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