Scott Sanderson got the first start of the year for the Yankees and cruised in the top of the first. Wade Boggs grounded out to second, Jody Reed popped up to a running Mel Hall and Mike Greenwell hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning. The Yankees wasted no time scoring off Clemens in the bottom of the first as Randy Velarde walked to start. During the at-bat the Yankees announcers speculated that if Sox closer Jeff Reardon left in free agency, would Boston go after Dennis Eckersley? Imagine if that happened. Don Mattingly singled Velarde to third and Roberto Kelly beat out a double play ball to score Velarde to give the Yankees the early lead. Mel Hall lined out to left and Kelly would have been thrown out trying to steal but Reed dropped the ball. Danny Tartabull grounded out to short to end the inning anyway with the Yankees ahead 1-0.
The Sox struck back big time in the top of the second inning. Ellis Burks whiffed on a nasty curveball but Phil Plantier swatted his first home run of the year to tie the game. Jack Clark watched strike three go by but Mo Vaughn crushed his first homer of the season to give the Sox the lead. Tony Pena grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox had taken a 2-1 lead.
Clemens settled down in the bottom of the second inning as Matt Nokes flied out to center to start. Both Jesse Barfield and Charlie Hayes watched strike three go by to end the inning.
Luis Rivera caught the Yankees asleep with a bunt single to open the top of the third but the rally ended there as Boggs hit a bullet to a running Hayes. Reed hit one up the elevator shaft as the Yankees announcers claimed young Sox prospect John Valentin was going to be a great player. Greenwell took strike three on the inside corner to end the inning. Clemens got Pat Kelly looking to start the bottom of the third before Velarde grounded out to short. Mattingly grounded out to second to end the inning.
Sanderson was unhittable in the top of the fourth as Burks grounded out to short, Plantier flied out to right and Clark grounded out to third to end the inning just like that. Clemens turned up the heat to blow away Roberto Kelly and Hall to open the bottom of the fourth. Tartabull flied out to right to end the inning.
Vaughn walked to open the top of the fifth but Pena popped up the bunt attempt before striking out. Rivera struck out swinging and Boggs grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Nokes beat out an infield single to begin the bottom of the fifth to break up Roger's 11 in a row streak but Barfield banged into a double play. Hayes slapped a base hit in the hole at short but Pat Kelly popped up to Reed to end the inning.
The Sox had a golden chance to add some insurance in the top of the sixth when Reed blooped a double down the left field to begin. Greenwell popped up to short and Reed tagged up on a long fly out to center by Burks. Plantier was intentionally walked but Clark grounded out to third to end the inning. The Yankees capitalized on the Sox missed chance to take control of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Velarde hit a roller up the middle, Mattingly singled under the glove of Boggs and Roberto Kelly doubled into the gap in left-center to score both men to give the Yankees the lead. Sox pitching coach Rich Gale strutted to the mound to tell Clemens he's one bad hombre to calm him down and Kelly moved to third on the grounder to he scored on the single up the middle by Tartabull. Nokes banged into a double play to end the inning but the Yankees now led 4-2.
The Sox tried to rally in the top of the seventh with Greg Cadaret now on the mound. Vaughn whiffed but Pena and Rivera worked back to back walks. Boggs beat out an infield single to load the bases but all Reed could do was hit a sac fly to score Pena. With two men on, Greenwell whiffed to end the inning although the Sox scratched out a run to trail 4-3.
Clemens kept the Yankees off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh as Barfield grounded out to third to start. Hayes was hit with a pitch but Pat Kelly bounced into a double play to end the inning.
John Habyan took over for the top of the eighth and Burks led off with a single in the hole at short. He was stranded as Plantier and Clark whiffed then Vaughn grounded out to first to end the inning. Clemens returned to finish the job in the bottom of the eighth and got Velarde to ground out to short to start. Mattingly blooped a single to center but Roberto Kelly hit into a double play to end the inning. Clemens ended up tossing a complete game but just wasn't good enough. He went 8 innings but allowed 4 runs.
Yankees closer Steve Farr took the mound in the top of the ninth and the Sox tried to rally when Pena hit a grounder up the middle for a base hit, putting the tying run on. Rivera screwed up the sacrifice bunt and Pena was out at second. Boggs froze for strike three and Reed popped up to third to end the game. The Yankees had won opening day 4-3.
The Good:
Phil Plantier was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.
Mo Vaughn was 1 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.
Tony Pena was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Luis Rivera was 1 for 3 with a walk.
The Bad:
Jack Clark was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was just 1 for 5.
Jody Reed was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4.
Roger Clemens took the loss but went the distance, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits while striking out 5 in the complete game.
Final Thoughts:
Not the start the 1992 Red Sox were looking for. Butch Hobson has big shoes to fill after Morgan Magic brought the Sox 2 division titles and a near-miss last year. The offense is going to have to do better than that if they want to back Clemens, Frank Viola, etc. Plantier and Vaughn could be a power duo for years to come and today they lived up to their billing. Rivera screwing up the bunt in the ninth was pretty damn bad although Boggs striking out was the final nail in the coffin. Clemens didn't pitch that bad but not being able to touch Scott Sanderson or Steve Farr spelled doom for the Sox. The Sox return to action Thursday Night against the Yankees with Frank Viola making his Sox debut. Viola will be taking on Jeff Johnson at 7:30 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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