Higuera got the ball in the top of the first and Wade Boggs dropped a base hit to right to start. Marty Barrett popped up to second, Bill Buckner popped up to third in foul territory and Jim Rice was rung up for strike three to end the inning. The Brewers got to Stanley instantly in the bottom of the first as Paul Molitor tripled to right and Robin Yount lined a base hit to center to put Milwaukee up for good 2 batters into the game. Glen Braggs banged into a double play but Greg Brock walked. Billy Jo Robidoux grounded out to second to end the inning with Milwaukee ahead 1-0.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second as Don Baylor popped up to first to start. Dwight Evans doubled into the left field gap but Dave Henderson hit one up the elevator shaft. Marc Sullivan took strike three to end the inning. The Brewers threatened in the bottom of the second as Rob Deer beat out an infield single back to Stanley to start. Bill Schroeder banged into a double play but Jim Gantner singled to left. Dale Sveum singled Gantner to third but Molitor grounded out to short to end the inning.
Spike Owen led off the top of the third with a grounder to short before Boggs also grounded out to short. Barrett grounded out to third to end the inning. Stanley matched Higuera in the bottom of the third as Yount flied out to left to start. Braggs grounded out to second and Brock also grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Buckner dropped a base hit to center to start. Rice doubled into the right field corner but the slow footed Buckner was thrown out at home. Baylor walked but Evans flied out to center. Henderson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Stanley cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Robidoux lined out to Owen to start. Deer flied out to right and Schroeder grounded out to short to end the inning.
Sullivan tried to start a rally with a seeing eye single to left to start the top of the fifth. Owen then bunted too hard to first and it turned into a double play. Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning. Stanley ran out of gas in the bottom of the fifth as Gantner singled to left to start. Sveum advanced Gantner to second with a grounder to Barrett and Molitor popped up to right. Yount doubled home Gantner and Braggs singled past Owen to score Yount. Brock singled off the glove of Buckner to put runners at the corners and that was it for Stanley. He battled for 4 innings but ran out of gas in the fifth, allowing 3 runs. Steve Crawford came in and got Robidoux to ground into a force to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 3-0.
Higuera cruised in the top of the sixth as Barrett grounded out to short to start. Buckner popped up to third and Rice struck out swinging to end the inning. The Brewers iced it in the bottom of the sixth although Deer took strike three to start. Schroeder doubled to the left field wall and Gantner singled up the middle to score him. Sveum struck out swinging but Molitor doubled to right to score Gantner. Yount struck out swinging to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 5-1.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the seventh as Baylor flied out to the left field warning track to start. Evans singled to center and Henderson walked before both runners moved over on the Sullivan grounder to first. Owen grounded out to short to end the inning. Crawford got Braggs to ground out to third to start the bottom of the seventh and Brock struck out swinging. Robidoux struck out swinging to end the inning.
Old buddy Mark Clear came in to pitch the top of the eighth with Rick Manning in left and Juan Castillo at second. Boggs grounded out to first, Barrett lined out to Clear and Buckner grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Crawford returned for the bottom of the eighth and Deer struck out swinging to start. Schroeder lined out to center and Manning lined out to second to end the inning.
Dan Plesac came in for the top of the ninth and the Sox finally rallied. Rice grounded out to second but Baylor lined a base hit off the glove of Sveum. Evans walked and Henderson hit a double play ball to third. Evans was out at second but Castillo threw the ball away to allow Henderson to score. Sullivan lined out to center to end the game. The Brewers had won it 5-1.
Jackass of the Night is Steve Crawford. He turned a 3-0 game into 5-0 to put the game out of reach.
The Good:
Don Baylor was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Dwight Evans was 2 for 3 with a walk.
The Bad:
Marty Barrett was 0 for 4.
Spike Owen was 0 for 3.
Bob Stanley took the loss by allowing 3 runs in just 4 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was just 1 for 4.
Bill Buckner was just 1 for 4.
Jim Rice was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Dave Henderson was 0 for 3 but walked.
Marc Sullivan was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
Not much you can do when you have a relief pitcher start Opening Day for you. With Oil Can Boyd and Roger Clemens both on the shelf, it would have made more sense to start Bruce Hurst or Al Nipper but that would have made too much sense for John McNamara. Stanley did well through four innings but ran out of gas in the fifth. The problem was the Sox bats did nothing all game and Buckner getting thrown out at the plate was the only realistic chance the Sox had to score until the ninth inning. Crawford could have made the final score a lot better but the Sox had no chance to win this one. The Sox lost Opening Day last year and look how that season turned out.....wait a minute, disregard that comment. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox are back in action Wednesday night against the Brewers when Al Nipper makes his season debut opposite Bill Wegman of the Brewers. The game begins at 7:05 PM Eastern time at County Stadium.
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