a run as Wynegar hit a ball past the diving Boggs that should have scored Robertson but a fan reached over and snatched the ball. It was ruled a ground rule double and Meacham popped up to Lyons to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-1.

                                                         Yankees take the lead

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth as Rice walked to start. Gedman walked and Gutierrez dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Unfortunately Lyons struck out swinging and Barrett grounded out to short to end the inning. Randolph popped up to Evans to start the bottom of the fifth and Mattingly grounded out to second. Winfield struck out swinging to end the inning.

Boggs popped up to Griffey to start the top of the sixth before Buckner flied out to left. Easler struck out swinging to end the inning. Baylor flied out to left to start the bottom of the sixth before Griffey grounded out to first. Sample walked but Robertson struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh as Mike Pagliarulo took over at third to begin. Rice and Gedman worked back to back walks but Gutierrez popped up a bunt to Wynegar. Lyons came through with a base hit to right to load the bases. Rich Bordi came in to pitch to Barrett and Sample made a great diving catch to rob Barrett of a bases clearing double. Yankees manager Billy Martin brought in Bob Shirley to pitch to Boggs but Wade got a base hit to shallow left. Rice scored easy but Gedman was foolishly sent home only to get thrown out at the plate to end the inning. That proved costly as the Sox only tied the game 2-2.

                                                              Yerrrr out!

Things fell apart in the bottom of the seventh as the ball four pitch to Wynegar got away and Gedman panicked, throwing the ball completely out of Yankee Stadium to move Butch to second. Buckner fell down trying to catch a pop up from Meacham that dropped in for a "single" but Randolph flied out to center. Mattingly slapped a double down the right field line and both runs scored, Don taking third on the throw. That was it for Lollar who was let down by his defense but still allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Bob Stanley came in to pitch and Winfield popped up to Boggs in foul territory. Baylor popped up to second to end the inning with the Yankees up 4-2.

                                                          Mattingly puts the Yankees on top

Dave Righetti came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Evans struck out swinging to start. Buckner popped up to short but Easler lined a base hit to center. Old pal and Yankees pitching coach Bill Monbouquette came out to chat with Righetti and Rice struck out swinging to end the inning. Griffey grounded out to short to start the bottom of the eighth before Dan Pasqua pinch hit for Sample. Pasqua took strike three and Pagliarulo grounded out to first to end the inning.

Gedman popped up to center to start the top of the ninth inning and Gutierrez also flied out to center. Tony Armas pinch hit for Lyons and drilled a base hit up the middle. Ed Jurak pinch ran for Tony and Barrett drew a walk. Boggs walked to load the bases and chase Righetti. Brian Fisher came in to pitch to Evans and Dwight popped up to Winfield to end the game. The Yankees had won it 4-2.

                                                       Yankees win

Jackass of the Night is Tim Lollar. He allowed the go-ahead double by Mattingly to put the Yankees up for good in the seventh.

                                                     Lollar The Jackass

\

The Good:

Jim Rice was 1 for 2 with a home run, 2 walks and 2 total runs scored.

Steve Lyons was 1 for 2 with a walk.

Tony Armas singled as a pinch hitter.

Bob Stanley tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Bill Buckner was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Gutierrez was 0 for 3.

The Ugly:

Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4 but walked.

Wade Boggs was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.

Mike Easler was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 2 with an error but walked twice.

Honorable Mention:

Ed Jurak pinch ran for Armas in the top of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

Forget the loss, the true bad news is the injury to Clemens. Remember he was shut down at the end of last season with a bad shoulder and apparently it never healed. The Sox can't afford to lose a pitcher the caliber of Clemens with a month left in the season but shutting him down and getting proper surgery might be the right thing to do to keep him healthy for next year. Nothing has gone right this season for the Sox and today was a microcosm of that. The Sox couldn't field at all in the seventh inning which allowed the Yankees to take the lead and Gedman geting thrown out at the plate shouldn't have happened. Evans failing in the ninth inning just put a damper on what could have been a nice comeback. Lollar did the best he could on short notice but even he tired in the seventh. Want the ultimate kick in the pants? Mike Easler is hitting .263 so far this year while John Tudor is on pace to win 20 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. Why am I not surprised? The loss dropped the Sox to 57-58, good for 5th place in the AL East. The Sox look to rebound tomorrow afternoon against the Yankees when they send Bruce Hurst to the mound against Marty Bystrom of New York. The game begins at 1:00 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Guidry, Yankees Sweep Red Sox (8/11/85)

Not only did the New York Yankees sweep the Boston Red Sox out of Fenway Park but the Sox may have to shut down Roger Clemens (7-5, 3.29 ERA) for the season with a bad arm. Clemens lasted just five innings before his arm gave out and the Sox trailing 1-0. Steve Crawford came in and poured gas on the fire by allowing four runs to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile Ron Guidry of the Yankees held the Sox bats to just 1 earned run in 7 1/3 innings. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth but couldn't deliver the knockout blow to the Yankees bullpen. The Yankees swept the Sox with a 5-3 victory at Fenway Park.

                                                                   Dammit

Clemens got the ball in the top of the first and Rickey Henderson grounded out to short to start. Don Mattingly flied out to left and Dave Winfield grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Guidry got the ball in the bottom of the first and Dwight Evans led off with a base hit off the glove of Mike Pagliarulo. Wade Boggs hit into a double play and Bill Buckner launched his bat to second base by accident before popping up to short to end the inning.

Ken Griffey walked to start the top of the second before moving to second on a balk because home plate umpire Kenny Kaiser didn't want Clemens to keep throwing over to first on a sweltering day....seriously. Sox manager John McNamara came out to yell at Kaiser before going back to the dugout disgusted. Don Baylor struck out swinging on a high fastball and Griffey moved to third on a Willie Randolph grounder to second. Butch Wynegar took strike three right down the middle to end the inning.

                                             "Its too hot for this, John" - Kaiser

Jim Rice led off the bottom of the second with a pop up to Randolph to start. Tony Armas struck out swinging on a nasty slider before Mike Easler popped up to Griffey to end the inning.

Mike Pagliarulo struck out swinging to start the top of the third before Bob Meachum grounded out to second. Henderson singled off the Monster but was thrown out at second by Rice trying to stretch a double to end the inning. Marty Barrett led off the bottom of the third with a flyout to center and Jackie Gutierrez grounded out to third. Marc Sullivan struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees broke through in the top of the fourth as Mattingly ripped a base hit to center to start. Winfield grounded back to the mound but Mattingly moved to second. Griffey dumped a base hit in front of Evans and Mattingly scored to put the Yankees up for good. Baylor took a questionable strike three call on the inside corner but Griffey stole second

                                                         Yankees take the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Evans lined out to a running Griffey to start. Boggs dumped a base hit to left but Buckner grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Clemens' velocity had deteriorated by the top of the fifth although Evans made a great diving catch to rob Wynegar of extra bases. Pagliarulo and Meacham both grounded out to second to end the inning. That was it for Clemens who's shoulder gave out after allowing a run in 5 innings on 3 hits and a walk.

                                                        Bye bye Clemens

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Rice singled off the Monster to start. Armas chased a pitch way outside for strike three but Easler dumped a base hit to center. Barrett hit a bullet to third and Gutierrez flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning.

Steve Crawford came in to crap his pants in the top of the sixth although he struck out Henderson swinging to start. Mattingly singled off the Monster and Winfield tripled into the centerfield triangle to increase the lead. Griffey dumped a base hit in front of Rice....that bounced away from Jim for a "double" to score Winfield. Baylor popped up to Buckner and Randolph lined out to a running Evans to end the inning with the Yankees leading 3-0.

                                                            "Hey get back here" - Rice

The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as Sullivan walked to start. Evans missed a home run by two feet, instead doubling off the right field wall. A Sox fan then screwed the team when a fan reached into the field on a foul ball by Boggs, the umpires ruled Wade out. That proved costly as Buckner grounded out to second to score Sullivan. Rice flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 3-1.

                                                 Buckner drives in a run

Wynegar walked to start the top of the seventh but Pagliarulo flied out to center. Meacham flied out to right and Henderson grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Armas grounded out to second to start. Easler struck out swinging and Barrett flied out to center to end the inning.

The Yankees iced the game in the top of the eighth as Mattingly doubled off the Monster to start. Winfield hit a chopper to short but the ball went under Gutierrez for a "double" to score Mattingly. Griffey hit a liner off the glove of Crawford for a "single" and Baylor looked to have been robbed of a hit by a diving Evans but the umpire ruled it a trap. It became a "double" for Baylor as Winfield scored on the play to increase the lead. That was it for Crawford as Bob Stanley was brought in to pitch to Randolph and Willie hit a grounder to Gutierrez who threw home to catch Griffey in a rundown but abandoned him to instead get Baylor at second instead. Wynegar went for the suicide squeeze but only missed the bunt but Griffey was tagged out to end the inning with the Yankees up 5-1.

                                                         Yankees luck never ends

The Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Gutierrez flied out to right to start. Rich Gedman pinch hit for Sullivan and reached on an error by Pagliarulo to start. Evans doubled just over the head of Henderson in center and Boggs dumped an opposite field single to left to score Gedman. That was it for Guidry as Yankees manager Billy Martin brought in Bob Shirley to pitch to Buckner. Bill flied out to the centerfield wall to score Evams and bring the tying run to the plate. Martin brought in Bill Fisher to pitch to Rice who represented the tying run. Rice grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox down 5-3.

                                                               Evans scores a run

Stanley returned for the top of the ninth and Pagliarulo grounded out to short to start. Meacham foolishly tried to bunt with two strikes and fouled it off for strike three but Henderson walked. Mattingly hit a rocket to Buckner to end the inning. Fisher returned for the bottom of the ninth and Armas flied out to Winfield to start. Easler struck out swinging and Barrett also went down hacking to end the game. The Yankees completed the sweep with a 5-3 win.

                                                                Yankees win

Jackass of the Night is Steve Crawford. He allowed 4 runs in just two innings to put the game out of reach.

                                                Jackass should have stayed in the bullpen

The Good:

Dwight Evans was 3 for 4 with a run scored.

Wade Boggs was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Marc Sullivan walked and scored a run in two plate appearances.

Rich Gedman scored a run as a pinch hitter.

Bob Stanley tossed two scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Tony Armas was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Marty Barrett was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jackie Gutierrez was 0 for 3.

The Ugly:

Bill Buckner was 0 for 3 but drove in 2 runs.

Jim Rice was just 1 for 4.

Mike Easler was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Roger Clemens took the loss and lasted just 5 innings while allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk while striking out four.

Final Thoughts:

If Clemens is gone for the season with a bad shoulder, that's it for the Sox in terms of going after the AL East this year. They're already way behind the Toronto Blue Jays and without their best pitcher, its too much of a hill to overcome. Ironically the Sox traded John Tudor before the 1984 season for Mike Easler and Tudor has won 14 games for the St. Louis Cardinals so far this season. The offense could have been a lot better this season but regressed. The trio of Bruce Hurst, Al Nipper and Bob Ojeda failed to deliver a big season and Oil Can Boyd has been mush since the All-Star break. Without Clemens, you can pretty much say goodbye to this season. Losing to the Yankees always sucks, especially since they're nowhere near the team they were in 1981. The loss dropped the Sox to 56-53, 13 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow when they welcome in the Kansas City Royals. Al Nipper (7-7) goes for the Sox against Mark Gubicza of Kansas City. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.