The Sox did strike first against Brewers starter Tim Leary in the top of the first inning. Dwight Evans drew a walk and Wade Boggs doubled him home but was thrown out at third trying to stretch. Bill Buckner back to the mound but Rich Gedman walked. Tony Armas struck out to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Lollar got out of the bottom of the first okay as Mike Felder grounded out to second to start. Paul Molitor flied out to center but Billy Jo Robidoux walked. Cecil Cooper popped up to short to end the inning.
Mike Easler flied out to left to start the top of the second before Marty Barrett struck out. Rookie Mike Greenwell flied out to left to end the inning. The Brewers pounded the Sox in the bottom of the second as Randy Ready flied out to center to start. Ernie Riles struck out but Paul Householder doubled to left. Jim Gantner singled home Householder and took second on the throw. Charlie Moore singled home Gantner and Felder singled him to third. Molitor doubled home Moore and Robidoux walked to load the bases. Cooper singled home Molitor and Felder to chase the ineffective Lollar. Tim lasted just 1 2/3 innings and allowed 5 runs. Rookie Rob Woodward came in and got Ready to fly out to right to end the inning but it was 5-0 Brewers.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the third as Glenn Hoffman beat out an infield single to start. Evans flied out to right but Boggs singled. Buckner flied out to left and Gedman grounded out to short to end the inning. Woodward cruised in the bottom of the third as Riles grounded out to second to begin. Householder popped up to short but Gantner tripled. Moore grounded out to third to end the inning.
Armas tried to start a rally with a scintillating triple to open the top of the fourth but was stranded when Easler grounded out to third. Barrett popped up to second and Greenwell struck out to end the inning. Felder grounded out to short to open the bottom of the fourth but Molitor singled. Robidoux flied out to right before Molitor swiped second. Cooper flied out to left to end the inning.
Hoffman grounded out to short to start the top of the fifth before Evans flied out to center. Boggs grounded out to second to end the inning. The Brewers struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Ready walked to start. Riles singled to right and Householder doubled home Ready. Woodward recovered to strike out Gantner and get Moore to pop up to second. Felder walked to load the bases but Molitor grounded out to short to end the inning with the Brewers ahead 6-1.
Boston failed to respond in the top of the sixth as Buckner popped up to short to start. Gedman popped up to third and Armas struck out to end the inning. Woodward got Robidoux to strike out to open the bottom of the sixth before Cooper flied out to left. Ready walked but Riles grounded out to second to end the inning.
The Sox finally got a run in the top of the seventh when Easler launched his 15th home run of the year to cut the deficit. Barrett flied out to center, Greenwell struck out and Hoffman grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 6-2 Brewers.
Householder walked to start the bottom of the seventh and was sacrificed to second by Gantner. Moore flied out to center and Felder flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox rallied in the top of the eighth although Evans struck out to start. Boggs grounded out to short but Buckner walked. Gedman got a base hit and Armas singled home Buckner to cut the lead in half and bring the tying run to the plate. Ray Searage came in to pitch with Steve Lyons coming in to run for Armas. With a chance to extend the rally....Easler struck out to end the inning with the Sox down 6-3.
Woodward finished up in the bottom of the eighth as Molitor lined out to right to begin. Robidoux flied out to left but Cooper walked. Ready grounded out to short to end the inning. Hell of an effort by Woodward to limit the Brewers to just 1 run in 6 1/3 innings of relief.
The Sox had one last chance in the top of the ninth with Ed Romero now in left field. Barrett led off with a double to right and Ed Jurak pinch hit for the rookie Greenwell. Jurak struck out as Jim Rice pinch hit for Hoffman, drawing a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Jackie Gutierrez ran for Rice as Danny Darwin came in to close out the game. Evans hit one up the elevator shaft and Boggs flied out to left to end the game. The Brewers held on to win the game 6-3.
Jackass of the Night is Tim Lollar. He got lit up for 5 runs in just 1 2/3 innings.
The Good:
Wade Boggs was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
Rich Gedman was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Tony Armas was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Glenn Hoffman was 1 for 3.
Jim Rice walked as a pinch hitter.
Rob Woodward allowed just 1 run in 6 1/3 innings of relief.
The Bad:
Mike Greenwell was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.
Ed Jurak struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Dwight Evans was 0 for 4 but walked and scored.
Bill Buckner was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.
Mike Easler was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a home run.
Marty Barrett was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Steve Lyons played center in the bottom of the eighth.
Jackie Gutierrez pinch ran for Jim Rice.
Final Thoughts:
How sad is it the only positive from this game was a relief effort by the rookie Rob Woodward? The Sox went nowhere this season and are going to have to make some changes if they hope to contend next season. The offense is as good as anyone but good lord do they need pitching help. Woodward could be the key next year if he can be the pitcher they thought the Sox were getting when they drafted him. The Sox have some talent with Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst, Al Nipper, Bob Ojeda and Oil Can Boyd but someone has to step up. The Sox really missed John Tudor this year but who would have thought he'd pitch as well as he did for the St. Louis Cardinals when the Sox sent him packing to the Pittsburgh Pirates? As for this game? Meh...who cares. Tomorrow night these two teams have another snooze when Bill Wegman goes for the Brewers against Bruce Hurst of the Red Sox at 8:00 PM Eastern Time at County Stadium.
