Terrell, Yankees Blank Sox (9/27/89)

Its only fitting for a schizophrenic team like the Boston Red Sox to head to the end of the season with one of the most pathetic losses all season. Its one thing to get shut out by a great pitcher like Nolan Ryan, Jack Morris or Dave Stewart....its another to get completely shut down by a guy who's lost EIGHTEEN games this season. Walt Terrell of the New York Yankees has been complete batting practice this season but he gave the Red Sox a middle finger for them to sit and spin on in tonight's game. Terrell threw a complete game 5 hit shutout, blanking the Jekyll & Hyde Sox in the middle of a September hot streak. John Dopson (11-8, 4.08 ERA) pitched admirably in defeat, allowing just 3 runs as he went the distance as well. The Sox have had a lot of losses this season but this one was humiliating as the Yankees blanked them 3-0 at Fenway Park. How many runs did the Sox score Dean Wormer?

Dopson took the mound in the top of the first inning and Steve Sax grounded out to third to start. Luis Polonia lined out to center and Don Mattingly grounded out to first to end the inning. Terrell cruised in the bottom of the first as Wade Boggs led off with a grounder to second. Marty Barrett grounded back to the mound and Dwight Evans struck out swinging to end the inning.

Mel Hall struck out swinging to open the top of the second before Jesse Barfield also went down hacking. Roberto Kelly grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the second as Alvaro Espinoza booted a Mike Greenwell grounder to start. Nick Esasky singled to second but Danny Heep banged into a double play. Luis Rivera grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Yankees struck first in the top of the third as Mike Blowers walked to start. Espinoza moved Blowers to second on a grounder to third but Brian Dorsett singled to center to score Mike. Sax hit a routine grounder to Rivera who threw his glove at the ball and started wrestling with second base for an error to put runners at the corners. Polonia hit into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

                                                               Dorsett drives in a run

The Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the third as Kevin Romine grounded out to first to start. John Marzano grounded out to second and Boggs grounded out to first to end the inning.

Mattingly flied out to center to start the top of the fourth before Hall grounded out to second. Barfield grounded out to short to end the inning. Barrett was plunked to start the bottom of the fourth but was thrown out trying to steal on the Evans swinging strikeout. Greenwell grounded out to second to end the inning.

Dopson cruised in the top of the fifth as Kelly grounded out to short to start. Blowers took strike three and Espinoza grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Esasky blooped a single to right to begin the bottom of the fifth but Heep forced him at second. Rivera forced Heep at second but Romine beat out a roller just past Terrell. Marzano grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Yankees struck again in the top of the sixth as Dorsett singled to center to start. Dorsett moved to second on a wild pitch and Sax ripped a base hit to center. Dorsett teased going home and Sax took second on the throw home. Polonia hit a sac fly to score Dorsett to increase the lead but Mattingly grounded out to second. Hall also grounded out to second to end the inning with the Yankees up 2-0.

                                                            Polonia drives in a run

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the sixth as Boggs grounded out to short to start. Barrett flied out to right and Evans grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Yankees iced the game in the top of the seventh as Barfield smashed a home run all the way to Claypit Pond to increase the lead. Kelly grounded out to short, Blowers struck out swinging and Espinoza took strike three to end the inning with the Yankees up 3-0.

                                                        No run support for Dopson

Greenwell tried to start a rally with a base hit to right to begin the bottom of the seventh but Esasky flied out to center. Heep grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Dopson rebounded in the top of the eighth as Dorsett grounded out to short to start. Sax grounded back to the mound and Polonia popped up to center to end the inning. Rivera singled to center to start the bottom of the eighth and Jeff Stone pinch hit for Romine. Stone lined out to left and Sam Horn pinch hit for Marzano. Rivera moved to second on the grounder to second by Horn but Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning.

Dopson returned for the top of the ninth inning with Rick Cerone now behind the plate. Mattingly grounded back to the mound but Hall singled to center. Hall was doubled off first on the line drive to Boggs to end the inning. Dopson had thrown a complete game while allowing 3 runs, 9 times out of 10 that's good enough to win.

                                                     Complete game for Dopson

Wayne Tolleson took over at second for Sax for the bottom of the ninth and Barrett grounded out to short to start. Jody Reed pinch hit for Evans and struck out swinging before Greenwell popped up to third in foul territory to end the game. Terrell had thrown a complete game shutout and beat the Sox 3-0.

Jackass of the Night is Danny Heep. He was 0 for 3 including hitting into a double play with 2 men on when the game was in reach.

                                                             A Heep of Jackass

The Good:

Nick Esasky was 2 for 3.

Kevin Romine was 1 for 2.

One of the rare times the losing pitcher ends up on the Good list but John Dopson threw a complete game 5 hitter, allowing just 3 runs while walking 1 batter.

The Bad:

Wade Boggs was 0 for 4.

Dwight Evans was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Jody Reed struck out as a pinch hitter.

Jeff Stone was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

John Marzano was 0 for 2.

Sam Horn was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

The Ugly:

Marty Barrett was 0 for 3 but was hit with a pitch.

Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 4.

Luis Rivera was 1 for 3 but committed an error.

Honorable Mention:

Rick Cerone caught the last inning.

Final Thoughts:

If the Red Sox didn't crap the bed on the west coast trip where they went 1-9, the Sox would be right there with the Toronto Blue Jays with just four games left in the season. As it is, they're mathematically eliminated and are just playing out the string. If going 1-9 against the west coast teams wasn't bad enough, tonight they got shutout by a guy who lost 18 games this season. Its one thing to lose a slugfest, its another to get shutout. I know Terrell wasn't as bad as his record indicates but this was still embarrassing. In a season that had more drama than fun, hopefully next year won't be such a headache for everyone involved. The less said of this disaster, the better. The loss drops the Sox to 80-78, tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for third place in the AL East. The Sox now welcome the Brewers for a four game showdown to end the regular season. Only thing left to play for is who finishes third place and tomorrow night Mike Boddicker makes his last start of the season up against Don August of Milwaukee. The makeup game from July 5th begins at 7:35 PM at Fenway Park.

Ryan Outduels Clemens, Rangers Beat Sox (4/30/89)

The good news is the Roger Clemens (3-1, 1.96 ERA) held the Texas Rangers to two runs in a complete game effort for the Boston Red Sox. The bad news was 42 year old Nolan Ryan held the Red Sox to just 1 run in 8 innings himself. Ryan left after 8 innings of 1 run ball and the Rangers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a one out home run by Rafael Palmeiro. Rangers closer Jeff Russell slammed the door in the top of the ninth and the Rangers had beaten the Red Sox 2-1 at Arlington Stadium. Its been that kind of year so far.

                                                 Barnaby hates blown leads in the 8th

Ryan got the ball in the top of the first and Boggs drew a leadoff walk. Danny Heep forced Boggs at second and Ellis Burks took a fastball to the head and collapsed. Ellis had to be carried out on a stretcher and rushed to the local ICU as Randy Kutcher pinch ran for him. Both runners moved over on the grounder to second by Mike Greenwell before Boggs scored on the wild pitch by Ryan. Jim Rice hit a 380 foot out to the left field wall to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                 Burks gets knocked out

Clemens got the ball in the top of the first inning and Cecil Espy led off by taking a curveball down the middle for strike three. Scott Fletcher flied out to right and Clemens sent a message to the Rangers by brushing back Rafael Palmeiro before he walked. Ruben Sierra flied out to right to end the inning.

Nick Esasky led off the top of the second by striking out swinging before Rich Gedman flied flied out to center. Jody Reed reached when Scott Fletcher's throw pulled Palmeiro off the bag but Ed Romero flied out to the left field wall to end the inning. The red hot Julio Franco led off the bottom of the second with a grounder to third to start. Geno Petralli got a base hit to left and moved to second on the Rick Leach grounder. Steve Buechele was plunked unintentionally and Gedman trotted to the mound to tell Roger to calm the heck down. Jeff Stone grounded out to second to end the inning.

Boggs led off the top of the third by taking strike three to start. Heep whiffed but Kutcher drew a walk. Greenwell grounded out to second to end the inning. Espy lined out to third to start the bottom of the third before Fletcher grounded out to short. Palmeiro grounded out to second to end the inning.

Rice led off the top of the fourth by getting plunked before moving to second on a passed ball. Esasky whiffed again before Gedman went down hacking. Reed took strike three to end the inning after the Rangers telecast said Reed struck out only 21 times in 1988. Sierra flied out to center to start the bottom of the fourth before Franco grounded out to short. Petralli dumped a base hit in front of Greenwell in left and Leach walked, but Buechele grounded into a force to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fifth as Romero and Boggs grounded out to second to start. The Sox got their first hit when Heep dumped a single to right. Kutcher drew another walk but Greenwell popped up to left to end the inning.

                                                Ryan allowed just 1 hit through 5

Stone grounded out to second to start the bottom of the fifth before Espy also grounded out to second. Clemens blew away Fletcher to end the inning.

                                              Clemens gets it done through 5

Ryan turned up the heat in the top of the sixth as Rice whiffed to start. Esasky earned the hat trick with his third strikeout and Gedman also went down hacking to end the inning. Clemens matched Ryan by catching Palmeiro looking to start the bottom of the sixth. Sierra grounded out to first and Heep reached into the stands to corral a Franco fly out to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the seventh as Reed doubled just on the left field foul line to start. Romero failed to drop down a bunt but instead lashed a base hit to right. Sierra threw home but the throw was cut-off and Romero was caught in a rundown. Foolishly Reed tried for home and he got caught in a rundown. Reed motioned Romero to go to third but Ed didn't move from second and Reed was tagged out. Boggs was intentionally walked but Heep banged into a double play to end the inning. What the hell was Reed thinking?

                                                IDIOT!

Dwight Evans took over for Heep in the bottom of the seventh as Petralli took strike three to start. Leach whiffed but Buechele beat out a little roller to Romero for an infield single. Stone lined out to center to end the inning.

Ryan cruised in the top of the eighth as Kutcher swung at ball four to start. Greenwell flied out to right but Rice whiffed to end the inning. Ryan had thrown 136 pitches and allowed just the one run in 8 innings while striking out 11.

                                                     Ryan was tough

The Rangers took command in the bottom of the eighth as Espy dumped a base hit to left to start. Fletcher tried to bunt him over but popped up to first, but Palmeiro smashed a two run home run off the right field foul pole to give the Rangers the lead. Sierra flied out to center but Franco singled up the middle. Petralli took strike three to end the inning with the Rangers leading 2-1. Clemens went the distance but the two run home run was the difference in the game.

                                                 Dammit

Rangers closer Jeff Russell came on for the top of the ninth with Pete Incaviglia now in left field. Esasky earned the dubious golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout of the game to start. Gedman grounded out to second and Sam Horn pinch hit for Reed. Horn took strike three to end the game. The Rangers shocked the Sox to win the game 2-1.

                                                 Rangers win


Jackass of the Night is Nick Esasky. In a one run game he was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.

                                                Golden Sombrero Jackass


The Good:

Ellis Burks had a hit by pitch before leaving.

Randy Kutcher walked twice in three plate appearances.

Ed Romero was 1 for 3.

One of the few times the losing pitcher ends up on the good list but Roger Clemens was outstanding. He threw a complete game 6 hitter with the one mistake being a two run homer by Palmeiro. He walked 2 and struck out 6.



The Bad:

Mike Greenwell was 0 for 4.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Sam Horn struck out to end the game.



The Ugly:

Jim Rice was 0 for 3 but was plunked.

Wade Boggs was 0 for 2 but walked twice.

Jody Reed was 1 for 3 but got caught in a crucial rundown.

Danny Heep was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.



Honorable Mention:

Dwight Evans played right field in the final two innings.




Final Thoughts:

Well this game was a kick to the gonads. The Sox weren't going to get much off of Ryan and Clemens kept pace for 7 innings. One bad pitch to Palmeiro ended up being the difference in the game because the Sox ran themselves into outs and couldn't get a clutch hit when it counted. The Sox would have been shut out if it wasn't for a bad pitch by Ryan. The Rangers started out hot in the month of April and basically found ways to win all month, today was no different. The Sox have found ways to lose all month, today was also no different. The Sox better get things in gear because you're not going to win the AL East playing mediocre baseball. The loss dropped the Sox to 10-12 for the month of April, 1 game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Clemens and Ryan are due to meet again next week at Fenway but tomorrow the Sox head to Minnesota to play a set with the Twins. Oil Can Boyd (1-1) goes for the Sox up against Allan Anderson of the Twins at 8:05 PM Eastern time at the Metrodome.

Tigers Spoil Opening Day at Fenway (4/4/88)

The stench of 1987 carried over to 1988 as the Boston Red Sox dropped their Opening Day encounter with Sparky Anderson's Detroit Tigers in extra innings. Roger Clemens and Jack Morris matched each other for 9 innings before the Tigers won it in the 10th to spoil the festive day at Fenway Park.

                                           Kate is depressed but Allie is happy as a clam

Clemens got the opening day start in the top of the first and Gary Pettis greeted him by popping up to short on the very first pitch of the season. Lou Whitaker walked but Darrell Evans looked at a splitter on the outside corner for strike three. Alan Trammell popped up to second to end the inning. Tigers ace Jack Morris was equally tough as Clemens in the bottom of the first inning. Rookie Brady Anderson made his major league debut by whiffing, welcome to the big leagues kid. Marty Barrett grounded out to short but Wade Boggs doubled off the Monster for the first hit of the season. Jim Rice was rung up on a check swing  to end the inning.

Clemens turned up the heat in the top of the second by blowing away Matt Nokes to start. Pat Sheridan and Chet Lemon both were caught looking in short order. Morris answered by walking Mike Greenwell but he was erased on a strike em out, throw em out double play by Dwight Evans. Last year's hero Sam Horn grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the third inning. Mike Heath froze on strike three but Tom Brookens walked after falling behind 0-2. Pettis popped up to left but Brookens advanced to second on a balk on Clemens. Whitaker made Roger pay with a single to score Brookens to give the Tigers the lead. ANOTHER balk moved Whitaker to second before Evans grounded out to second to end the inning with the Tigers up 1-0.

                                     "Walk this way? More like Balk this way!" - Steven Tyler

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third inning. Rich Gedman grounded out to third and Spike Owen grounded out to second. Anderson legged out an infield single for his first career hit but only because Whitaker heaved the ball into the Red Sox dug-out, nearly killing Heath who tumbled into it. Barrett popped up to second to end the inning.

The Tigers struck again in the top of the fourth inning although Trammell flied out to right to start. Nokes grounded out to first but Sheridan walked. Lemon slapped a ball down the right field line that scored Sheridan all the way from first, Lemon making it to third with a triple to increase the lead. Heath flied out to right to end the inning but the Tigers were up 2-0.

                                       "DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!" - Clemens

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth when Boggs doubled off the Monster to start. Rice hit one up the elevator shaft but Greenwell singled past the diving Trammell to put runners at the corners. Evans doubled home Boggs but Greenwell held at third amidst a chorus of boos from the crowd. The boos turned to cheers when Horn lined a seeing eye single past Whitaker at second to score both runners and give the Sox the lead. Gedman whiffed on a splitter in the dirt and Owen flied out to right but the Sox now led 3-2.

                                                     Sam Horn gives the Sox the lead

The Tigers threatened in the top of the fifth inning when Brookens singled to right to start the frame. Pettis tried to sacrifice Tom to second but Clemens threw him out at second for the force. Gedman then gunned down Pettis trying to steal but Whitaker walked and and advanced on ANOTHER balk by Clemens. Sox analyst Bob Montgomery suggested manager John McNamara come out and calm down Clemens but Roger didn't need it, blowing away Evans to end the inning. Anderson blooped a single to right to give the bottom of the fifth some hope...but then he got picked off to end that. Barrett was retired on a squibber in front of the mound and Boggs watched strike three go by to end the inning.

                                                  Nice hit...lousy baserunning

The Tigers tied the game in the top of the sixth inning although Trammell flied out to right to start. Nokes blasted a line drive home run over the bullpen to tie the game. Clemens recovered to strike out Sheridan but Lemon blooped a single just out of the reach of a diving Rice in left. Heath was frozen for strike three to end the inning but the Tigers had tied it 3-3.

Rice whiffed to begin the bottom of the sixth amidst a chorus of boos but Greenwell singled to right. Evans flied out to the centerfield wall as Morris stopped to knock some dirt off his spikes while half the crowd went to get some nachos. Horn flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning.

Brookens continued to be a pain in the ass in the top of the seventh by doubling off the top of the Monster in center. In Detroit that ball was gone and Pettis sacrificed Brookens to third with a bunt. A foul ball made its way to the luxury boxes where wealthy paper mogul Bob Kraft made the catch. Whitaker was rung up for strike three and Evans grounded out to first to end the inning.

                                        Bob Kraft...wonder if he'll ever be known in Boston

Gedman led off the bottom of the seventh by grounding out to short. Owen grounded out to second but Anderson blooped a single to center for his third hit of the day. Barrett lined out to left to end the inning.

Clemens breezed through the top of the eighth inning. Trammell grounded out to second, Nokes lined out to left and Sheridan whiffed for Roger's 10th strikeout of the game. Morris was equally tough in the bottom of the eighth inning as Boggs grounded out to short to start. Rice flied out to center and Greenwell popped up to short to end the inning.

Clemens came back for one more inning in the top of the ninth. Lemon hit a comebacker to the mound, Heath grounded out to second and Roger finally got Brookens looking to end the inning. Clemens had thrown 9 innings of 3 run ball with 11 strikeouts but would need a ninth inning rally to get a win.

                                              Great effort by Clemens

It didn't come as Morris mowed the Sox down in the bottom of the ninth. Evans whiffed on a splitter in the dirt, Horn whiffed as well on a low splitter then Gedman whiffed to end the inning. Morris finished with a flurry to send this to extras.

The new Red Sox closer, Lee Smith took the mound in the top of the tenth to a standing ovation. Fans were THAT happy to get rid of Calvin Schiraldi apparently. The cheers didn't last long as Pettis hit a routine ground ball to Owen who tried to field it in his hat instead of his glove and the ball rolled through for an error. Whitaker dropped down a sacrifice bunt but Smith chose to get the easy out at first rather than try for second where he actually had a play. Evans then hit one to the right field wall but Greenwell hauled it in, advancing Pettis to third. That would have been the third out but it turned into a lost cause when Trammell crushed a home run onto Lansdowne Street to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead. Nokes flied out to the right field warning track to end the inning but the Tigers were up 5-3 as fans poured out of Fenway Park.

                                                 Welcome to Boston Smith...it sucks

Mike Henneman was brought in to pitch the bottom of the tenth inning where the Sox were done for the night. Owen was booed as he stepped to the plate and he didn't help himself as he lined out to right. Anderson hit a bullet but right to Trammell for the out. The Sox briefly caught a break when Barrett hit a routine grounder to Whitaker who pulled a Bill Buckner and let the ball go through his legs. The Sox failed to capitalize as Boggs grounded into a force to end the game. The Tigers stole one to spoil the Fenway opener 5-3.

Jackass of the Night is Spike Owen. He was 0 for 4 at the plate and his 10th inning error led to the game winning home run.

                                          Owen the Jackass misses the ball


The Good:

Brady Anderson was 3 for 5 in his Major League debut.

Wade Boggs was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Mike Greenwell was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Roger Clemens tossed 9 innings of 3 run ball while striking out 11. Normally that would be more than enough to win the game.



The Bad:

Marty Barrett was 0 for 5.

Jim Rice was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Rich Gedman was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Lee Smith allowed the go-ahead 2 run homer after Owen's error.



The Ugly:

Dwight Evans was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.

Sam Horn was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.




Final Thoughts:

That sucked. Clemens pitched his ass off and Brady Anderson got 3 hits in his first 5 at-bats but that damn Owen error was the difference. Then again, it didn't seem like the Sox were going to score anyway the way things were going even if it was tied going into the 11th. They're going to need HazMat teams to clean up the messes this season if Smith is no better than Schiraldi was. Still, its only one game and they can't lose them all. The Sox return to action Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 PM with Bruce Hurst making his season debut opposite Doyle Alexander at Fenway Park.