Clemens Goes Berserk, Gets Ejected, Sox Lose to White Sox (7/30/86)

The Boston Red Sox could be without their star pitcher Roger Clemens (17-3, 2.54 ERA) for a few games after he went insane in tonight's game against the Chicago White Sox. In the fifth inning of a tied game, Clemens thought he made the play at first but umpire Greg Kosc ruled he missed the bag. Clemens protested by jumping onto Kosc earning an ejection. He then got in Kosc's face and shouted invectives before being literally carried out horizontally by Don Baylor and Jim Rice. The White Sox went on to win the game and there's talk Clemens will be suspended for his terrible behavior. In a season where the Red Sox have as good a chance of anyone to win the division, your ace cannot get himself thrown out of games like this where every win matters. As it was, the White Sox took care of business with a 7-2 win at Comiskey Park.

                                               Sox lose game and Clemens

Jose DeLeon got the start for the ChiSox and Ed Romero led off with a ground rule double into the left field corner before moving to third on a wild pitch. Wade Boggs popped up to left but Bill Buckner drove home Ed with a grounder to second to put the BoSox on top. Jim Rice lined out to second to end the inning with the BoSox up 1-0.

                                                Romero scores the game's first run

Clemens made the White Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the first. John Cangelosi grounded back to the mound, Steve Lyons grounded out to first and Harold Baines grounded back to Roger to end the inning.

Don Baylor drew a walk to lead off the top of the second but Dwight Evans went down hacking. Tony Armas popped up to second and Rich Gedman flied out to right to end the inning. Greg Walker blooped a single in front of Rice to start the bottom of the second but new acquisition Ron Hassey banged into a double play. Carlton Fisk popped up to third to end the inning.

DeLeon cruised in the top of the third as Dave Stapleton popped up to third in foul territory to start. Romero lined out to a running Cangelosi before Boggs grounded out to short to end the inning. The ChiSox threatened in the bottom of the third as Tim Hulett got a base hit up the middle to start after a 12 pitch at bat. Hulett was erased on the force by Ozzie Guillen before Ozzie was thrown out trying to steal second by the alert Gedman. Julio Cruz walked and Cangelosi caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single, but Clemens blew away Lyons to end the inning.

The BoSox struck again in the top of the fourth although Buckner whiffed to start. Rice lined out to short but Baylor hit an absolute bomb into the upper deck in left for his 19th home run of the year. Evans hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning but the BoSox were ahead 2-0.

                                                  Baylor goes upper deck

The ChiSox tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth when Baines and Walker stroked back to back singles to start. Clemens got a key play when Hassey banged into another double play to kill the rally. Fisk lined out to center to end the inning.

Armas grounded out to third to begin the top of the fifth but Gedman poked a single to right. Stapleton whiffed and sent his bat flying before Romero grounded into a force to end the inning.
Things fell apart for the Sox in the bottom of the fifth as Hulett and Guillen stroked back to back singles to start. Cruz dropped down a bunt to Clemens but he booted it to load the bases. Cangelosi forced Cruz at second but Hulett scored to cut the lead. Cangelosi swiped second before Lyons hit a sac fly to center to score Guillen, advancing Cagelosi to third and tying the game. Baines hit a routine grounder to Buckner who flipped to Clemens for the out....BUT WAIT! First base umpire Greg Kosc said Clemens missed the bag and Guillen scored to give the White Sox the lead. A furious Roger got in his face and swore he touched the bag and Greg gave Roger the HEAVE-HO! Clemens tried to plead his case as Sox manager John McNamara stumbled out of the dugout to ask for an explanation. Clemens refused to leave and had to literally be carried out by Don Baylor and Jim Rice. Al Nipper then started barking at the umpires after what happened last night and he got tossed as well. Sammy Stewart had to wait for Nipper to be escorted out to begin his warmup throws and Walker flied out to left to end the inning. When the madness ended the White Sox had taken the lead 3-2 and Clemens was gone.

                                                          Mayhem in Chicago

Boggs tried to start a rally with a walk to begin the top of the sixth but Buckner popped up to left. Rice popped up to Fisk in foul territory before Baylor struck out swinging to end the inning. The White Sox pounded on Stewart in the bottom of the sixth as Hassey walked to start. Fisk flied out to right but Hulett bashed a 70 million foot home run to ice the game. Guillen dumped a single to left and moved to second on the grounder by Cruz. Cangelosi grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 5-2 White Sox.

                                                      Hulett with a home run

Dave Schmidt  came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Evans lined out to short to start. Armas accidentally check swinged a ball back to the mound for the second out although Gedman was plunked. Stapleton grounded out to third to end the inning. Tim Lollar came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Lyons flied out to Armas on the warning track. Baines also flied out to the centerfield wall but Walker blooped a single to center but Hassey grounded out to first to end the inning.

Romero led off the top of the eighth by lining out to a running Baines in right but Boggs singled past the daving Hulett. Buckner banged into a double play to end the inning. Bob Stanley came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning and the White Sox tagged him. Fisk led off with a pop up to second but Hulett singled to left. Guillen flied out to right but Cruz drew a walk. Cangelosi singled to center to score Hulett and Cruz tried for third. Armas' throw got away and Cruz scored on the error. Lyons drew a walk but Armas ran down a Baines fly ball at the centerfield wall to end the inning with the White Sox ahead 7-2

                                                            Game over

Schmidt returned to close out the top of the ninth and Rice grounded out to short to start. Baylor singled off the glove of Guillen but Evans banged into a double play to end the game. The White Sox had won it 7-2.

     
Jackass of the Night is Roger Clemens in more ways than one. Getting yourself thrown out of a crucial game with your team fighting for first place

                                                         Calm down Jackass



The Good:

Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Don Baylor was 2 for 3 with a walk and a solo home run.

Rich Gedman was 1 for 2 with a hit by pitch.

Tim Lollar pitched a scoreless 7th inning.



The Bad:

Dwight Evans was 0 for 4.

Tony Armas was 0 for 3 with an error.

Jim Rice was 0 for 4.

Dave Stapleton was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Sammy Stewart allowed 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Bob Stanley allowed 2 runs in an inning of work.



The Ugly:

Ed Romero was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.

Bill Buckner was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

The Red Sox wanted to end July with a bang but that wasn't the one they were looking for. Clemens going nuts and getting ejected probably cost him a few starts in what should be a Cy Young season for a team on a run to their first division title in 11 years. Not that the Sox helped themselves by leaving guys on base and giving up 4 runs after Clemens left, but still, a loss like that is going to hurt come September. After Oil Can Boyd has his meltdown 2 weeks ago, this is another instance of a pitcher doing more harm to himself that could have been avoided. Hopefully this is just a minor setback that will be laughed at a few weeks from now but it doesn't look good now. The loss dropped the Sox to 59-41, 4 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow, the Sox are back in action friday night when they come home to play the world champion Kansas City Royals. Bruce Hurst (5-5) goes for the Sox against Danny Jackson at 7:35 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Bash Jays in Seaver's Debut (7/1/86)

It wasn't pretty but the Boston Red Sox made a winner out of future hall of famer Tom Seaver (3-6, 4.44 ERA) in his debut with the Sox. Seaver got hit around a bit in 7 innings of work but the red hot Boston bats led by Dwight Evans outlasted the Toronto Blue Jays. The offense pounded out 14 hits and nine runs in a 9-7 victory at Fenway Park to open July in style.

                                           Staff Sergeant Mike Vronsky approves of the win

Seaver took the mound in the top of the first inning and Tony Fernandez greeted him with a double to the left field corner. Rance Mulliniks swung and missed for strike three but Lloyd Moseby singled home Fernandez to give the Jays the lead. George Bell grounded out to third but Moseby moved to second base. Jesse Barfield walked but Cliff Johnson grounded out to second to end the inning with Toronto in front 1-0.

                                                    Jays take the lead

The Sox wasted no time pouncing on Jays starter Doyle Alexander in the bottom of the first inning. Marty Barrett flied out to right but Wade Boggs walked. Bill Buckner popped up to short but Jim Rice sliced an opposite field single to right. Don Baylor was plunked to load the bases before last night's hero Dwight Evans cleared the bases with a double off the Monster. Rich Gedman followed with a double of his own to left that scored Evans with another run. Kevin Romine waived at a pitch in the dirt to end the inning but the Sox took the lead 4-1.

                                                   Gedman doubles in a run

Seaver settled down in the top of the second inning as Willie Upshaw popped up to third to begin. Ernie "Nit" Whitt smacked a single to right-center but was erased on the Damaso Garcia grounder to third. Fernandez lined out to third to end the inning. Garth Iorg took over for Mulliniks in the bottom of the second after Mulliniks fouled a ball off his foot the previous inning. Alexander settled down in the bottom of the second as Ed Romero grounded out to short to start. Barrett lined one off the glove of Alexander but right to second for the ground out. Boggs doubled off the Monster but Buckner grounded out to second to end the inning.

Seaver got Iorg to pop up to center to start the top of the third before Moseby caught Seaver asleep with a bunt single. Bell flied out to right and Barfield whiffed on a breaking ball to end the inning. The Sox pounded Alexander in the bottom of the third as Rice doubled into the gap to start. Baylor flied out to center and Rice took off for third The throw beat him but it got away and Rice was safe. Evans flied out to right but Gedman beat out a bobbled laser to Garcia to score Rice. Romine doubled into the left field corner for his first rbi of the year to score Gedman before Romero drew a walk. Barrett singled to center to score Romine and send Romero to third to chase Alexander. Dennis Lamp came in and Boggs flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 7-1.

                                                     First RBI for Romine

The Jays fought back in the top of the fourth as Johnson singled to center to begin. Upshaw popped up to short but Whitt singled to left. Garcia walked to load the bases and Fernandez singled home Johnson and Whitt. Garcia took third on a fly ball by Iorg but Moseby grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.

The Sox tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth although Buckner struck out to start. Rice and Baylor struck back to back base hits but Evans hit into a double play to end the inning.

The Jays struck again in the top of the fifth although Bell hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Barfield tripled into the right field corner and scored on the Johnson grounder. Barrett booted a ball by Upshaw but Whitt flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-4.

The Sox took advantage of terrible defense by the Jays to add to the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Upshaw booted a grounder by Gedman to start and managed to throw the ball away to boot which allowed Rich to take second on the two errors. Romine dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Gedman to third and Romero hit a routine grounder to Upshaw...who booted that as well to score Gedman. Barrett flied out to center and Boggs was foolishly intentionally walked to load the bases. Buckner made the Jays pay with a base hit to center to score Gedman. Rice grounded into a force to end the inning but it was 9-4 Sox.

                                                     Buckner hits the killshot

Seaver cruised in the top of the sixth as Garcia flied out to center to start. Fernandez grounded out tio second and Iorg grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox looked to break it open in the bottom of the sixth as Baylor singled to left to start. Evans doubled to center and Gedman was intentionally walked to set up the double play. This time the gamble worked as Romine took strike three and Romero banged into a double play to end the inning.

Seaver came back for one final inning in the top of the seventh as Moseby grounded out to third to start. Bell flied out to center but Barfield was hit with a pitch. Johnson singled to left but Upshaw flied out to center to end the inning. It wasn't pretty but Seaver hung tough to toss 7 innings of 4 run ball and put the Sox 9 outs away from victory.

                                                       Seaver finishes strong

Bill Caudill replaced Lamp for the bottom of the seventh and Barrett singled to left to start. Boggs and Buckner both struck out before Rice flied out to right to end the inning.

Steve Crawford replaced Seaver and the Jays pounced on him in the top of the eighth. Whitt popped up to short but Garcia and Fernandez stroked back to back singles. Rick Leach pinch hit for Iorg and singled home Garcia. That was it for Crawford as Joe Sambito came in and Moseby beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Bell singled home Fernandez to bring the tying run to the plate. Sambito struck out Barfield to end the inning but the Jays inched closer 9-6.

                                                      Crawford can't get it done

Kelly Gruber took for for Leach at third with Mark Eichhorn now on the mound for the bottom of the eighth. Baylor popped up to first, Evans grounded out to third and Gedman flied out to right to end the inning.

Sambito returned to close out the top of the ninth but the Jays rallied. Johnson grounded back to the mound but Upshaw singled to center. Buck Martinez pinch hit for Whitt and singled to left. Garcia singled to left to score Upshaw and put the tying run at first. Sambito somehow got Fernandez to pop up to right and Gruber to fly out to the right field wall to end the game. The Sox survived to beat the Jays 9-7.

Hero of the Night is Dwight Evans. He put the Sox up for good with a 3 run double in the bottom of the first.

                                                      Evans the Hero


The Good:

Marty Barrett was 2 for 5 with an rbi.

Wade Boggs was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Jim Rice was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored.

Don Baylor was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Rich Gedman was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.

Kevin Romine was 1 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.



The Bad:

Steve Crawford was charged with 2 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.



The Ugly:

Bill Buckner was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.

Ed Romero was 0 for 3 but walked and scored.

Tom Seaver went 7 innings and allowed 4 runs in his Sox debut. The Jays got 9 hits and 2 walks off of him but he still left with the lead.

Joe Sambito allowed an inherited runner to score and 1 of his own in 1 2/3 innings but earned his 7th save of the season.




Final Thoughts:

With the Sox reeling from injuries, Seaver will be a shot in the arm for this team for sure. He looked a little off in tonight's game but its a hell of a lot better than Jeff Sellers, Mike Brown and Rob Woodward. The offense beat around the Jays for the second game in a row and its encouraging to see Dwight Evans get hot. Hopefully the Sox can ride this momentum into the All-Star break in a few weeks as they're in first place and don't seem to be relinquishing it any time soon. Good to see Kevin Romine get his first rbi of the season as well. The win improved the Sox to 50-25, 8 games in front of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it three in a row against the Jays when they send the undefeated Roger Clemens (13-0) up against Jimmy Key of the Jays at 7:30 PM at Fenway Park.