Hurst got the ball in the top of the first and Wade Boggs led off with a base hit to left but Marty Barrett popped up to left. Ellis Burks flied out to right but Dwight Evans reached on a throwing error by Rafael Santana. Mike Greenwell popped up to third to end the inning. The Yankees got to Hurst quickly in the bottom of the first as Rickey Henderson walked to start. Willie Randolph dropped down the perfect bunt down the third base line for a single. Jay Buhner got a base hit to left to score Henderson to put New York on top. Jack Clark dumped a base hit to left to score Randolph with another run. Hurst got a huge out when Dave Winfield hit into a double play then Gary Ward struck out swinging with the Yankees up 2-0.
Jim Rice struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Rich Gedman grounded out to first and Pat Dodson got a base hit to center. Spike Owen walked and Boggs lined out to second to end the inning. Mike Pagliarulo grounded out to second to start the bottom of the second before Rafael Santana flied out to center. Joel Skinner took strike three to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the third as Barrett poked a single to left to start. Burks doubled to the left field wall but Evans popped up to second. Greenwell doubled down the first base line to score both runners to tie the game. Rice grounded out to first to move Mike to third and Gedman hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Burks made a great diving catch to rob Henderson of a hit to start the bottom of the third. Randolph took strike three and Buhner struck out swinging to end the inning.
Dodson grounded out to first to start the top of the fourth but Owen beat out a chopper over the mound. Boggs singled to center but Owen was thrown out at third. Barrett flied out to left to end the inning. Clark struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth before Winfield flied out to center. Ward grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth as Burks lined out to second to start. Evans flied out to center but Greenwell crushed his seventh home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Rice grounded out to third to end the inning with Boston ahead 3-2.
Pagliarulo flied out to left to start the bottom of the fifth but Santana got a base hit to center. Skinner forced Santana at second and Henderson forced Skinner at second to end the inning.
Hipolito Pena came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Gedman walked to start. Dodson struck out swinging and Owen grounded into a double play to end the inning. Randolph grounded out to third to start the bottom of the sixth before Buhner did the same. Clark walked and Winfield lined a base hit into right field off the glove of Dodson. Clark moved to third on the play but Ward grounded out to third to end the inning.
Boggs grounded out to second to start the top of the seventh but Barrett doubled down the left field line to chase Pichardo. Cecilio Guante took over on the mound and Burks struck out swinging. Evans grounded out to short to end the inning. Hurst struck out Pagliarulo swinging to start the bottom of the seventh before Santana grounded out to short. Skinner grounded out to short as well to end the inning.
Greenwell flied out to left to start the top of the eighth before Rice popped up to third. Gedman flied out to left to end the inning. Kevin Romine took over for Rice to start the bottom of the eighth and Henderson flied out to center to start. Randolph and Buhner both grounded out to short to end the inning. Hurst was outstanding, tossing 8 innings and allowed just 2 runs off 5 hits and 2 walks.
Way to go Hurst
Dave Righetti came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Dodson grounded out to first to start. Owen flied out to right but Boggs walked. Barrett forced Boggs at second to end the inning. Lee Smith came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Clark walked to start. Winfield singled off the gloves of both Smith and Barrett and Claudell Washington pinch hit for Ward. Washington struck out swinging and Pagliarulo moved Clark to third with a fly out to center. Jose Cruz pinch hit for Santana and forced Winfield at second to end the game. The Sox snapped their four game losing streak with a 3-2 win.
Sox win
Hero Greenwell
Hero of the Night is Mike Greenwell. He drove in all three runs himself including the go-ahead home run.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 2 for 4 with a walk.
Marty Barrett was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Spike Owen was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Bruce Hurst got the win with 8 outstanding innings allowing 2 runs off 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out six.
Lee Smith earned his 7th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Dwight Evans was 0 for 4.
Jim Rice was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Rich Gedman was 0 for 3 but walked.
Pat Dodson was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Honorable Mention:
Kevin Romine played left field in the final two innings.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox needed that win as they lost four in a row previously. Hurst was the stopper in this one hurling 8 strong innings of 2 run ball. Mike Greenwell was a one man wrecking crew at the plate and he drove in all three runs. Lee Smith nailed down the save and three of those guys were the heroes of this one. Boggs and Barrett got a couple of hits too and Burks played great defense in the outfield. Its a shame the Sox can't get any kind of consistency this season because the talent on the team is too good not to produce every day. Still, instead of squawking about the games they don't win, they should enjoy this one because it was well earned. The win improved the Sox to 26-26, 8 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against New York when Oil Can Boyd (5-4) takes on Charles Hudson of the Yankees. The game begins at 7:35 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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