The Yankees wasted no time getting to Clemens in the top of the first inning as Steve Sax singled to right to start. Luis Polonia doubled to left and Sax scored on the rbi groundout by Don Mattingly. Mel Hall lined out to second but Jesse Barfield singled to center to score Polonia. Randy Velarde singled in the hole at second but Roberto Kelly struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-0.
The Sox answered against Mmahat in the bottom of the first inning as Wade Boggs singled to left to start. Jody Reed walked and Dwight Evans smashed his 20th home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Mike Greenwell and Nick Esasky drew back to back walks but Nick was erased on a force by Carlos Quintana. Kevin Romine hit a sac fly to score Greenwell but Rivera flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.
Clemens settled down in the top of the second inning as Bob Geren struck out swinging to start. Alvaro Espinoza grounded out to second but Sax singled to center. Sax was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. The Sox knocked out Mmahat in the bottom of the second inning as Rick Cerone flied out to center to start. Boggs singled to center, Reed walked and Evans singled to left to load the bases. Greenwell scored Boggs by beating out a double play ball to increase the lead. Esasky walked to reload the bases and that was it for Mmahat. Danny Heep pinch hit for the injured Quintana and Clay Parker came in to pitch. Heep flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.
The Yankees tagged Clemens in the top of the third inning as Polonia singled to center to start. Mattingly singled to center to move Polonia to third, Don taking second on the throw. Hall grounded out to second to score Polonia to cut the lead but Mattingly was thrown out at home on a grounder to Clemens by Barfield. Velarde singled to right but Kelly grounded out to third to end the inning with the Yankees down 5-3.
The Sox answered in the bottom of the third as Romine grounded out to short to start. Rivera flied out to left and Cerone hit a routine grounder to Espinoza....thrown away for an error to move Rick to second. Boggs doubled to center to score Cerone but Reed grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 6-3.
Geren singled to center to start the top of the fourth but Espinoza struck out swinging. Sax singled to right but Polonia banged into a double play to end the inning. Evans walked to start the bottom of the fourth but Greenwell hit into a double play. Esasky grounded out to short to end the inning.
Mattingly lined out to right to start the top of the fifth but Hall popped up to third. Barfield struck out swinging to end the inning. Heep lined out to center to start the bottom of the fifth before Romine lined out to short. Rivera singled to left but Cerone grounded out to second.
Velarde grounded out to second to start the top of the sixth but Kelly struck out swinging. Green struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the sixth as Boggs grounded out to short to start. Reed and Evans stroked back to back singles and Greenwell doubled home Reed to increase the lead. Esasky walked but Heep banged into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.
Jeff Stone came in for Heep to start the top of the seventh and Espinoza hit a routine grounder to Reed to start. Reed kicked the ball and gave it the finger for an error then Espinoza took second on a wild pitch. Sax beat out an infield single to Cerone to put runners at the corners and that was it for Clemens. Roger was mortal tonight but still left with the lead. Steve Balboni pinch hit for Polonia and Rob Murphy sprinted from the bullpen to pitch to him. Balboni banged into a double play to score Espinoza and Mattingly grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-4.
Romine grounded out to second to start the bottom of the seventh but Rivera singled to left. Cerone took strike three but Boggs singled to left. Reed struck out swinging to end the inning.
Murphy made a mad dash to the mound just to get Hall to ground out to first leading off the top of the eighth. Murphy bolted into the dugout and into the clubhouse as closer Lee Smith came in for the 5 out save. Barfield struck out swinging and Velarde took strike three to end the inning. Evans singled in the hole at third to start the bottom of the eighth to chase Parker from the game. Lee Guetterman came in to pitch and Evans took second on a wild pitch. Greenwell struck out swinging and Esasky was intentionally walked. Stone banged into a double play to end the inning.
Murphy made a mad dash to the mound just to get Hall to ground out to first leading off the top of the eighth. Murphy bolted into the dugout and into the clubhouse as closer Lee Smith came in for the 5 out save. Barfield struck out swinging and Velarde took strike three to end the inning. Evans singled in the hole at third to start the bottom of the eighth to chase Parker from the game. Lee Guetterman came in to pitch and Evans took second on a wild pitch. Greenwell struck out swinging and Esasky was intentionally walked. Stone banged into a double play to end the inning.
Smith returned to close out the top of the ninth and Kelly hit a little roller to Rivera. Luis dropped an elbow on the ball and pinned it for an error but Green struck out swinging. Espinoza struck out swinging and Sax grounded into a force to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-4.
Hero of the Night is Dwight Evans. This 3 run homer gave the Sox the lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 4 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Jody Reed was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored.
Nick Esasky walked 4 times.
Luis Rivera was 2 for 4.
Rob Murphy tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Lee Smith earned his 25th save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Carlos Quintana was 0 for 1 before leaving the game.
Danny Heep was 0 for 3.
Jeff Stone was 0 for 1.
The Ugly:
Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked, drove in 2 runs and scored a run.
Kevin Romine was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.
Rick Cerone was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.
Roger Clemens got the win but allowed 4 runs in 6 plus innings of work while allowing 11 hits.
Final Thoughts:
Clemens wasn't his usual self tonight and could be running out of gas this season. Thankfully we're at the end so he has all winter to rest. After Bruce Hurst left in free agency after the Wade Boggs trainwreck, who can blame him now? The team self destructed with bickering, locker room cliques and really bad pitching. Even Clemens suffered this season as he posted his highest ERA since 1985. Still, Rob Murphy and Lee Smith solidified a bullpen that can help more often to not if the starting rotation doesn't throw up on themselves. The Sox have a lot of work to do in the off-season to get back to where they were in 86 and 88. As for this game? Meh, who cares. At least the Sox have a chance to finish above .500....yay. The win improved the Sox to 79-77, tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for third place in the AL East. The Sox take on the Yankees again tomorrow night when Eric Hetzel (1-3) takes on Andy Hawkins of New York. The game begins at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.
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