White Sox Sweep Red Sox (9/16/90)

This is not good, not good at all for the Boston Red Sox. Needing to take three of four from the Chicago White Sox to put the pressure on the Toronto Blue Jays, the opposite happened. Today the ChiSox completed a four game sweep of the Red Sox and sent them packing to Baltimore in deep trouble with 15 games left to play. Dana Kiecker (6-9, 4.43 ERA) got knocked out in the 6th inning, White Sox starter Eric King tossed 7 innings of 1 run ball and the BoSox were swept out of Chicago with the White Sox winning 4-2 at Comiskey Park.

Eric King got the start for the White Sox and Jody Reed greeted him with a soft liner to third to start. Dwight Evans drew a walk before Wade Boggs flied out to the left field wall. Ellis Burks grounded into a force to end the inning. Kiecker got the ball in the bottom of the first and Ivan Calderon grounded out to short to start. Lance Johnson grounded out to second before Tom Brunansky made a running catch to rob Frank Thomas of extra bases to end the inning.

Mike Greenwell led off the top of the second inning by lining out to center to start. Tom Brunansky flied out to center but Mike Marshall was robbed of a home run by Johnson who deflected the ball back onto the field for a triple. Tony Pena grounded out to short to end the inning. The ChiSox struck first in the bottom of the second as Dan Pasqua blooped a double down the left field line to start. Pasqua moved to third on the grounder by Robin Ventura and Rob Karkovice scored Pasqua with a base hit to center. Sammy Sosa hit a blooper into right and Karkovice motored all the way around to score, Sammy taking second on the double. Scott Fletcher grounded out to short before Ozzie Guillen lined out to a running Greenwell to end the inning with Chicago up 2-0.

                                                      2-0 White Sox

The BoSox fought back in the top of the third inning as Randy Kutcher singled to right to start. Reed flied out to center but Kutcher swiped second base. ChiSox broadcaster and old friend Ken "Hawk" Harrelson brought up the big Notre Dame/Michigan college football game (featuring Elvis Grbac of Michigan and Rick Mirer of Notre Dame) the night before as Evans blooped a single to center. Kutcher made a mad dash for home to cut the lead and Boggs singled to left. Burks hit a grounder to third but Ventura bobbled it to load the bases. With a chance to do some damage....Greenwell banged into a double play to end the inning as Boston trailed 2-1.

                                                        Kutcher scores a run

Kiecker cruised in the bottom of the third as Calderon popped up to Boggs on the infield to start. Kiecker snuffed out a bunt by Johnson and Thomas grounded out to short to end the inning.

Bruno led off the top of the fourth by popping up to Guillen in shallow left. Marshall hit a bullet but right to the centerfielder for an out before Pena drew a walk. Kutcher flied out to right to end the inning but the comedy was Pena going back to first despite there being two outs. Oops! Pasqua singled up the middle to open the bottom of the fourth but Ventura banged into a double play. Karkovice struck out swinging to end the inning.

King cruised in the top of the fifth as Reed flied out to left to begin. Evans grounded out to third and Boggs flied out to left to end the inning. Sosa led off the bottom of the fifth by striking out swinging before Fletcher lined out to right. Guillen singled to center but was thrown out by Pena trying to steal to end the inning.

The Sox failed to score in the top of the sixth as Burks' bunt attempt was snuffed out to start. Greenwell flied out to left and Brunansky lined out to a running Sosa to end the inning. The White Sox finished off Kiecker in the bottom of the sixth as Calderon doubled down the left field line to start. Johnson blooped a single to left to score Calderon as Red Sox pitching coach Bill Fischer came out to tell Kiecker that Pee Wee's Playhouse reruns were on in the clubhouse and Kiecker was so excited that Thomas walked to chase him from the game. Kiecker got nailed for 4 runs in just 5 plus innings, not good.

                                                           Not today Kiecker

Rob Murphy sprinted from the bullpen as Phil Bradley pinch hit for Pasqua only to force Thomas at second on a grounder. Bradley took off for second and Pena threw down to chase Bradley back to first. The alert Reed then spotted Johnson taking off for home and fired home...OUT! Unfortunately the BoSox couldn't put the ChiSox away as Ventura drew a walk. Murphy made a mad dash to the dugout and Larry Andersen strutted in from the bullpen. Karkovice lashed a base hit to right to score Bradley with the kill shot. Sosa whiffed to end the inning but the ChiSox were up 4-1.

                                                Allowing inherited runners to score, ugh

Mashall tried to start a rally in the top of the seventh with a base hit to right but Pena flied out to left. Phil Plantier pinch hit for Kutcher and banged into a double play to end the inning. Jim Pankovits made his Sox debut taking over at second for the bottom of the seventh and Fletcher whiffed to start. Guillen took a slider on the outside corner for strike three before Calderon whiffed to end the inning.

                                                     Pankovits in his Sox debut

Barry Jones relieved King in the top of the eighth and Reed popped up to short to start. Evans grounded out to third and Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning in just 5 pitches. Jeff Gray came on for the bottom of the eighth and got Johnson to pop up to center to start. Thomas was rung up on strike 3 on the inside corner before Bradley whiffed to end the inning.

Bobby Thigpen came in to close out the top of the ninth and Burks grounded out to short to start. Greenwell blooped a single to left but Bruno whiffed. Down to their last out, Marshall blooped a single to center. Rookie Scott Cooper pinch ran for Marshall as Pena dumped a base hit to right. Greenwell went for home and the throw came in...SAFE! Cooper made it to third and Pena took second representing the tying run. Jeff Stone came in to run for Pena with Danny Heep pinch hitting for Pankovits. Heep was almost rung up for strike three and ending up drawing a walk to load the bases. Kevin Romine pinch ran for Heep and with a chance to tie the game....Reed lined out to Thigpen to end the game. The ChiSox had swept the BoSox with a 4-2 win.

               

Jackass of the Night is Jody Reed. he was 0 for 5 and left several men on base, including the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.

                                                             Jody Jackass



The Good:

Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Mike Marshall was 3 for 4.

Tony Pena was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Randy Kutcher was 1 for 2 with a stolen base and a run scored.

Danny Heep walked as a pinch hitter

Rob Murphy got 2 outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jeff Gray pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Ellis Burks was 0 for 4.

Tom Brunansky was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Dana Kiecker took the loss with going just 5 plus innings and allowing 4 runs.



The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was just 1 for 4.

Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Phil Plantier was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Larry Andersen allowed an inherited runner to score but none of his own in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.



Honorable Mention:

Scott Cooper pinch ran for Marshall in the top of the ninth

Jeff Stone ran for Tony Pena in the top of the ninth.

Kevin Romine pinch ran for Danny Heep in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

Well this loss was a kick in the balls. The BoSox had their chances to win this one but couldn't get the clutch hit when it counted. Kiecker only going 5 plus didn't help and Andersen giving up the kill shot could have been avoided but the BoSox couldn't crack King. The White Sox are the second best team in the American League and third best in all of baseball for a reason and the reason there's talk about bringing in a "wild card" system is because the White Sox have almost no chance to make the playoffs because the Oakland A's are in their way. The BoSox are in big trouble because they have the Toronto Blue Jays breathing down their necks and losses to good teams doesn't look good for potential October baseball. The loss dropped the Sox to 80-67, just 1 game ahead of the Blue Jays for 1st place in the AL East with 15 games left. The Sox look to right the ship in Baltimore with a set against the Orioles. Mike Boddicker (15-8) takes on Ben McDonald at 7:30 PM at Memorial Stadium.

Sox Sweep Jays for 7th Win in a Row (6/28/90)

Don't look now but the Boston Red Sox look to be for real this season. The Sox just took the Toronto Blue Jays and grinded them into mincemeat 4 games in a row including tonight's game. Roger Clemens (12-3, 2.64 ERA) outdueled Todd Stottlemyre 20 years to the day the Sox defeated his father for 8 innings. The Sox broke a 1-1 tie in the 5th inning with 3 big runs driven in by Tony Pena and Mike Greenwell before hanging on to win their 7th game in a row 4-3 at Fenway Park.

                                              Doc Brown approves of the win

Clemens got the ball in the top of the first inning and Junior Felix took strike three to start. Tony Fernandez grounded out to first and Kelly Gruber whiffed to end the inning. Wade Boggs had a nasty surprise for Stottlemyre when he clubbed his 5th home run of the season to put the Sox on top instantly in the bottom of the first. Jody Reed struck out swinging and Mike Greenwell grounded out to short, but Tom Brunansky singled to center. Evans flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                     Boggs starts it with a homer

The Jays wasted no time tying the game in the top of the second although George Bell took strike three to start. Fred McGriff crushed a 50,000 foot home run into the Charles River to tie the game. John Olerud whiffed but Greg Myers singled to left. Nelson Liriano doubled Myers to third but Mookie Wilson took strike three to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the second as Ellis Burks grounded out to third to start. Tony Pena went down hacking and Carlos Quintana grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Felix singled to left to start the top of the third but Fernandez took strike three. Gruber forced Felix at second before Bell also grounded into a force to end the inning. Luis Rivera got a base hit to left to start the bottom of the third but Boggs flied out to right. Reed banged into a double play to end the inning.

McGriff singled to right to begin the top of the fourth but Olerud forced him at second. Myers banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fourth as Greenwell grounded out to short to start. Brunansky and Evans also grounded out to short to end the inning.

Clemens got Liriano to ground out to second to start the top of the fifth but Rivera booted a grounder by Wilson for an error. Wilson swiped second and moved to third on the Felix grounder. Clemens blew away Fernandez to end the inning. The Sox clawed back to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Burks doubled to start. Pena doubled him home to give the Sox the lead back. Quintana grounded out to third but Rivera singled to center. Boggs was intentionally walked but Reed popped up to second. Greenwell got a base hit to center that scored both Pena and Rivera to increase the lead, both runners moving up on the throw. Brunansky flied out to right to end the inning but it was 4-1 Sox.

                                                       Greenwell drives in a pair

The Jays struck back in the top of the sixth as Gruber doubled to left to start. Bell flied out to center but the pain in the ass McGriff smashed a 2 run homer into the Atlantic Ocean to cut the lead. Olerud walked but was forced at second by Myers. Liriano got plunked and Wilson got a base hit to left. Myers tried for home but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with the Jays down 4-3.

                                                        Pain in the ass

Tom Lawless took over for Liriano at second and Manuel Lee took over at short for the bottom of the sixth. Evans singled to center but was forced at second by Burks. Ellis swiped second before Pena drew a walk. Quintana banged into a double play to end the game.

Clemens cruised in the top of the seventh as he blew away Felix to start. Lee went down swinging as well and Gruber grounded out to third to end the inning. Rivera grounded out to short to start the bottom of the seventh before Boggs whiffed. Reed hit a routine pop up to center but Wilson dropped it for an error. Greenwell popped up to third to end the inning.

Clemens returned for the top of the eighth and and Bell flied out to left to start. McGriff grounded out to first and Olerud flied out to left to end the inning. That was it for Roger who went 8 innings and allowed 3 runs to Fred McGriff but stymied everyone else.

                                                         Great start by Roger

Brunansky popped up to third in foul territory to open the bottom of the eighth before Evans was plunked. Evans swiped second but Burks popped up to second. Pena also popped up to short to end the inning. Stottlemyre went the distance but Clemens was just a little bit better.

Jeff Reardon was brought in for the save in the top of the ninth as Myers flied out to right to start. Rance Mulliniks pinch hit for Lawless and drew a walk as Ken Williams pinch ran for him. Williams swiped second but Wilson whiffed. Felix flied out to right to end the game, the Sox had won it 4-3 for their 7th win in a row.

Hero of the Night is Roger Clemens. The ace held the high powered Jays to just 3 runs in 8 innings of work. He allowed 8 hits while striking out nine batters.

                                                             Roger Hero
                                                         

The Good:

Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.

Dwight Evans was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch.

Tony Pena was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Luis Rivera was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Jeff Reardon earned his 13th save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Jody Reed was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Carlos Quintana was 0 for 3.



The Ugly:

Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.

Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 but stole a base and scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

How about those Red Sox. After everything that could go wrong did go wrong in 1989, things seem to have reversed themselves this season. Its only June but it seems like this year's team is focused and seem to hang on when it matters the most. Clemens was great tonight and the offense was timely enough to give Reardon a chance to close out the game. If Toronto is the best team in the East, the Sox handled them pretty good in this series. Once again its only June but its an encouraging sign to beat the defending division champs. The win improved the Sox to 43-29, 3 1/2 games in front of the Jays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it 8 in a row when they welcome in the Texas Rangers for a series beginning tomorrow night. Greg Harris gets the ball for the Sox opposite Charlie Hough at 7:35 PM at Fenway Park.

Red Sox Hang On, Beat White Sox (4/18/90)

Any time Roger Clemens (3-0, 4.12 ERA) gets a 5 run lead he's sure to win right? That's what happened when the Boston Red Sox exploded for 6 runs in the top of the third inning to take a five run lead. It wasn't easy though, Clemens tired in the bottom of the seventh and the Chicago White Sox took advantage. The ChiSox scored 3 runs off Clemens in the bottom of the seventh and another run in the eighth against the bullpen. Still, the BoSox held on in the ninth inning to win the game 7-5 at Commiskey Park.

                                                             Talisa Soto approves of the win

White Sox starter Jack McDowell cruised in the top of the first as Wade Boggs grounded out to second to start. Marty Barrett grounded out to first and Ellis Burks struck out swinging to end the inning. Clemens got the ball in the bottom of the first and Lance Johnson flied out to left to start. Scott Fletcher flied out to right and Ivan Calderon struck out swinging to end the inning.

Mike Greenwell singled to center to open the top of the second but Dwight Evans flied out to right. Billy Jo Robidoux banged into a double play to end the inning. The White Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Dan Pasqua doubled down the right field line and Carlton Fisk singled him home. Greg Walker singled in the hole at short and Robin Ventura moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Clemens got a big out when he struck out Sammy Sosa swinging and got Ozzie Guillen to ground back to the mound to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 1-0.

                                                             Fisk puts Chicago on top

The floodgates opened in the top of the third when Tony Pena singled down the left field line to start. Jody Reed got a base hit to right and Randy Kutcher walked to load the bases with nobody out. Boggs put the BoSox on top with a base hit up the middle to score Pena and Reed. Boggs got picked off and Barrett hit a routine fly ball to center...but Sosa and Johnson collided and the ball was dropped. Kutcher scored on the error and Burks walked. Greenwell walked to load the bases and chase McDowell from the game. Bill Long came in and walked Evans to score Barrett with another run. Robidoux lined out to first but Pena lined a broken bat base hit to center to score two more runs. Both Pena and Evans moved up on the throw but Reed flied out to center to end the inning with Boston ahead 6-1.

                                                         Ooops!

Clemens cruised in the bottom of the third as Johnson flied out to right to start. Fletcher struck out swinging and Calderon flied out to center to end the inning.

Long cruised in the top of the fourth as Kutcher flied out to right to start. Boggs grounded out to short and Barrett grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Clemens blew away Pasqua to start the bottom of the fourth but Pena muffed a strike three swing by Fisk and Carlton took first on the passed ball. Walker struck out swinging and Ventura flied out to right to end the inning.

                                                    "I don't got it" - Pena

Wayne Edwards took over on the mound in the top of the fifth inning and Burks lined out to left to start. Greenwell grounded out to first and Evans took strike three to end the inning. Sosa began the bottom of the fifth by striking out swinging but Guillen lined a base hit to center. Guillen moved to second on the Johnson grounder and Fletcher flied out to right to end the inning.

Carlos Quintana pinch hit for Robidoux to start the top of the sixth and he walked to start. Pena banged into a double play and Reed grounded out to third to end the inning. Clemens blew away Calderon and Pasqua to start the bottom of the sixth but Burks dropped a routine fly ball by Fisk for an error. Walker lined out to left to end the inning.

                                                          Dammit Burks

Ron Karkovice took over behind the plate for the top of the seventh with Ken Patterson now on the mound. Kutcher cracked his first home run of the year to left to increase the lead but Boggs grounded out to short. Barrett grounded out to second but Burks got a base hit to left. Greenwell grounded out to second to end the inning with the BoSox ahead 7-1.

                                                   Kutcher's first of the season

The White Sox stormed back in the bottom of the seventh with Luis Rivera taking over for Boggs at third. Ventura hit a home run all the way to Wrigley Field to cut the lead and Darryl Boston pinch hit for Sosa. Boston grounded out to second but Guillen got a base hit to center. Johnson beat out an infield single to the mound and Fletcher walked to load the bases. That was it for Clemens as he would eventually be charged with 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. Jeff Reardon came in and Calderon singled to center to score both Guillen and Johnson. Calderon was thrown out at second trying to steal but Pasqua walked. Karkovice popped up to left in foul territory to end the inning with the BoSox still ahead 7-4.

                                "I aughta take you out of this game and I think I will!" - Morgan

Don Pall came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Evans grounded back to the mound to start. Quintana flied out to center and Pena grounded out to third to end the inning. Rob Murphy made a mad dash to the mound to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Dave Gallagher pinch hit for Walker to start. Gallagher struck out swinging and Ventura took strike out inning. Carlos Martinez pinch hit for Boston and got a hit to right. Guillen singled to center and Murphy sprinted into the dugout, being replaced by Sox closer Lee Smith. Ron Kittle pinch hit for Johnson and dumped a base hit to left to score Martinez and put the tying run at first. Craig Grebeck pinch ran for Kittle and old friend "Psycho" Steve Lyons pinch hit for Fletcher. Lyons struck out swinging to end the inning with the BoSox barely hanging on to the lead 7-5.

                                                          Kittle drives in a run

Bobby Thigpen came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Reed flied out to left to start. Kutcher singled to right but Rivera banged into a double play to end the inning. Smith came back for the bottom of the ninth and Calderon grounded out to second to start. Pasqua walked to bring the tying run to the plate but Karkovice struck out swinging. Gallagher lined out to center to end the game. The BoSox had won it 7-5.

Hero of the Night is Randy Kutcher. His clutch home run ended up being the difference in the game.

                                                     Hero Kutcher

The Good:

Ellis Burks was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Mike Greenwell was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Carlos Quintana walked in his second plate appearance.

Tony Pena was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

The Bad:

Luis Rivera was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Billy Jo Robidoux was 0 for 2.

Rob Murphy was charged with a run in 2/3 of an inning.

The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.

Marty Barrett was 0 for 3 but drove in a run and scored a run.

Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run.

Jody Reed was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Roger Clemens got the win but allowed 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He did strike out 9.

Jeff Reardon allowed an inherited runner to score in 2/3 of an inning.

Lee Smith got the save but alllowed an inherited runner to score in 1 1/3 innings.

Final Thoughts:

That was one of the ugliest wins ever. The BoSox took advantage of shoddy defense to score all those runs in the third inning and every pitcher brought in after Clemens allowed a run or let an inherited run to score. Clemens was mortal in this game but still gave the Sox 6 1/3 solid innings. I don't know what's with Murphy this season but thank goodness for Reardon and Smith. The offense wasn't much outside of the third inning but sometimes that's all you need to win a game. It was an ugly win but its better to win ugly than not win at all, especially against a team like the White Sox. Hopefully the bullpen has better days ahead this season. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox return to action Friday night in Milwaukee for a set with the Brewers. Mike Boddicker (1-1) goes for the Sox against Tom Filer of the Brewers. The game begins at 7:05 PM Eastern time at County Stadium.

Timely Pitching and Big 3rd Inning Defeats Tigers (4/10/90)

Starting the season 2-0 is always a good thing even if it wasn't pretty. Today the Boston Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers again behind a lights out Boston bullpen and some timely hitting from the offense to take a 4-2 victory at Fenway Park.

                                             Reginald Tarkington approves of the win

Mike Boddicker (1-0) made his season debut in the top of the first inning by getting Tony Phillips to ground out to short to start. Alan Trammell flied out to center and Lou Whitaker froze on strike three to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the first against Kevin Ritz although Wade Boggs grounded out to short after the ball was deflected by Ritz. Marty Barrett and Mike Greenwell stroked back to back singles but Ellis Burks flied out to left. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position but Dwight Evans watched strike three go by to end the inning.

The Tigers threatened in the top of the second inning although Cecil Fielder flied out to right to start. Lloyd Moseby singled but Matt Nokes flied out to right as well. Larry Sheets doubled Moseby to third but Boddicker punched out Chet Lemon to end the inning. Billy Jo Robidoux walked to lead off the bottom of the second and Tony Pena singled. Jody Reed dropped down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position but Kevin Romine lined out back to the mound. Tigers manager Sparky Anderson wisely intentionally walked Boggs to load the bases and Barrett failed to make them pay by grounding out to first to end the inning. That's 5 men left on base in the first two innings.

Boddicker remained tough in the top of the third inning as Dave Bergman flied out to center to start. Phillips grounded out to second and Trammell struck out to end the inning. The Sox exploded in the bottom of the third although Greenwell grounded out to second to start. Burks singled and stole second before advancing to third on the Evans single. Robidoux walked to load the bases and Pena lined a base hit to score Burks and Evans to put the Sox on top. Reed doubled home Robidoux to chase Ritz from the game. Dan Petry came in and got Romine to ground out, but Pena scored to increase the lead and moved Reed to third. Boggs was once again intentionally walked and Barrett walked the traditional way to re-load the bases. Greenwell started the inning with a ground out and he ended it with one. Even though the Sox had now left 8 men on base, they had a commanding 4-0 lead.

                                                     Pena got the rally started

Boddicker did his part to keep the Tigers off the board in the top of the fourth inning. Whitaker singled in the hole at short to start but Boddicker whiffed fielder. Moseby flied out to center and Nokes grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox finally went quietly in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Burks popped up to third, Evans grounded out to third and Robidoux struck out to end the inning.

The Tigers roared back in the top of the fifth inning. Sheets singled and Lemon was hit with a pitch to start. Bergman grounded out and both runners advanced into scoring position, where Sheets scored on the ground-out by Phillips. Trammell singled in the hole at short to score Lemon but Whitaker popped up to short to end the inning. The Tigers cut the lead in half 4-2. That was it for Boddicker who labored through 5 innings to leave with a 4-2 lead. Sox manager Joe Morgan wants to keep the starters fresh for better days. Sparky Anderson approves of the quick hook.

                                       "We scored? Well if that don't beat all..." - Sparky

The Sox failed to answer in the bottom of the fifth inning although Pena doubled to start. Reed whiffed and Romine grounded out while Boggs was intentionally walked again. Barrett popped up to left to end the inning. That's 10 men left on by the way.

Dennis Lamp took over for the top of the sixth and got Fielder to fly out to start. Moseby hit a comebacker to the mound and Nokes flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox once again failed with men in base in the bottom of the sixth inning. Greenwell grounded out to first but both Burks and Evans singled. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position and Sparky Anderson made the decision to walk Robidoux to load the bases but set up the double play. Right on cue guess what Pena did....ground into a double play to end the inning. 12 men left on but that is why Sparky is a future hall of fame manager.

Lamp returned for the top of the seventh but Sheets greeted him with a single. Sheets was erased on the force by Lemon but Bergman singled to chase Lamp. Rob Murphy made a mad dash from the bullpen and got both Phillips and Trammell to fly out to end the inning. The Sox mustered nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Reed flied out to center, Romine grounded back to the mound and Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning.

Murphy sprinted to the mound for the top of the eighth and got Whitaker to ground out to first to start. Murphy whiffed both Fielder and Moseby to end the inning before running as fast as he could off the mound, jumping into the dug-out and sprinting to the clubhouse.

                                                         Always in a hurry

Mike Henneman took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and Barrett flied out to right. Greenwell walked but Burks banged into a double play to end the inning.

Sox closer Lee Smith got the call to close it out in the top of the ninth. Nokes walked and was replaced by Johnny Parades. Smith struck out Sheets and got Lemon to fly out. With the tying run at the plate, Smith got Bergman to hit one up the elevator shaft to end the game. The Sox had won it 4-2.

Hero of the night is a tough one but I gotta go with Tony Pena. His 2 run single started the rally in the bottom of the third inning.

                                            Hero of the Night: Tony Pena


The Good:

Wade Boggs walked 3 times in 5 plate appearances.

Ellis Burks was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Dwight Evans was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Billy Jo Robidoux walked 3 times in 4 plate appearances and scored a run.

Jody Reed was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Mike Boddicker earned the win with 5 innings of 2 run ball while striking out 4.

Dennis Lamp tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings

Rob Murphy threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Lee Smith got his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

None



The Ugly:

Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4 with a walk.

Mike Greenwell was also just 1 for 4 with a walk.

Kevin Romine was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

A win is a win even if the starter didn't last long and the Sox left a parade on base. Still, the bullpen was lights out and the offense produced when it had to. The Sox did enough to win but they're gonna have to do better than that if they have any hope of beating Toronto out for the division title this year. They need a spark on offense wherever that may come by. Boddicker and Clemens both picked up victories and now it gets interesting with the rest of the rotation now having to step up. Tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM John Dopson makes his season debut opposite Jeff Robinson as the Sox look to win again at Fenway Park.

Clemens Outduels Morris on Opening Day (4/9/90)

The 1990 season is off to a fast start as Roger Clemens and the Boston Red Sox outpitched Jack Morris and the Detroit Tigers to secure the team's first win on Opening Day. 2 years ago Morris and Clemens matched each other for 9 innings but this time Clemens got the duke. Dwight Evans provided the spark on offense as the Red Sox took the first game 5-2 in front of a sold out Fenway Park crowd.

                                   "Remember the time Roger Clemens beat Jack Morris?"

Clemens took the mound in the top of the first and retired Tony Phillips on a pop up to third. Alan Trammell flied out to center and Lou Whitaker grounded out to second to end the inning. The Red Sox wasted no time scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Wade Boggs singled to right to start the frame. Marty Barrett blooped a single to right that advanced Boggs all the way to third. Mike Greenwell popped up to left on the first pitch and the Sox caught a break when Ellis Burks popped up to first but Cecil Fielder dropped it. Burks walked to load the bases and Dwight Evans made the Tigers pay with a bases clearing double to put the Sox up early. Billy Jo Robidoux flied out to center and Tony Pena grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 3-0.

                                                    The bases are cleared and its 3-0

Clemens began the top of the second inning by striking out Fielder but walked Lloyd Moseby. Matt Nokes flied out to left and Gary Ward grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the second as Jody Reed struck out but Kevin Romine doubled. Boggs blooped a single to right to score Romine but was erased on the force by Barrett. Greenwell flied out to right to end the inning but the Sox were up 4-0.

                                               Romine scores!

Clemens got the Tigers to beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third inning. Chet Lemon grounded to third while both Dave Bergman and Tony Phillips grounded out to second to end the inning. Morris finally held the Sox in check in the bottom of the third inning. Burks flied out to left, Evans popped up to third and Robidoux grounded out to second to end the inning.

Clemens remained tough in the top of the fourth inning. Trammell whiffed and Whitaker grounded out to third but Fielder walked. Moseby grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the fourth although Pena whiffed on a pitch in the dirt to start. Reed flied out to left but Romine doubled again. Realizing runs were at a premium against Clemens, Tigers manager Sparky Anderson had Boggs intentionally walked to get to Barrett. Morris punched out Marty on a check swing to end the inning.

Clemens froze both Nokes and Ward to begin the top of the fifth inning before Lemon lofted a routine grounder to Reed at short. Reed went OLE! and Lemon reached. Clemens got Bergman to ground out to end the inning. Morris finally had a shut-down inning in the bottom of the fifth as Greenwell flied out to right, Burks grounded out to short and Evans flied out to center to end the inning.

Suddenly the Tigers roared back in the top of the sixth inning. Phillips singled and Trammell doubled down the left field line before Phillips scored on the Whitaker sac fly that Burks had to slide to catch. Fielder hit a comebacker back to Clemens but Moseby singled home Trammell to cut the lead in half. Nokes grounded out to third to end the inning but it was now 4-2 Sox.

The Sox failed to answer in the bottom of the sixth as Robidoux grounded out weekly to first, Pena lined out to short and Reed grounded out to short to end the inning.

Clemens came back out for the top of the seventh and Burks had to run down a line drive by Ward. Lemon whiffed and with 101 pitches on Clemens' arm, Sox manager Joe Morgan decided to save him for better days by bringing in Rob Murphy. The Rocket had surrendered just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings.

                                                  Clemens in line for his first win

Ken Williams pinch hit for Bergman and grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox took advantage of shoddy defense to get a run back in the bottom of the seventh inning. Romine was called out on a bang bang play at first that raised the ire of Sox manager Joe Morgan when replay showed he was safe. The mistake by the first base umpire was compounded when Boggs doubled, which would have scored Romine for sure. The double was also Wade's 1,600th career hit. Barrett flied out to right and for some reason Greenwell was intentionally walked to get to Burks. The move appeared to work when Ellis hit a lazy fly out to right field...AND LEMON DROPPED IT! Boggs ran home with the insurance run and Sparky Anderson was disgusted. That was it for Morris who settled down after a lousy first inning that shouldn't have happened had Fielder caught the ball. In fact, 4 of the 5 runs he allowed came after or from errors. Ed Nunez came in and got Evans to pop up to end the inning but it was now 5-2 Sox.

                                             "I got it, I got it...I don't got it" - Lemon

Murphy returned for the top of the eighth and suffered a massive headache after Reed once again went OLE! on a ground ball, this time by Phillips. Murphy recovered to get Trammell and Whitaker to fly out, but walked Fielder. With the tying run at the plate, Murphy got an irate Moseby to pop up to third to end the inning with no damage done. The Sox had a chance to put the game away in the bottom of the eighth but Robidoux grounded back to the mound to start. Pena blooped a single to right but Reed flied out to right. Romine walked to chase Nunez as Paul Gibson came in to get Boggs to fly out to the left field warning track to end the inning.

Murphy was asked to get the final three outs in the top of the ninth inning. Tracy Jones pinch hit for Nokes and flied out to right. Ward singled past the diving Reed at short but Lemon flied out to center. One out away from the save, Murphy walked Williams. Sox manager Joe Morgan took no further chances and brought in closer Lee Smith to finish it off with the tying run coming to the plate. Phillips singled in the hole at short when Reed threw to second unsuccessfully to load the bases, but Smith punched out Trammell to end it. The Sox had won it 5-2

Hero of the Night is Dwight Evans. His 3 run double was the difference in the game.

                                 Opening Day Hero: Dwight Evans



The Good:

Wade Boggs was 3 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.

Kevin Romine was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Roger Clemens earned the win with 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball while striking out 5.

Rob Murphy tossed 2 scoreless innings.

Lee Smith earned the save by striking out Trammell to end the game.



The Bad:

Billy Jo Robidoux was 0 for 4.

Jody Reed was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and 2 errors in the field.



The Ugly:

Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Mike Greenwell was 0 for 3 but walked.

Ellis Burks was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Tony Pena was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

Always great to win on Opening Day. The Sox are going to have to lean on Burks, Boggs, Evans and Pena to lead the way on offense and pray to God everyone besides Clemens doesn't suck. That doesn't seem like a recipe for success but stranger things have happened. Jody Reed was hot garbage today but there are 162 games a year and you're bound to have a stinker. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the rotation after Clemens holds up. Mike Boddicker usually delivers the goods but after that, better hope it rains or there's an off-day. Speaking of Boddicker, he goes tomorrow at 1:05 PM against Kevin Ritz and the same Tigers in Game 2 of this series at Fenway Park.