Mariners Outslug Sox (4/26/83)

It was a bad day for Boston sports. On a night where the Boston Bruins lost Game 1 to the New York Islanders in their NHL Wales Final series, the Boston Red Sox dropped a game to the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox offense pounded out 10 hits and 6 runs against 44 year old Gaylord Perry and Bill Caudill of the Seattle Mariners but Mike Brown (1-2, 6.00 ERA) got lit up for 6 runs himself. The Mariners got a run off Doug Bird for good measure and it all added up to another loss for the Sox. Carl Yastrzemski didn't play as the Mariners outslugged the Sox in front of a paltry crowd of just 1,891 at the Kingdome.

                                               Crickets chirped as the Mariners won

The Sox did nothing against Perry in the top of the first as Wade Boggs singled to right to begin. Dwight Evans flied out to center but Jim Rice banged into a double play to end the inning. The Mariners pounded on the incompetent Brown in the bottom of the first as Steve Henderson walked to start. Dave Edler doubled home Henderson to put the Mariners up two batters into the game. Al Cowens grounded out to first but Richie Zisk walked. Pat Putnam singled home Edler and moved Zisk to third, and Zisk scored on the Dave Henderson sac fly. Rick Sweet doubled home Putnam and Todd Cruz grounded out to third to end the inning with the Mariners up 4-0 already.

                                                       Wh y can't the Sox get guys like this?

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the second inning as Tony Armas grounded out to third to start. Rich Gedman grounded out to first and Dave Stapleton grounded out to second to end the inning. The Mariners struck again in the bottom of the second as Julio Cruz and Steve Henderson stroked back to back singles to start. Edler dropped down a bunt to move the runners over and Cruz scored on the Cowens grounder to third. Zisk popped up to first to end the inning with the Mariners up 5-0.

Perry cruised in the top of the third inning as Rick Miller struck out to start. Glenn Hoffman grounded out to first and Ed Jurak grounded out to first to end the inning. Brown settled down in the bottom of the third as Putnam grounded out to second to start. Dave Henderson flied out to right and Sweet grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

The Sox finally broke through in the top of the fourth as Boggs singled to center to start. Evans popped up to short but Rice crushed his 5th home run of the season to put the Sox on the board. Armas then belted his first home run of the season for back to back jacks. Gedman doubled to center but Stapleton grounded out to short. Miller flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.

                                                       Back to back homers

The Mariners got the run back in the bottom of the fourth as Todd Cruz led off with a solo bomb to increase the lead. Julio Cruz struck out and Steve Henderson flied out to right, but Edler tripled into the right field corner to chase the ineffective Brown. After John Tudor and Bruce Hurst delivered the last two starts, Brown crapped his pants by allowing 6 runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Doug Bird came in and Cowens flied out to left to end the inning with the Mariners ahead 6-2.

                                                          Cruz hits one out

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Hoffman was plunked to start. Jurak flied out to right and Boggs grounded into a double play to end the inning. Zisk grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth but Putnam and Dave Henderson stroked back to back singles. Sweet hit into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox fought back in the top of the sixth as Evans popped up to second to start. Rice singled to center but Armas struck out. Gedman hit a grounder to third that was ruled a hit but the ball skipped away for an error to score Rice and send Gedman all the way to third. Stapleton singled home Gedman to cut the lead to one run but Miller grounded out to second to end the inning. Still, the Sox were back within a run 6-5.

                                                          Stapleton drives in a run

Bird caught Todd Cruz looking to begin the bottom of the sixth but Julio Cruz was plunked. Cruz swiped second and took third on the Steve Henderson grounder before edler struck out to end the inning.

The Sox did nothing in the top of the seventh as Hoffman popped up to short to start. Jurak struck out and Boggs flied out to left to end the inning. The Mariners iced the game in the bottom of the seventh as Cowens singled to start. Cowens stole second and Zisk walked prompting Rod Allen to run for Zisk. Both runners moved over on the Putnam grounder and Dave Henderson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Sweet scored Cowens with a grounder and Todd Cruz took strike three to end the inning with the Mariners up 7-5.

                                                            Nice relief Bird

Bill Caudill came in for the top of the eighth with Manny Castillo at third and Evans popped up to second to start. Rice grounded out to short but Armas blasted his second home run of the game to cut the lead. Gedman struck out to end the inning but the Sox were down 7-6.

                                                      Armas pounds another homer

Luis Aponte came in for the bottom of the eighth and Julio Cruz grounded out to first to start. Dave Henderson hit a routine grounder to second but Stapleton dove on the ball and poked at it for an error. Castillo singled Henderson to third and Sox manager Ralph Houk brought in Mark Clear. Clear picked off Henderson and struck out Cowens to end the inning.

John Moses came in to play left for the top of the ninth and Stapleton singled to center to put the tying run on. The rally ended as Miller banged into a double play. Reid Nichols pinch hit for Hoffman but flied out to right to end the game. The Mariners held on to win 7-6.

Jackass of the Night is Mike Brown. He got hammered for 6 runs in just 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.

The Good:

Wade Boggs was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Jim Rice was 2 for 4 with a two run home run and two total runs scored.

Tony Armas was 2 for 4 with both hits being home runs.

Rich Gedman was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Dave Stapleton was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Mark Clear got the final two outs of the 8th inning.



The Bad:

Dwight Evans was 0 for 4.

Rick Miller was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

Reid Nichols was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Ed Jurak was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.



The Ugly:

Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch

Doug Bird allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings.

Luis Aponte retired just one of the 3 men he faced.




Final Thoughts:

What a shame. After Tudor and Hurst pitched great the last two games, Brown had a chance to keep the momentum going and he fell flat on his face. The Mariners are awful but they still managed to light up Brown for 6 runs. The Sox offense did what they could to stay in the game but Brown put them in a hole that was too much to overcome. Yaz and Jerry Remy not playing didn't help but at some point Brown has to develop, right? Tomorrow the Sox look to rebound against the Mariners when they send Dennis Eckersley (1-1) to the mound up against lefty Matt Young. The game begins at 10:30 PM Eastern time at the Kingdome.

Brewers Annihilate Sox on Patriots Day (4/18/83)

The good news was the Boston Bruins defeated the Buffalo Sabres in Game 4 of their NHL playoff second round series. As for baseball, so much for the Boston Red Sox sending a message to the American League champion Milwaukee Brewers. The defending champs stomped a mudhole in the Sox to show that they're still the team to beat in the American League. As if yesterday's 1-0 loss to the Texas Rangers wasn't painful enough, the inept offense was blanked again, this time by Don Sutton. Harvey's Wallbangers pounded out 22 hits and 14 runs, pounding Mike Brown (1-1, 4.15 ERA). Doug Bird and Luis Aponte into submission. The Sox mustered just 6 hits and the Brewers to a two touchdown victory 14-0 over the Sox on Patriots Day at Fenway Park. How many runs did the Sox score Dean Wormer?

The Brewers wasted no time scoring in the top of the first inning as Paul Molitor singled to right to start. Paul was erased on the force by Robin Yount before old friend Cecil Cooper walked. The Brewers pulled off a double steal before Yount scored on the grounder by Ben Simmons. Old pal Ben Oglivie grounded out to second to end the inning with the Brewers up 1-0.

The Sox blew a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the first as Wade Boggs doubled to left to begin. Dwight Evans struck out but Jim Rice singled Wade to third. Carl Yastrzemski hit one up the elevator shaft but Dave Stapleton walked to load the bases. With a chance to do some damage...Rich Gedman grounded out to second to end the inning.

The floodgates opened in the top of the second inning as Gorman Thomas and Roy Howell stroked back to back singles to begin. Charlie Moore singled home Thomas and a flyball by Jim Gantner moved Howell to third. Molitor singled home Howell and a wild pitch moved the runners over. Yount walked to load the bases and Cooper beat out a double play ball to score Molitor. Simmons flied out to center to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 4-0.

                                         Cooper making the Sox pay for trading him

Boston failed to answer in the bottom of the second as Reid Nichols flied out to left to start. Glenn Hoffman grounded out to third but Jerry Remy beat out an infield single. Boggs grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Somehow Brown pitched a clean top of the third as Oglivie flied out to left to start. Thomas flied out to right and Howell flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the third as both Evans and Rice flied out to left, but Yaz singled off Sutton. Stapleton struck out to end the inning.

Brown cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Moore grounded out to third to start. Gantner flied out to center before Molitor grounded out to short to end the inning. Sutton got Gedman to pop up to third to start the bottom of the fourth before Nichols grounded out to short. Hoffman singled to center but Remy flied out to center to end the inning.

Yount tripled into the triangle to start the top of the fifth but was stranded as Cooper grounded out to first. Simmons also grounded out to first but Oglivie walked to put runners at the corners. Thomas grounded into a force to end the inning. Boggs lined out to second to start the bottom of the fifth but Evans singled to left. Evans was erased on the force by Rice before Yaz flied out to left to end the inning.

Brown returned for the top of the sixth and Howell grounded out to second to start. Moore singled to left but Gantner banged into a double play to end the inning. After the dreadful start, Mike Brown recovered to toss 6 innings. Too bad the Sox couldn't generate any offense.

                                      Good recovery by Brown to keep the Sox in it

Too bad the Sox offense was asleep for the second straight day as Stapleton hit one up the elevator shaft to start the bottom of the sixth. Gedman flied out to left and Nichols grounded out to third to end the inning,.

Doug Bird came in for the the top of the seventh inning as Molitor popped up to short to start. Yount and Cooper stroked back to back singles but Simmons banged into a double play to end the inning. Sutton cruised in the bottom of the seventh as Hoffman grounded out to short to start. Remy flied out to center but Boggs walked. Evans popped up to short to end the inning.

The Brewers iced the game with a huge rally in the top of the eighth inning. Oglivie took strike three and Thomas hit a routine grounder to Boggs....but Wade was too busy singing opera as Thomas reached on the error. The Brewers pounced on the Sox as Howell and Moore stroked back to back doubles to increase the lead. Gantner singled home both runners and took second on the throw. Molitor and Yount both flied out to center to end the inning but the Brewers were up 7-0.

                                                           Nice going Boggs

Tom Tellmann came in to get the Sox to beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the eighth inning. Rice grounded out to second, Yaz grounded out to short and Stapleton grounded out to second in short order.

The Brewers pulverized the Sox in the top of the ninth as Cooper and Simmons stroked back to back singled to start. Oglivie singled home Cooper and Thomas doubled home Simmons. Howell singled home both runners and Moore doubled home Howell to chase Bird. The guy came in with a 4-0 deficit and left with it 12-0. Luis Aponte poured gas on the fire although Gantner flied out to left. Molitor singled home Moore before Yount and Cooper stroked back to back singles to load the bases. Simmons singled home Molitor to wrap up the scoring. Oglivie took strike three and Thomas hit one up the elevator shaft to end the carnage with the Brewers up two touchdowns 14-0.

                                                "Aye carumba!" - Aponte

Mercifully the game ended in the bottom of the ninth with Ed Romero at third. Gedman lined out to left and Nichols flied out to center, but Hoffman walked. Remy flied out to center to end the game. The Brewers had won it big 14-0.

Jackass of the Night is Doug Bird. He was charged with 9 runs in just 2 innings and gave up a staggering 11 hits.

                                                    Nice relief, Jackass


The Good:

Glenn Hoffman was 1 for 3 with a walk.



The Bad:

Rich Gedman was 0 for 4.

Reid Nichols was 0 for 4.

Mike Brown took the loss by allowing 4 runs in 6 innings of work off 7 hits and 3 walks.

Luis Aponte allowed 2 inherited runners to score and 1 of his own in an inning of work.



The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a walk but his error allowed the floodgates to open.

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4.

Jim Rice was just 1 for 4.

Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 4.

Dave Stapleton was 0 for 3 but walked.

Jerry Remy was just 1 for 4.





Final Thoughts:

Good grief what a massacre. The Brewers have the best offense in the American League and showed why this morning. If the Sox want to compete against the champs, they're going to need better starting pitching than Mike Brown. Wish they had John Tudor or Bruce Hurst going instead. The offense was nonexistent for the second straight game as well. It may or may not be a concern going forward but we'll have to wait and see. Doug Bird had his lunch handed to him but I think Sox manager Ralph Houk figured the game was over and wanted Bird to finish it no matter how many runs he gave up, unfortunately he couldn't. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow evening against the Brewers when Dennis Eckersley takes on Moose Haas at 6:05 PM at Fenway Park

Rangers Pound Ojeda, Sox (4/9/83)

Not a great day for Boston sports as it turned out. The Boston Bruins dropped Game 3 of their NHL playoff first round series against the Quebec Nordqiues and the Texas Rangers took out their frustrations of their previous loss to the Boston Red Sox by tagging Bob Ojeda (0-1) in Bob's season debut for 5 runs on 4 hits and SIX walks. The Rangers knocked around the Boston bullpen before eventually running away with the game 10-3 at Arlington Park.

                                                 "Damn Rangers!"

Mike Smithson got the ball for the Rangers in the top of the first inning and Wade Boggs flied out to left to start. Dwight Evans grounded out to first and Jim Rice struck out in short order. The Rangers pounced on Ojeda right from the start. Billy Sample walked and Mike Richardt singled. Buddy Bell took strike three but Dave Hostetler tripled home both runners to give Texas the lead. Larry Parrish walked and Bob Johnson singled in Hostetler. Jim Sundberg doubled home Parrish to increase the lead before George Wright grounded out to short. Bucky Dent also grounded out to first to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 4-0.

                                                     Ojeda says "I sucked tonight!"

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the second inning although Tony Armas was plunked to start the inning. Carl Yastrzemski flied out to left but Dave Stapleton banged into a double play to end the inning. Ojeda settled down in the bottom of the second by getting Sample to ground out to short to start. Richardt flied out to right and Bell took strike three again to end the inning.

The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the third inning. Rich Gedman flied out to right, Glenn Hoffman grounded back to the mound and the only reason Julio Valdez reached first was due to an error by Johnson. Somehow Boggs singled but Evans struck out to end the inning. The Rangers struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning after Hostetler and Parrish worked back to back walks. Johnson beat out a double play ball and Sundberg scored Hostetler with a sac fly to center. Wright flied out to center to end the inning but it was now 5-0 Texas.

The Sox fought back in the top of the fourth inning when Rice led off with a double. Armas struck out and Yaz flied out, but Stapleton doubled home Rice to put the Sox on the board. Gedman grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 5-1 Rangers.

                                                    Stapleton makes it 5-1

Ojeda was done after just three innings and Doug Bird made his season debut to pour gas on the fire in the bottom of the fourth. Dent doubled to begin before Sample moved him to third on a groundout. Richardt doubled in Dent and Bell grounded out to short. Hollister doubled in Richardt and Parrish flied out to left to end the inning with the Rangers up 7-1.

                                                        "I sucked too" - Bird

The Sox threatened in the top of the fifth but accomplished nothing. Hoffman grounded out to second but Valdez got his first hit of the season. Boggs watched strike three go by but Evans singled. Rice struck out to end the inning. Bird came back for the bottom of the fifth and Johnson flied out to center to begin. Sundberg grounded out to third and Wright struck out to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the sixth as Armas flied out to center, Yaz flied out to left and Stapleton grounded out to third to end the inning. The relentless Rangers struck again in the bottom of the sixth as Dent flied out to center to start. Sample tripled but Richardt popped up to center, failing to advance Sample. Bell promptly singled in Sample and Hostetler walked. Parrish hit a routine ground ball to Boggs who picked the ball up and threw it to a puzzled Jim Rice in left field for an error to load the bases. Johnson grounded out to end the inning but it was 8-1 Texas.

The Sox looked to get something going when Gedman singled and Hoffman walked to start the top of the seventh but Valdez flied out to right. Boggs singled to load the bases but Evans banged into a double play to end the inning. Somehow the Rangers did NOT score in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sundberg grounded out to short, Wright looked at strike three and Dent grounded out to second to end the inning.

Dave Tobik replaced Smithson in the top of the eighth and the Sox finally rallied. Rice hit a routine grounder to Dent who threw wide of first, allowing Jim to reach. It didn't matter as Armas banged into a double play. Yaz doubled and Stapleton walked before Gedman doubled in both runners. Hoffman walked and Rick Miller made his season debut to pinch hit for Valdez, only to ground-out to end the inning with the Sox down 8-3.

                                                        Gedman doubles in two runs

John Henry Johnson took the mound in the top of the ninth with Marty Barrett now at second base. Sample popped up to second to begin before Richardt singled. A wild pitch moved Richardt to second but Bell flied out to right. Hostetler walked before Parrish lofted a routine fly to Armas. Tony inexplicably threw his glove at the ball and drove on it, scoring Richardt and Hostetler on the play. Johnson struck out to end the inning but it was 10-3 Rangers.

                                                   Nice going Tony

The carnage finally ended in the bottom of the ninth as Boggs grounded out to short to begin. Evans grounded out to third but Rice singled to prolong the agony. Armas flied out to center to end the game. The Rangers had won 10-3.

Jackass of the Night is Bob Ojeda. He lasted just 3 plus innings and gave up 5 runs, putting the Sox in a hole they couldn't dig out of.

                                                        Ojeda the Jackass


The Good:

Wade Boggs was 2 for 5.

Jim Rice was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Dave Stapleton was 1 for 3 with a walk, run scored and an rbi.

Rich Gedman was 2 for 4 with 2 rbi's.

Glenn Hoffman walked twice in four plate appearances.

Julio Valdez was 1 for 3.



The Bad:

Tony Armas was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.

Rick Miller was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Doug Bird gave up 4 runs in 3 innings.



The Ugly:

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 5.

Carl Yastrzemski was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

John Henry Johnson allowed 2 runs in the 9th inning but due to an Armas error.



Honorable Mention:

Marty Barrett played second in the top of the ninth.




Final Thoughts:

That was a disaster but those are going to happen this season if the Sox continue to have mediocre pitching. Sox ownership are going to ride with young, homegrown pitchers such as Ojeda, John Tudor and Bruce Hurst and they're going to have growing pains. If Eckersley can't regain 1978 form then they are in big trouble. The Rangers couldn't miss today and unfortunately if Sox pitching can't do better, its going to be a LONG season. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox travel to Arlington Texas to play the Rangers with Dennis Eckersley going for the Sox opposite Jon Matlack.