The Angels struck first in the top of the first inning against Hetzel as Claudell Washington led off with with a walk. Washington stole second but Bobby Rose struck out swinging. Washington stole third and scored on the Chili Davis sac fly. Wally Joyner walked but Brian Downing grounded out to short to end the inning with the Angels up 1-0.
The Sox attacked the Angels in the bottom of the first for the second straight game. Angels starter Dan Petry allowed a leadoff single to Wade Boggs but Jody Reed lined out to left. Ellis Burks got a base hit and Mike Greenwell doubled home both men to give the Sox the lead. Greenwell moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on the Nick Esasky single. Danny Heep flied out to center but Evans doubled Nick to third. Luis Rivera whiffed to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 3-1.
Old pal Tony Armas led off the top of the second by flying out to center before Bill Schroeder flied out to left. Jack Howell singled to right and old friend Glenn Hoffman lined out to center to end the inning.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the second inning as Rick Cerone grounded out to second to start. Wade Boggs grounded out to short before Reed grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Angels came back in the top of the third inning as Washington singled to right to start. Rose whiffed but Washington took second on a balk. Davis flied out to center but Joyner singled home Washington. A wild pitch moved Joyner to second before Downing walk. ANOTHER wild pitch moved the runners over but Armas flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 3-2.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third as Burks lined out to center to start. Greenwell singled to right but Esasky popped up to second. Greenwell swiped second before Heep lined out to second to end the inning.
Schroeder singled to left to start the top of the fourth but Howell struck out swinging. Reed booted a ball to allow Hoffman to reach but Washington whiffed. Rose popped up to first to end the inning.
The Sox exploded in the bottom of the fourth inning as Evans walked to start. Rivera flied out to right but Cerone walked. Boggs singled to left to load the bases and Willie Fraser poured gas on the fire for the Angels. Reed singled home Evans and reload the bases then Burks singled home Cerone and Boggs. Greenwell was intentionally walked and Esasky walked in a run to reload the bases. A wild pitch scored Burks and moved everyone up and Heep got a base hit to drive home Greenwell and Esasky. Greenwell took second on a wild pitch as Evans singled to center to bat around. Rivera singled home Heep and move Evans to third and Dwight scored on the Cerone ground out. Boggs beat out an infield single to second and Reed was plunked to load the bases again. Burks lined out to right to end the inning but the Sox scored 9 runs to take a 12-2 lead.
The Angels refused to go quietly in the top of the fifth and Davis singled to center to start. Joyner whiffed but Downing walked. Armas gave his former club the bird when he swatted a three run home run to chase the ineffective Hetzel, Eric failed to last 5 innings and gave up 5 runs. Bob Stanley came in and Schroeder grounded out to third to begin. Howell lined out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 12-5.
Bob McClure came in for the bottom of the fifth and Greenwell whiffed to start. Esasky singled and Heep singled him to third before Nick scored on the Evans sac fly. Rivera grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 13-5.
Stanley cruised in the top of the sixth inning as Hoffman grounded out to short to start. Washington grounded back to the mound before Rose took strike three to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the sixth with Greg Minton on the mound and Kent Anderson coming in for Washington. Cerone and Boggs grounded back to the mound and Reed was retired on a squibber up the first base line to end the inning.
Davis looked at strike three to start the top of the seventh before Joyner lined out to right. Downing and Armas stroked back to back singles before Schroeder grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Burks grounded out to second to start. Greenwell grounded out to short and Esasky singled to left. Heep grounded out to first to end the inning.
Stanley returned for the top of the eighth and Howell grounded out to second before Hoffman grounded out to short. Anderson flied out to center to end the inning. All of a sudden the rains game to delay the game. The umpires got together with the managers and mercifully called the game. The Sox had won it 13-5.
Hero of the Night is Mike Greenwell. He put the Sox on top in the first inning and they never looked back.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
Ellis Burks was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Nick Esasky was 3 for 4 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Danny Heep was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Dwight Evans was 1 for 2 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Bob Stanley got the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Eric Hetzel allowed 5 runs in just 4 1/3 innings.
The Ugly:
Jody Reed was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Luis Rivera was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Rick Cerone was 0 for 3 but walked, drove in a run and scored.
Final Thoughts:
Could Morgan Magic be striking twice? The Sox have won 9 straight game to get them back in earshot of the AL East lead. This year would be even more impressive than last year since Bruce Hurst is gone. If the Sox can do it with Roger Clemens, Mike Boddicker and pray....this would be the most improbable season since 1967. There's a long way to go but the Sox seem to have found their rhythm. Hetzel sucked but Stanley saved the day and the offense produced big time. The win improved the Sox to 67-65, 4 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox look to make it ten straight games when they send John Dopson (9-5) to the mound to take on Jim Abbott at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
