Clemens, Sox Down Orioles (6/21/86)

The Boston Red Sox are in a bit of a pickle after losing not only Bruce Hurst, Sammy Stewart and Al Nipper in the span of a month but Mike Brown took a line drive off the arm last night to add him to the growing injury list. Needing a big win after last night's disaster, Roger Clemens (13-0, 2.18 ERA) continued his dominating season with an 8 inning gem against the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox blasted O's starter Ken Dixon for 4 first inning runs to set the tone and got a sac fly by Rich Gedman in the fourth to pretty much ice the game. Without Wade Boggs, who is still grieving the death of his mother, the Sox got another two runs off the Orioles bullpen in the eighth and Bob Stanley slammed the door in the ninth to give Boston a 7-3 victory over Baltimore at Fenway Park.

                                                        So far its been true

Clemens got the ball in the top of the first and Tom O'Malley took strike three on the outside corner to start. Juan Beniquez whiffed on a 95 mph fastball and Jim Dwyer flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox blitzed Ken Dixon in the bottom of the first as Marty Barrett led off by striking out swinging. Ed Romero hit one under the glove of Dixon and beat out the throw to first for a "single." Bill Buckner slapped a base hit to right to move Romero to third but Jim Rice popped up to Juan Bonilla in foul territory. Don Baylor swung and missed for strike three....but the ball got away from catcher Rick Dempsey. Romero scored and Baylor was safe at first. Evans made Dixon play by clubbing his 8th home run of the season into the screen in left to increase the lead. Tony Armas struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston ahead 4-0.

                                                          Evans hits a three run bomb

The Orioles beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the second as Eddie Murray grounded out to second to begin. Cal Ripken Jr grounded out to short and Larry Sheets hit a comebacker to Clemens who threw to first to end the inning. NBC posted a graphic of everyone on the Disabled List for the Sox with Bruce Hurst pulling a groin on June 1st, Al Nipper was spiked by Larry Parrish on May 19th, Sammy Stewart pulled a muscle in his forearm the same game Hurst got hurt, Wes Gardner got hurt in Spring Training and Glenn Hoffman has a cardiac issue. Rich Gedman led off by striking out swinging before Rey Quinones flied out to center. Barrett popped up to right field to end the inning.

Mike Young flied out to a running Armas to start the top of the third before Bonilla singled in the hole at second. Dempsey struck out swinging and O'Malley grounded out to third to end the inning. Barrett flied out to right to start the bottom of the third before Buckner also flied out to right. Rice completed the trifecta with a fly out to right to end the inning.

The O's struck back in the top of the fourth as Beniquez walked to start. Dwyer dumped a base hit to right to move Juan to third but Murray lined out to Quinones. Ripken hit a seeing eye single through the hole at short to score Beniquez. Sheets slapped a base hit to right to load the bases but Young took strike three. Bonilla grounded into a force to end the inning with the O's down 4-1.

                                                          O's get a run back

The Sox answered in the top of the fifth as Baylor walked to start. Evans struck out swinging but Armas walked on a pitch that got away which allowed Don to reach third. Gedman hit a sac fly to left to score Baylor to increase the lead, but Quinones popped up to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.

                                                          Baylor scores a run

Dempsey popped up to second to start the top of the fifth before O'Malley grounded out to second. Beniquez also popped up to second to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Barrett popped up to Murray to start. Romero popped up to short and Buckner flied out to left to end the inning.

Dwyer led off the top of the sixth with a fly out to center but Quinones threw high of first on a grounder hit by Murray for an error. A wild pitch moved Murray to second but Ripken popped up to Buckner in foul territory. Sheets struck out swinging to end the inning. Rice led off the bottom of the sixth with a pop up to center and Baylor hit one up the elevator shaft. Dixon threw over the head of Evans and Dwight took a dim view of that, pointing at him and having to be restrained by the umpires. When cooler heads prevailed, Evans hit a seeing eye single into left field. Armas struck out swinging to end the inning.

                                               "I've had it up to HERE with Dixon" - Evans

The O's got another run in the top of the seventh as Young grounded out to first to start. Bonilla beat out an infield single to short but Dempsey struck out swinging. O'Malley walked and Beniquez dumped a base hit to center to score Bonilla. Dwyer popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.

                                                           Old pal Beniquez

Gedman walked to start the bottom of the seventh and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Quinones. Barrett popped up to left. Romero grounded out to short to end the inning.

Clemens returned for one last inning in the top of the eighth with Steve Lyons now playing centerfield. Murray led off with a walk but Ripken flied out to right. Murray moved to second on the grounder to Buckner by Sheets and Buckner robbed a hit from Young with a great stab & throw to Clemens to end the inning. Roger was outstanding, going 8 strong innings while allowing 2 runs while striking out six batters.

                                                        Clemens goes above and beyond

The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the eighth as Buckner hit a pop up that Young lost in the sun. It hit off the glove of Young for a "double" and Buckner moved to third on the fly out to the centerfield triangle by Rice. Baylor hit a foul ball about 500 feet just foul and O's manager Earl Weaver decided to pull the plug on Dixon before the next pitch was hit that far but fair. Nate Snell came in and immediately plunked Baylor before Evans singled to center to score Buckner, moving Baylor to third. That was it for Snell and Weaver brought in Brad Havens to pitch to Lyons. Steve scored Baylor with a sac fly to center and Evans promptly stole second. Gedman grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-2.

                                                            Baylor scores the final run

Bob Stanley came in to close out the top of the ninth and Bonilla grounded out to short to start. Al Pardo pinch hit for Dempsey and grounded out to short as well. Tom O'Malley grounded out to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-2.

                                                                   Sox win

Hero of the Night is Roger Clemens. He tossed 8 innings of 2 run ball allowing 6 hits while walking three. He also struck out six batters.

                                                              Hero Rocket

The Good:

Bill Buckner was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

Don Baylor walked, was hit with a pitch and scored 3 runs.

Dwight Evans was 3 for 4 with a three run blast and 4 total rbis.

Steve Lyons drove in a run in his only at-bat.

Bob Stanley pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Marty Barrett was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jim Rice was 0 for 4.

Rey Quinones was 0 for 2.

The Ugly:

Ed Romero was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Tony Armas was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but drew a walk.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 2 but walked and drove in a run.

Final Thoughts:

Clemens continues to be the odds-on favorite for the American League Cy Young and another great performance keeps them well ahead in first place in the AL East. This was also a big win with Wade Boggs still out on bereavement and with the rotation shaky due to injuries & ineffectiveness. Still, good news is on the horizon with Bruce Hurst and Al Nipper due to return soon and Clemens is out of this world. It would be nice for Rice's power to return and Evans & Baylor to get their averages up but not everything will be perfect. The Sox need Hurst back to keep up this momentum but they've had a great start to this season as we're only a few weeks before the All-Star game. The win improved the Sox to 44-22, 6 games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the Orioles tomorrow afternoon when Jeff Sellers (0-2) goes up against Storm Davis of Baltimore. The game begins at 1:00 PM at Fenway Park.

Clemens, Sox Bash Yankees (6/16/86)

Oh the New York Yankees have stepped in it now. Recently the Yankees made the statement that the Boston Red Sox have been "playing over their heads" so far this season and tonight the Sox went in their own building and dominated. Roger Clemens (12-0, 2.17 ERA) tossed a complete game 4 hitter and surrendered just one run to hold the Yankees offense in check. Meanwhile the Sox bats pounded the aging Ron Guidry and his replacement Ed Whitson into submission. The offense was a balanced attack with Jim Rice leading the charge with four rbis. Rookie Rey Quinones got 3 hits and 2 rbis as well as the Sox made a statement by playing "over their heads" again by beating the Yankees 10-1 at Yankee Stadium.

                                                  Christine Richters approves of the win

The Sox wasted no time getting to Guidry in the top of the first inning as Marty Barrett lined a base hit up the middle to start. Ed Romero drew a walk and Bill Buckner moved both runners over with a grounder to second. Jim Rice singled up the middle to score Barrett and Romero to put Boston on top. Don Baylor got a base hit to center but Dwight Evans flied out to right. Tony Armas ripped a base hit to left and Rice beat Ken Griffey's throw home to increase the lead. Gedman grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                      Rice slides in safe and just sits there

Clemens got the ball in the bottom of the first and Rickey Henderson led off by taking strike three to start. Don Mattingly grounded out to first and Dave Winfield grounded out to short to end the inning.

Rey Quinones led off the top of the second by flying out to the left field warning track and Barrett grounded out to third. Romero also flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning. The Yankees struck back in the bottom of the second as old friend Mike Easler hit one passed the diving Barrett for a single to start. Griffey hit into a double play but Mike Pagliarulo doubled to left. Ron Hassey hit a ground rule double down the left field line to score Pagliarulo but Willie Randolph flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees down 3-1.

                                                 Yankees get a run back

The Sox struck again in the top of the third as Buckner walked to start. Buckner stole second and Rice slashed a base hit to left to score Buckner with another run. Yankees manager Lou Piniella pulled the plug on Guidry after getting just 6 outs and replaced him with Ed Whitson. Don Baylor ripped a base hit to center but Rice was thrown out at third. Evans struck out swinging but Armas sliced a base hit past Randolph who fell down to score Baylor with another run. Gedman walked but Quinones forced Armas at third to end the inning with the Sox up 5-1.

                                                        Buckner scores a run

Ivan de Jesus led off the bottom of the third and grounded out to first to start. Henderson popped up to Buckner in foul territory and Mattingly popped up to right to end the inning.

The Sox kept attacking in the top of the fourth as Barrett doubled to right to start. Romero popped up his bunt to Mattingly but Buckner doubled over the head of Henderson to score Barrett. Rice singled up the middle to score Buckner and ice the game, but Baylor forced Jim at second. Evans struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-1.

                                                  "We suck tonight!" - Lou Piniella

Winfield struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth but Easler singled to right. Suddenly home plate umpire Don Denkinger started barking at Clemens. Sox manager John McNamara sprinted out of the dugout to ask what's going on and apparently Clemens had a chain around his neck that was distracting. Clemens responded by getting Griffey to ground into a double play to end the inning.

                                       "Get the hell away from my pitcher" - Johnny Mac

The Sox got another run in the top of the fifth as Armas tripled into the gap in center to start. Gedman grounded out to first but Quinones tripled into the gap in left to score Tony. Barrett grounded out to third and Romero flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-1.

                                                        Big triple for Quinones

Clemens cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Pagliarulo grounded back to the mound to start. Hassey grounded out to second and Randolph was frozen for strike three to end the inning.

Buckner grounded back to the mound to start the top of the sixth before Rice grounded out to third. Baylor got a base hit to right but Evans popped up to center to end the inning. de Jesus flied out to right to start the bottom of the sixth before Evans made a jumping catch at the right field wall to rob Henderson of a double. Mattingly hit a grounder off of Buckner who flipped it to Clemens.....who dropped it for an error. Winfield popped up to Barrett to end the inning.

                                                          Big whoops from Roger

Armas lined out to short to start the top of the seventh before Gedman grounded out to second. Quinones caught the Yankees asleep with a bunt single to third and some idiot threw a smokebomb on the field. Yankees broadcaster Phil Ruzzuto said it was the third one in the game. Barrett lined out to Winfield to end the inning.

                                                        Yankee security isn't worth a damn

Steve Lyons took over for Armas to start the bottom of the seventh and Easler grounded out to first to start. Griffey grounded out to first and Pagliarulo flied out to center to end the inning.

Gary Roenicke took over in center to start the top of the eighth and Romero singled to right to begin. Buckner banged into a double play and Rice flied out to the centerfield wall for a 400 foot out to end the inning. Hassey flied out to Rice to start the bottom of the eighth before Randolph grounded out to third. Dan Pasqua pinch hit for de Jesus and took strike three to end the inning.

Dale Berra took over at short for the top of the ninth and Baylor flied out to center to start. Evans was robbed of a hit by a diving Randolph but Lyons walked. Gedman drew a walk and Quinones dumped a base hit to right to score a sliding Lyons. Barrett hit a routine grounder to second and Randolph threw the ball away allowing Gedman to score and Quinones to reach third. Romero grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 10-1.

                                                       Lyons scores a run

Clemens came back to finish his work in the bottom of the ninth and Roenicke grounded out to short to start. Mattingly flied out to the right field wall and Winfield popped up to Rice to end the game. Clemens went the distance and the Sox had buried the Yankees 10-1.

                                                   Dominating effort by Roger

Hero of the Night is Roger Clemens. He tossed a complete game 4 hitter, allowing just 1 run while striking out 4 batters

                                                       Roger Hero

The Good:

Marty Barrett was 2 for 6 with 2 runs scored.

Jim Rice was 3 for 5 with 4 rbis and a run scored.

Don Baylor was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Tony Armas was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Steve Lyons walked and scored a run.

Rey Quinones was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis.

The Bad:

Dwight Evans was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

The Ugly:

Ed Romero was just 1 for 5 but walked and scored a run.

Bill Buckner was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run and scored two runs.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

So much for the Sox playing over their heads. Clemens had the best quote "If we're playing over our heads I don't know what THEY'RE doing." What they're doing is losing, that's what. The Sox made a statement tonight not just by beating the Yankees but by dominating as well. Scoring 10 runs on 16 hits with Clemens pitching one of his better games of the season was an all around effort. With Wade Boggs out, the speed of Quinones and the bat of Barrett has been huge at the top of the order to set the table for Evans, Rice and Baylor. The only thing missing from this team are the home runs but as long as they're driving in runs, doesn't matter how far the balls are hit. With Bruce Hurst and Al Nipper out. the other starters and the younger pitchers need to step up in their absence. Clemens did his part tonight but let's see what happens in the next game. The win improved the Sox to 41-21, 4.5 games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Rob Woodward gets the start for Boston against Joe Niekro of the Yankees. The game begins at 7:30 PM at Yankee Stadium.

Sox Sweep Indians (6/4/86)

As the song says, "The kids are alright." Smarting from the losses of Glenn Hoffman and Bruce Hurst, tonight the Boston Red Sox turned to the kids to bail them out to win tonight's game against the Cleveland Indians. Rob Woodward (1-1, 3.45 ERA) stepped up big to toss 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball. Rey Quinones hit his first career home run and the Sox held on to sweep the Cleveland Indians. The win was Boston's 5th in a row and they dispatched Cleveland 6-4 at Fenway Park.

                                                       Sam Vincent approves of the win

Woodward took the mound in the top of the first inning and Brett Butler grounded out to short to start. Julio Franco doubled to center and moved to third on the Joe Carter grounder to short. Andre Thornton struck out to end the inning. 47 year old Phil Niekro took the mound in the bottom of the first and Marty Barrett grounded back to the mound to begin. Wade Boggs singled to center but Bill Buckner flied out to right. Jim Rice struck out to end the inning.

Mel Hall lined out to left to begin the top of the second but Tony Bernazard singled. Pat Tabler banged into a double play to end the inning. Don Baylor was plunked to open the bottom of the second but was erased on the Rich Gedman force. Gedman was erased on the Dwight Evans force before Steve Lyons whiffed to end the inning.

Brook Jacoby flied out to right to start the top of the third before Chris Bando grounded out to second. Butler singled to center but the alert Gedman gunned him down trying to steal second to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the third as Rey Quinones walked to start. Barrett lined out to right but Boggs doubled Rey to third. Buckner grounded out to short but Quinones scored to put the Sox on top. Rice doubled home Boggs to increase the lead and Baylor singled Jim to third. Gedman popped up to second to end the inning but the Sox were up 2-0.

                                                         Rice puts the Sox up by 2

The Indians wasted no time tying the game in the top of the fourth as Franco and Carter stroked back to back singles to put runners at the corners. Thornton scored Franco with a sac fly and Hall doubled home Carter to tie the game. Bernazard lined out to left and Tabler grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Evans singled to center to begin. Lyons popped up to short but Quinones crushed his first career home run to give Boston the lead back. Barrett and Boggs both struck out to end the inning but it was 4-2 Sox.

                                                    The rookie comes through

Woodward ran into trouble in the top of the fifth although both Jacoby and Bando flied out to left to begin. Butler singled to left, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before Franco walked. Carter flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Buckner grounded out to first to start. Rice struck out and Baylor flied out to center to end the inning.

The Indians got one back in the top of the sixth although Thornton popped up to third to begin. Hall singled and Bernazard doubled him home to cut the lead. Tabler grounded back to the mound and Jacoby grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 4-3 Sox.

Niekro got Gedman to pop up to third to open the bottom of the seventh but Evans drew a walk. Lyons flied out to center and Quinones grounded out to third to end the inning.

Sox manager John McNamara rolled the dice by bringing Woodward out for the top of the seventh and that almost backfired when Bando singled. Bando tried for second but was thrown out trying to stretch but Butler singled to chase Woodward. That was it for the rookie as Steve Crawford was summoned to stop the bleeding. Woodward tossed a gutty game of 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball.

                                                          Not great but it'll do

Crawford got Franco to pop up to third and Carter flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox got some insurance in the bottom of the seventh although Barrett struck out to start. Boggs lined out to left but Buckner cracked his 5th home run of the season to increase the lead. Rice popped up to second to end the inning but it was 5-3 Sox.

                                                                    Buckner goes yard

Crawford returned for the top of the eighth inning and Thornton grounded back to the mound to start. Hall singled to left but Bernazard popped up to third. Tabler grounded into a force to end the inning. Baylor pounded his 13th home run of the year to increase the lead to start the bottom of the eighth. Gedman grounded out to first, Evans grounded out to second and Lyons flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.

                                                                 Baylor hits one out

Crawford returned for the top of the ninth but Jacoby blooped a single to right. Bando flied out to center and for some reason McNamara refused to let Crawford finish the job. Bob Stanley was brought in and Jacoby was erased on the force by Butler. Franco doubled to center to score Butler and bring the tying run to the plate. Carter grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had swept Cleveland and had won the game 6-4.

Hero of the Night is Rey Quinones. The rookie's first homer of the year gave the Sox the lead they would not give up.

                                                              Rey the hero



The Good:

Wade Boggs was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Don Baylor was 2 for 3 with a solo home run.

Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Rob Woodward earned his first win of the season by tossing 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 10 hits and 2 walks.



The Bad:

Marty Barrett was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 4.

Steve Lyons was 0 for 4.



The Ugly:

Bill Buckner was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs, one of which was a solo home run.

Jim Rice was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Steve Crawford allowed a run in 2 innings of work.

Bob Stanley earned his 9th save but allowed an inherited runner to score.




Final Thoughts:

Who are these Red Sox? For the first time in 8 years the Sox look legitimate good. The rotation has been solid (until Bruce Hurst went down anyway) and the offense picked it up the last two months. With the injury to Hoffman and Ed Romero struggling at the plate, maybe Quinones is the answer at shortstop. If he can hit above .250 that could be a huge boost. Speaking of boosts, Woodward going 6 1/3 was big considering the Sox are a little short on starters with Al Nipper and Hurst out. All in all it was a good win and the Sox need to keep on chugging. The win improved the Sox to 36-15, 4.5 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox travel to Milwaukee for a showdown with the Brewers. Jeff Sellers goes for the Sox opposite Bill Wegman at 7:00 PM at County Stadium.