Jays Beat Sox in 13 Innings (4/20/92)

Well this game was a kick in the ass. The Toronto Blue Jays were leading the Boston Red Sox 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Sox mounted a comeback. Tony Pena clocked a home run in the bottom of the seventh and Ellis Burks drove in a run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. The Sox bullpen kept the game scoreless through the next four innings but the Sox bats failed to score. Tom Bolton allowed an rbi double to Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter singled off of Peter Hoy to score Alomar. Bob MacDonald slammed the door in the bottom of the frame to give the Jays a hard fought 6-4 vicory in 13 innings at Fenway Park.

                                                "Start WINNING IN EXTRAS WILL YA???"

Sox starter Joe Hesketh got the ball in the top of the first inning and Devon White grounded out to second to start. Roberto Alomar flied out to center and Joe Carter flied out to left to end the inning. Jimmy Key got the ball in the bottom of the first and Wade Boggs lined out to right to start. Jody Reed lined out to center and Mike Greenwell struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Jays struck first in the top of the second inning as Dave Winfield singled to center to start. Kelly Gruber walked but John Olerud lined out to short. Candy Maldonado walked to load the bases and Pat Borders flied out to center but Winfield scored to give the Jays the lead. Manuel Lee singled up the middle to re-load the bases but White forced Lee at second to end the inning with the Jays up 1-0.

                                                         Borders puts the Jays on top

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the second as Ellis Burks flied out to center to start. Jack Clark grounded out to first and Phil Plantier grounded out to second to end the inning.

Hesketh recovered in the top of the third as Alomar grounded out to short to start. Carter and Winfield both flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the third as Tim Naehring grounded out to third to start. Mo Vaughn grounded out to second and Tony Pena grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Jays struck again in the top of the fourth as Gruber doubled to left to start. Olerud grounded out to second to move Gruber to third and Maldonado scored Kelly with a sac fly to increase the lead. Borders flied out to center to end the inning with the Jays up 2-0.

                                                           Maldonado makes it 2-0

The Sox blew a huge rally in the bottom of the fourth as Boggs doubled to left to start. Reed popped up to first in foul territory but Greenwell scored Boggs with a base hit to right. Burks flied out to right but Clark singled to center. Key booted a grounder by Plantier to load the bases but Naehring forced Phil at second to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                             Greenwell drives in a run

The Jays knocked Hesketh out in the top of the fifth although Lee grounded out to short to start. White singled in the hole at short before stealing second base. Alomar singled to left and Carter singled to left as well to score White with another run. Winfield grounded out to second to move both runners along and Gruber was intentionally walked to load the bases. Olerud then walked home Alomar to increase the lead and chase Hesketh. Joe sucked today as he allowed 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings. Greg Harris came in and got Maldonado to line out to second to end the inning with the Jays up 4-1.

                                                            "I sucked tonight" - JH

The Sox did try to fight back in the bottom of the fifth as Vaughn flied out to left to start. Pena doubled to left and Boggs singled to left to put runners at the corners. Reed singled to center to score Pena but Greenwell grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox down 4-2.

                                                             Reed drives in a run

Harris cruised in the top of the sixth as Borders struck out swinging to start. Lee took strike three and White grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the sixth as Burks grounded out to third to start. Clark grounded out to short and Plantier grounded out to first to end the inning.

Harris got in trouble in the top of the seventh inning as Alomar singled in the hole at second to begin. Carter forced Alomar at second but Winfield singled Joe to third. Gruber lined out to third but a wild pitch moved Winfield to second. Olerud was intentionally walked to load the bases but  Maldonado took strike three to end the inning. The Sox got a run back in the bottom of the seventh although Naehring struck out swinging to start. Vaughn grounded out to second but Pena belted his first home run of the year to cut the lead. Boggs grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox down 4-3.

                                                         Pena's first home run of the season

Borders ripped a base hit to left to open the top of the eighth but Lee bunted foul for strike three. White struck out swinging and Alomar flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Reed doubled to left to start. Greenwell grounded out to first to move Reed to third and that was it for Key. Pat Hentgen was brought in to face Burks and Ellis scored Reed with a sac fly to tie the game. Clark singled to left to put the go-ahead run on and Luis Rivera pinch ran for him. Plantier flied out to right to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.

                                                           Burks ties the game up

Jeff Reardon came in for the top of the ninth and Carter struck out swinging to start. Winfield grounded out to short and Gruber went down hacking to end the inning. Hentgen cruised in the bottom of the ninth as Naehring went down swinging to start. Vaughn struck out swinging and Pena grounded out to short to end the inning to send the game to extras.

Reardon returned for the top of the tenth and Olerud lined out to short to start. Maldonado flied out to right and Borders flied out to left to end the inning. Bob MacDonald came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth and Boggs flied out to center to begin. Reed grounded out to short and Greenwell flied out to left to end the inning.

Tom Bolton came in to pitch the top of the eleventh inning and Lee flied out to center to begin. White grounded out to short but Alomar walked. Carter grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Burks lined out to left to start the bottom of the eleventh and Rivera flied out to right. Plantier popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning.

Winfield grounded out to short to start the top of the 12th inning but Gruber singled in the hole at second. Gruber made a mad dash to third on a little roller to third by Olerud but Maldonado lined out to right to end the inning. Naehring lined out to short to begin the bottom of the 12th and Vaughn struck out swinging. Pena singled to left to put the winning run on but Boggs lined out to center to end the inning.

The Jays took command in the top of the thirteenth inning as Borders singled to center to start. Alfredo Griffin pinch hit for Lee and dropped down a bunt but Borders threw Borders out at second. White struck out swinging but Griffin moved to second on a balk. One out away from getting out of the inning....Alomar doubled in the hole at third to score Griffin with the go-ahead run. Peter Hoy came in to pitch to Carter and Joe singled up the middle to score Alomar with the insurance run. Winfield struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays ahead 6-4.

                                                    Not the best situation to put Hoy in

MacDonald came on to finish off the Sox in the bottom of the 13th and Reed grounded out to second to start. Greenwell also grounded out to second and Burks flied out to left to end the game. The Jays had won it 6-4 in 13 innings.

Jackass of the Night is Tom Bolton. He allowed the go-ahead run to score and was charged with another run in the 13th inning.

                                                                    Jackass Bolton

The Good:

Wade Boggs was 2 for 6 with a run scored.

Jody Reed was 2 for 6 with an rbi and a run scored.

Jack Clark was 2 for 4.

Tony Pena was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Greg Harris tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

Jeff Reardon tossed 2 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Luis Rivera was 0 for 1.

Phil Plantier was 0 for 5.

Tim Naehring was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Mo Vaughn was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.

Joe Hesketh got rocked for 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Ugly:

Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 6 with a strikeout but drove in a run.

Ellis Burks was 0 for 5 with an error but drove in a run.

Peter Hoy allowed an inherited runner to score in 1/3 of an inning.

Final Thoughts:

Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! After the Sox worked hard to come back in the seventh and eighth inning and shut down the Jays for the next four innings you'd think they would have won the game. Nope, not this team. Scoring 4 runs in 13 innings seems to be par for the course with this crew. It didn't help that the trio of Naehring, Plantier and Vaughn went 0 for 15 with 4 strikeouts. Those are supposed to be the future stars of the Sox and they sure didn't look like it in this one. Still its only one game and there's plenty of chances for those three to redeem themselves. After all, Ellis Burks went hitless and he's a veteran. On the other side of the ball, Joe Hesketh stunk the joint out but kudos to the bullpen that kept the Jays off the board from the sixth inning to the 12th. Its a shame Bolton ran out of juice and Hoy couldn't keep Carter off the bases. The Sox now travel to Milwaukee for a three game set against the Brewers. Mike Gardiner (1-0) gets the ball for Boston against Ricky Bones of the Brewers. The game begins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at County Stadium.

Sox Hang On To Beat Orioles (4/15/92)

It wasn't pretty but the Boston Red Sox came out of their off-day with a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Mike Gardiner of the Sox held the O's to no runs through the first six innings as the Sox took a 4-1 lead. Gardiner ran out of gas in the seventh inning as the O's clawed back to tie the game. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Jody Reed smacked a two run single to put the Sox ahead. Things got hairy in the top of the ninth when Chris Hoiles hit a one out home run but Jeff got the final two outs to earn the save and give the Sox the 6-5 win at Fenway Park.

                                                  Fefita Le Grande approves of the win

Gardiner got the ball in the top of the first and old buddy Brady Anderson struck out swinging to start. Joe Orsulak singled just wide of second base but Cal Ripken Jr popped up to short. Randy Milligan forced Orsulak at second to end the inning. Ben McDonald got the start for the Orioles and Wade Boggs struck out swinging to start. Jody Reed grounded out to short but Mike Greenwell walked. Ellis Burks struck out swinging to end the inning.

Mike Devereaux flied out to center to start the top of the second before old friend Sam Horn grounded out to second. Leo Gomez walked but Chris Hoiles struck out swinging to end the inning. McDonald cruised in the bottom of the second as Phil Plantier struck out swinging to start. Tom Brunansky grounded out to short and Mo Vaughn went down hacking to end the inning.

Billy Ripken popped up to first in foul territory to start the top of the third but Anderson tripled into the left field corner. Orsulak hit a ground ball to first and Anderson was thrown out in a rundown although Joe moved to second. Ripken Jr took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the third as Tim Naehring drew a walk to start. Tony Pena grounded back to the mound but Naehring took second. Boggs walked and Reed hit a routine grounder to Ripken Jr....bobbled for an error to score Naehring. Greenwell banged into a double play to end the inning but the Sox led 1-0.

                                                         Naehring scores a run

Gardiner cruised in the top of the fourth as Milligan grounded out to short to start. Devereaux grounded out to short as well and Horn flied out to left to end the inning. Burks grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the fourth but Plantier flied out to left. Brunansky singled in the hole at second but Vaughn struck out swinging to end the inning.

The O's fought back in the top of the fifth as Gomez grounded out to first to start. Hoiles singled to left and moved to second on the Ripken grounder to short. Anderson smacked another triple to score Hoiles to tie the game. Orsulak took strike three to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.

                                                              Anderson with two triples

McDonald cruised in the bottom of the fifth as Naehring struck out swinging to start. Pena popped up to second and Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning.

Gardiner dominated the top of the sixth as Ripken Jr popped up to second to start. Milligan and Devereaux both grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the sixth as Reed walked to start. Greenwell singled to right to move Jody to third but Burks hit a grounder to third. Reed was thrown out in a rundown but Greenwell moved to third and Burks second on the play. Plantier was intentionally walked to set up a double play but Bruno  hit a sac fly to right to score Greenwell to give the Sox the lead. Vaughn scored both runners with a double to left and Naehring walked to chase McDonald. Storm Davis came in to pitch and Pena walked to load the bases. Boggs flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-1.

                                                                    Vaughn drives in a pair

The O's rallied in the bottom of the seventh although Horn struck out swinging to start. Gomez flied out to right but Chris Hoiles singled to left. All of a sudden Butch Hobson sprinted out of the dugout and demanded the ball from Mike Gardiner with nobody warming up. Apparently Butch wanted Peter Hoy to pitch to pinch hitter Mark McLemore but fell asleep and forgot to call the bullpen to get him ready. McLemore doubled to left off the ice cold Hoy to score Hoiles and Anderson doubled to left to score him. Orsulak singled to right to score Anderson to tie the game as Gardiner threw his hands up and left the dugout. Hobson then brought in Greg Harris that was actually warming up and Greg got Ripken Jr to fly out to left to end the inning with the game tied 4-4.

                                                          Hobson failed Mike big time

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the seventh as Reed flied out to right to start. Greenwell flied out to left but Ripken Jr threw a routine grounder by Burks away for an error. Plantier flied out to center to end the inning.

Harris returned for the top of the eighth and Milligan grounded out to short to start. Devereaux took strike three and Horn went down hacking to end the inning. The Sox came through in the bottom of the eighth as Bruno and Vaughn dropped back to back base hits to right to start. Tim Naehring dropped down a bunt to move both runners over and Herm Winningham was sent to pinch hit for Pena. Winningham grounded out to third but Boggs was intentionally walked. Mark Williamson replaced Storm Davis to pitch to Reed and Jody made the O's pay by blooping a base hit to center to score both runners to give Boston the lead back. Mike Flanagan was brought on to face Greenwell but Mike lined out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-4.

                                                                Jody gets it done 

Jeff Reardon came in to close out the top of the ninth with John Flaherty now behind the plate. Chico Martinez pinch hit for Gomez and flied out to center but Hoiles hit a home run all the way to Mongolia to cut the lead. McLemore grounded out to second and Anderson grounded out to first to end the game. The Sox had hung on to win 6-4.

Hero of the Night is Jody Reed. He drove in the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth.

                                                                      Jody Hero

The Good:

Tom Brunansky was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Mo Vaughn was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Tim Naehring walked twice and scored a run in 3 plate appearances.

Mike Gardiner was charged with 2 runs in 6 2/3 superb innings. He allowed just 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5.

Greg Harris tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Herm Winningham grounded out as a pinch hitter.

Peter Hoy allowed an inherited runner to score and 2 of his own without retiring anyone.

Jeff Reardon allowed a home run while nailing down the save in the top of the ninth.

The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked twice.

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

Ellis Burks was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but scored a run.

Phil Plantier was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.

Tony Pena was 0 for 2 but walked.

Honorable Mention:

John Flaherty caught the top of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

That was a good win but Hobson almost blew it by bringing in Peter Hoy when Gardner wasn't even in trouble. All Gardiner needed was one more out and he would have put the Sox in great shape with Harris and Reardon ready to go. Its only April but Hobson is no Joe Morgan, that's for sure. Still, the offense managed to scratch out enough runs to win and Jody Reed had a hell of a game. The Sox missed the playoffs by slumping at the end of the season and hopefully Gardiner can prevent that this season. The Sox are going to bank on their pitching this season and hopefully the offense can improve over the end of last year. All in all it was a good win and hopefully it gets the Sox back on track. The Sox look to make it two in a row over the Orioles tomorrow evening when Roger Clemens takes the mound up against Bob Milacki of the O's. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Outlast Indians in 19 Inning Marathon (4/11/92)

Holy mother of God that was downright torture for anybody that watched tonight's game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. The Sox broke out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning but couldn't hold it. Sox starter Joe Hesketh lasted just 5 innings and allowed 3 runs to keep the game close. The Indians tied the game off Tom Bolton and Greg Harris in the bottom of the seventh then played an 11 inning game of futility with the Red Sox. Tony Fossas, Danny Darwin, Jeff Reardon and Mike Gardiner held the fort for the Red Sox long enough to get to the 19th inning. Tim Naehring hit a 2 run shot off Eric Bell and Gardner slammed the door in the bottom of the 19th to win the marathon 7-5 in 19 innings at Cleveland Stadium.

                                                 Boston Billy Rodgers approves of the win

Indians starter Dennis Cook got the ball in the top of the first and the Sox wasted no time getting to him. Wade Boggs led off with a double to left then took third on the Jody Reed base hit to right. Mike Greenwell popped up to short and Ellis Burks struck out swinging. As Burks struck out, Reed took off for second and stopped. As the Indians were chasing him, Boggs ran home to score a run before Reed was tagged out to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                            Boggs with a heads up play

Hesketh got the ball in the bottom of the first and Kenny Lofton grounded out to second to start. Glenallen Hill flied out to right but Carlos Baerga singled to center. Albert Belle grounded into a force to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the second as Jack Clark struck out swinging to start. Tom Brunansky flied out to right but Mo Vaughn crushed his second home run of the season to increase the lead. Tony Pena struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                                 Vaughn goes yard

Mark Whiten flied out to center to start the bottom of the second and Paul Sorrento took strike three. Sandy Alomar Jr doubled to left but Brook Jacoby struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the third as Luis Rivera doubled to left to start. Boggs singled in the hole at first to score Rivera but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double. That mistake proved costly as Reed cracked his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Greenwell grounded out to first and that was it for Dennis Cook. Rod "Not Reid" Nichols came in and Burks grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-0.

                                                                 Reed hits one out

Mark Lewis grounded out to third to start the bottom of the third but Lofton beat out a bunt down the third base line. Hill banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox struck again in the top of the fourth as Clark and Brunansky stroked back to back singles to start. Vaughn struck out swinging but Vaughn hit a double play ball to short. Lewis threw to Baerga but Carlos threw the ball away to allow Clark to score. Rivera singled Pena to third but Boggs flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-0.

                                                                   Clark scores a run

The Indians began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth as Baerga singled in the hole at short to start. Belle doubled Baerga over to third and Carlos scored on the grounder by Whiten to put the Indians on the board. Sorrento flied out to right and Alomar flied out to left to end the inning with the Indians down 4-1.

Ted Power came in to pitch the top of the fifth and Reed flied out to center to start. Greenwell grounded back to the mound and Burks popped up to first to end the inning. The Indians roared back in the bottom of the fifth although Jacoby flied out to left to start. Lewis doubled to center and Lofton drove him in with a base hit. Hill doubled home Lofton but Baerga grounded out to third. Belle was intentionally walked but Whiten struck out swinging to end the inning with the Indians down 5-3. That was it for Hesketh who lasted 5 innings but left with the lead by allowing 3 runs.

                                                       Hesketh leaves with the lead

Clark lined out to center to start the top of the sixth but Brunansky walked. Vaughn popped up to third and Pena grounded back to the mound to end the inning. 25 year old rookie Peter Hoy made his Major League debut in the bottom of the sixth and Sorrento flied out to center to start. Alomar and Jacoby stroked back to back singles but Lewis banged into a double play to end the inning. Welcome to Boston, Hoy.

                                                                 Good debut

Rivera walked to start the top of the seventh but Boggs took strike three. Reed flied out to left and Greenwell grounded out to first to end the inning. Tom Bolton came in to crap his pants in the bottom of the seventh as Lofton walked to start. Hill singled to left and Baerga beat out an infield single to third to load the bases with nobody out. Sox manager Butch Hobson stumbled out of the dugout and went to take the ball from Tony Pena before he had to be pointed in the direction of the mound. Greg Harris came in and Belle hit a sac fly to center to score Lofton. Whiten walked to reload the bases and Sorrento grounded out to first to score Hill with the tying run. Alomar lined out to second to end the inning but the game was tied 5-5.

                                                                Nice going Bolton

Brad Arnsberg came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Burks walked to start. Clark banged into a double play and Brunansky struck out swinging to end the inning. Harris returned for the bottom of the eighth and Alex Cole pinch hit for Jacoby, only to strike out swinging. Lewis grounded out to short and Lofton flied out to right to end the inning.

Tony Perezchica took over for Cole at third to begin the top of the ninth and Vaughn walked to start. Vaughn was doubled off first on a bullet hit by Pena to Sorrento, but Rivera singled in the hole at short. Herm Winningham came in to pinch run for Rivera and Derek Lilliquist came in to pitch to Boggs. Winningham then got thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning. Tim Naehring took over at short for the bottom of the ninth and Harris froze Hill for strike three to start. Baerga singled to right but was thrown out trying to steal second. Belle struck out looking to end the inning to send the game to extras.

Boggs took strike three to begin the top of the tenth inning and Reed grounded out to third. Mike Greenwell flied out to left to end the inning. Harris came back briefly in the bottom of the tenth but Whiten chased him with a base hit to left. Tony Fossas came in to pitch to Sorrento who dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Whiten to second. Danny Darwin was brought in to pitch and Alomar struck out swinging. Dave Rohde pinch hit for Perezchica and flied out to center to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the eleventh inning as Burks walked to chase Lilliquist. Steve Olin came in to pitch and Clark struck out swinging. Phil Plantier pinch hit for Brunansky and popped up to third. Vaughn lined a base hit to center but Pena popped up to center to end the inning. Darwin cruised in the bottom of the eleventh as Lewis took strike three to start. Lofton popped up to Darwin and Hill took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox blew another rally in the top of the 12th inning as Naehring lashed a base hit to left to start. Boggs forced Tim at second and Reed forced Boggs at second after. Greenwell blooped a single to right to move Reed to third but Burks struck out swinging to end the inning. Baerga flied out to left to begin the bottom of the 12th and Belle struck out swinging. Whiten also went down hacking to end the inning.

Clark grounded out to short to start the top of the 13th inning but Plantier was plunked. Vaughn banged into a double play to end the inning. Sorrento lined out to left to start the bottom of the 13th but Alomar doubled to center. Rohde was intentionally walked and the gamble worked as Darwin snared a line drive by Lewis and doubled off Sorrento to end the inning.

Pena flied out to left to begin the top of the 14th inning and Naehring grounded out to third. Eric Bell came in to pitch and Boggs flied out to center to end the inning. Lofton flied out to left to begin the bottom of the 14th and Hill struck out looking, but Baerga singled to left and Belle hit a roller past Naehring for a base hit. That was it for Darwin as Sox closer Jeff Reardon came in to get Whiten to fly out to left to end the inning. Darwin had tossed nearly 5 shutout innings.

                                                          Darwin keeps the Sox in it

Reed popped up to third to start the top of the 15th but Greenwell walked. Burks banged into a double play to end the inning. The Indians threatened in the bottom of the 15th as Sorrento walked to start. Alomar flied out to center and Rohde popped up to left, but Lewis blooped a single to left to send Sorrento to third. With the winning run 90 feet away, Lofton popped up to first to end the inning.

Bell cruised in the top of the 16th inning as Clark struck out swinging to start. Plantier and Vaughn both grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Reardon plunked Hill to start the bottom of the 16th but Baerga popped up to first. Belle banged into a double play to end the inning.

Pena grounded out to third to start the top of the 17th and Naehring took strike three. Boggs grounded out to first to end the inning. Mike Gardiner came in to pitch the bottom of the 17th and Whiten took strike three to start. Sorrento grounded out to short and Alomar took strike three to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the 18th as Reed walked to start. Greenwell flied out to left and Burks struck out swinging, but Clark walked. Plantier grounded out to second to end the inning. The Indians almost won it in the bottom of the eighth as Rohde walked to start. Lewis popped up to third but Lofton walked. Hill struck out swinging but Baerga singled in the hole at short to load the bases. With the winning run 90 feet away, Belle struck out swinging to end the inning.

                                                          Way to go Gardiner

The Sox finally broke the deadlock in the top of the 19th inning as Vaughn walked to start. Pena dropped down a bunt to move Vaughn to second and Naehring blasted his first home run of the season to give the Sox the lead. Boggs lined out to third and Reed flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-5.

                                                        Naehring gives Boston the lead

Gardiner came back to finish the bottom of the 19th and Whiten struck out swinging to start. Sorrento doubled to left but Alomar lined out to left. Rodhe grounded out to second to end the game. The Sox had survived the marathon 7-5 in 19 innings.

Hero of the Night is Tim Naehring. His 2 run homer in the 19th inning helped the Sox win

                                                         Hero Naehring

The Good:

Jody Reed was 2 for 8 with a walk and a home run.

Luis Rivera was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Tom Brunansky was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Mo Vaughn was 2 for 6 with 2 walks, a home run and 2 runs scored.

Joe Hesketh went 5 innings and allowed just 3 runs.

Peter Hoy made his ML debut with a scoreless sixth inning.

Tony Fossas retired the only man he faced.

Danny Darwin tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings.

Jeff Reardon tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Mike Gardiner got the win with 3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Tony Pena was 0 for 7 with a strikeout.

Herm Winningham was caught stealing as a pinch runner.

Tom Bolton was charged with 2 runs without retiring a batter.

The Ugly:

Wade Boggs was just 2 for 9 but drove in a run and scored a run.

Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 7 but walked.

Ellis Burks was 0 for 6 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked twice.

Jack Clark was just 1 for 7 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked and scored a run.

Phil Plantier was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch.

Greg Harris tossed 3 scoreless innings but allowed 2 inherited runners to score.

Final Thoughts:

That was a chore to sit through but at least the Sox won. They may not be right for a week but a W is a W. Its hard to imagine two teams not scoring for 12 consecutive innings but it happened. Kudos to the Sox pitching to keep the Indians down just long enough for them to take the lead. The trio of Darwin, Reardon and Gardiner tossed 9 2/3 scoreless innings with Gardiner picking up the win. Offensively the Sox were cruising but tip your caps to the Indians bullpen for holding the Sox down from the 5th inning all the way to the 18th. It was a long, drawn out war but the Sox prevailed. Unfortunately a game like this depletes the bullpen and tires anyone that played it so don't expect much tomorrow. Here's the worst part for both teams, tomorrow is a doubleheader! Not only did they play essentially two games tonight, they're playing two games tomorrow. Matt Young makes his season debut tomorrow afternoon against Charles Nagy of the Indians at 2:05 PM Eastern time at Cleveland Stadium.