As this dreary season trudges on, the Boston Red Sox are looking for some signs of good prospects for the future. Today Jeff Sellers (5-6, 6.24 ERA) can stick a feather in his cap saying he beat the legendary Steve Carlton. The Twins big deadline acquisition took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth when the Sox exploded for a rally. Don Baylor hit a grand slam off Carlton and Dwight Evans followed with his 29th homer of the year off Juan Berenguer. Sellers hung in there until the eighth inning and Wes Gardner slammed the door in the ninth. The Sox aren't going anywhere this season but at least Sellers can say he beat Carlton with the 6-4 victory over the Twins at Fenway Park
Sellers got the ball in the top of the first inning and Dan Gladden struck out swinging to start. Greg Gagne grounded out to short but Kirby Puckett doubled to center and Kent Hrbek flied out to center to end the inning. Carlton got the ball in the bottom of the first and Ellis Burks grounded out to short to start. Marty Barrett lined out to right and Wade Boggs' bunt attempt was snuffed out by Carlton to end the inning.
The O's tagged Sellers in the top of the second as Gary Gaetti and Roy Smalley stuck back to back home runs to give the O's the lead. Tom Brunansky struck out swinging, Steve Lombardozzi grounded back to the mound and Sal Butera flied out center to end the inning with the Twins up 2-0.
Don Baylor led off the bottom of the second by getting plunked. Baylor slid in safely at second on the grounder to short by Dwight Evans and moved to third on the grounder to first by Mike Greenwell. Dave Henderson grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Twins struck again in the top of the third as Gladden grounded out to second to start. Gagne singled to right but Puckett struck out swinging. Hrbek then hit a home run all the way to the Taj Mahal to increase the lead. Gaetti grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Twins ahead 4-0.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as Spike Owen popped up to a running Puckett to start. Marc Sullivan slapped a single to right but Burks was frozen on a looping curve for strike three. Barrett lining out to Brunansky to end the inning.
Sellers got Smalley to fly out to left to start the top of the fourth but Brunansky singled to left. Brunansky was caught stealing second and Lombardozzi flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Boggs lashed a base hit to right to start. Baylor struck a base hit to left but Evans was rung up for strike three. Evans went berserk and had to be restrained from attacking the umpires by Baylor and Sox manager Joe Morgan. When play resumed Greenwell walked to load the bases and Henderson walked home Baylor to put the Sox on the board. Owen banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 4-1.
Evans goes berserk!
Sellers turned up the heat in the top of the fifth as Butera struck out swinging to start. Gladden whiffed and Gagne went down hacking to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the fifth although Sullivan grounded out to short to start. Burks caught the Twins asleep with a bunt single to first and moved to second on a balk. Barrett singled Burks to third and Boggs walked to load the bases. Baylor responded with a grand slam into the left field screen to give the Sox the lead. That was it for Carlton and Juan Berenguer replaced the ancient lefty. Evans responded by clocking his 29th home run of the season to increase the lead. Greenwell walked but was doubled off of first on the line drive to short by Henderson to end the inning. The Sox turned a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 lead.
Sellers cruised in the top of the sixth as Puckett struck out swinging to start. Hrbek grounded out to second and Gaetti hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. Owen lined out to left to begin the bottom of the sixth and Sullivan took strike three. Burks walked but Barrett flied out to right to end the inning.
Smalley grounded out to second to start the top of the seventh but Brunansky walked and took second on a passed ball. Lomardozzi struck out swinging and Randy Bush pinch hit for Butera. Bush struck out swinging to end the inning. Tim Laudner took over behind the plate for the bottom of the seventh as Boggs grounded out to short to start. Batlor and Evans both lined out to left to end the inning.
Sellers returned briefly in the top of the eighth just to strike out Gladden looking. Apart from the home runs, Sellers was downright dominant by striking out 10 batters. Wes Gardner came in and Gagne struck out swinging but Puckett doubled to right. Hrbek flied out to center to end the inning.
Greenwell grounded out to second to start the bottom of the eight and Henderson struck out swinging. For some reason Twins manager Tom Kelly brought in Jeff Reardon to pitch to Owen. Owen grounded out to first to end the inning.
Gardner came in to pitch the top of the ninth and got Gaetti to ground out to second to start. Smalley walked but Brunansky banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-4.
Hero of the Night is Don Baylor. His grand slam turned the game around and led the Sox to victory
The Good:
Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Mike Greenwell walked twice in four plate appearances.
Marc Sullivan was 1 for 3.
Wes Gardner earned his 6th save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Spike Owen was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Dave Henderson was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in run.
Jeff Sellers got the win but allowed 4 runs in 7 1/3 innings. He allowed 6 hits and struck out 10.
Final Thoughts:
Not much to cheer about this season but that grand slam will be one for the highlight reel. Sellers pitched a good game even if he was allowing home runs left and right. Evans' quest for 40 home runs at age 35 continues. If only the rest of the offense carried over from last season....or the pitching for that matter. Gardner finally looked good and if the Sox expect him to be closer of the future, today was one of those days that showed promise. Beating up Carlton was good to see even if he's at the end of the line. As we head toward the end of August, the only hope for the season is to hopefully finish about .500. The win improved the Sox to 60-63 on the season, 13.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL East. Carlton Fisk and the Chicago White Sox come to town next and tomorrow night Bruce Hurst (14-7) looks to quell the uprising. Jose DeLeon goes for the White Sox and the game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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