The Sox threatened to score first in the top of the first inning although Wade Boggs grounded out to third to start. Dwight Evans grounded out to second but Jim Rice singled to center and Tony Armas doubled him to third. Reid Nichols grounded out to second to end the inning. The Mariners scored their only run in the bottom of the first inning although Steve Henderson grounded back to the mound to start. Dave Edler grounded out to third but Al Cowens walked and stole second. Ken Phelps walked and Pat Putnam singled home Cowens to give the Mariners the lead. Dave Henderson hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but it was 1-0 Mariners.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second inning as Dave Stapleton popped up to short to start. Jeff Newman took strike three and Glenn Hoffman grounded out to short to end the inning. Rick Sweet singled to center to start the bottom of the second but Todd Cruz took strike three. Julio Cruz forced Sweet at second before he stole third. The alert Newman gunned down Julio trying to steal to end the inning.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third inning as Ed Jurak grounded out to second to start. Both Boggs and Evans grounded out to second as well to end the inning. The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the third although Steve Henderson struck out to start. Edler singled to right and Cowens walked before Edler moved to third on the fly ball to center. Putnam was plunked to load the bases but Dave Henderson grounded into a force to end the inning.
Young cruised in the top of the fourth inning as Rice singled to start but was thrown out trying to stretch a double. Armas flied out to center and Nichols grounded out to third to end the inning. Eckersley cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Sweet flied out to center to start. Todd Cruz popped up to third and Julio Cruz struck out to end the inning.
Stapleton grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth before Newman flied out to right. Hoffman also flied out to right to end the inning. Steve Henderson singled to right to begin the bottom of the fifth but was thrown out trying to steal by Newman. Edler flied out to left and Cowens grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox took the lead in the top of the sixth as Jurak singled to right to start. Boggs was plunked and both runners moved over on the grounder by Evans. Rice hit a sac fly to score Jurak with the tying run. Armas hit a routine grounder to Edler but he booted it for an error to score Boggs with the go-ahead run. Rick Miller pinch ran for Armas as Nichols grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-1.
Eck stepped up big time with the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Phelps was caught looking to start, Putnam grounded back to the mound and Dave Henderson struck out to end the inning.
Young cruised in the top of the seventh as Stapleton grounded out to short, Newman went down hacking and Hoffman flied out to right to end the inning. Eck matched Young in the bottom of the seventh as Sweet grounded out to first, Todd Cruz struck out and Julio Cruz grounded out to first to end the inning.
Jurak tried to start a rally by beating out an infield single to short but he was thrown out trying to steal second. Boggs walked to chase Young as Mike Stanton came in to pitch. Evans and Rice both struck out to end the inning. Eck went one last inning in the bottom of the eighth but Steve Henderson singled to left. The alert Newman threw out Henderson trying to steal before Edler grounded out to short. Cowens flied out to left to end the inning. Eckersley had tossed 8 innings and allowed no runs after the first inning.
Miller led off the top of the ninth with a strikeout before Nichols doubled to right. Stapleton lined out to third and Newman flied out to right to end the inning. Bob Stanley came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth inning and Phelps greeted him with a base hit to right. John Moses pinch ran for Phelps but Putnam flied out to center. Moses moved to second on a grounder by Dave Henderson but Sweet lashed a single to right. Moses headed for home and Nichols gunned the ball home.....YOU'RE OUTTA THERE! Moses was called out, the game was over and the Sox had won it 2-1.
Hero of the Night is Reid Nichols. He threw out the tying run in the bottom of the ninth to win the game for the Sox.
The Good:
Jim Rice was 2 for 3 with an rbi.
Tony Armas was 1 for 3.
Ed Jurak was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Dennis Eckersley tossed 8 outstanding innings allowing just 1 run while striking out 6 to earn the win.
Bob Stanley earned his 5th save with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Dwight Evans was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Rick Miller struck out in his only at-bat.
Dave Stapleton was 0 for 4.
Glenn Hoffman was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Wade Boggs was 0 for 2 but walked, was hit with a pitch and cored a run.
Jeff Newman was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but threw out 3 baserunners trying to steal.
Final Thoughts:
That was probably the best defensive game of the season for the Red Sox. Jeff Newman had to throw out guys left and right and the Nichols play saved the game. Eckersley pitched outstanding and apart from Mike Brown's disaster, Eck, John Tudor and Bruce Hurst have had a good week. If these three can keep this up, maybe the Sox cane match the Milwaukee Brewers this season. The offense didn't do much today but some days you just have to rely on pitching and defense, this was one of those days. After an off-day the Sox travel to Anaheim for a three game set with the California Angels. Bruce Hurst looks to build on his last start when he takes on Bruce Kison at 10:05 PM Eastern time at Anaheim Stadium.
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