Red Sox Crush Jones, Mets (6/15/97)

Who saw THIS coming? One of the worst teams in baseball defeated one of the best pitchers in the game as the Boston Red Sox laid waste to the bungholes of Bobby Jones and the New York Mets. Jones came into the game 11-2 but was tagged for 5 runs in just 4 innings. The Sox scored another 5 runs off the Mets bullpen to pound out 10 total runs and 13 hits. Meanwhile Vaughn Eshelman (1-1, 4.00 ERA) won his first game of the season with 7 strong innings, allowing just 1 run to a pretty good Mets lineup. Kerry Lacy and Joe Hudson slammed the door and the Sox had a rare good day with a 10-1 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium.

                                                         Lynn Thomas approves of the win

Jones got the ball in the top of the first and Nomar Garciaparra led off with a liner to center. Darren Bragg lined out to left and Mo Vaughn took strike three to end the inning. Eshelman got the ball in the bottom of the first as Bernard Gilkey ate up third baseman Tim Naehring on a line drive to start. Eshelman had Gilkey picked off but Vaughn threw the ball away allowing Bernard to reach third. Carlos Baerga grounded out to third and John Olerud grounded out to short. Todd Hundley struck out swinging to end the inning.

                                                    "I don't got it' - Garciaparra

Naehring struck out swinging to start the top of the second and Scott Hatteberg lined out to right. John Valentin got a base hit to left and Troy O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning. The Mets struck first in the bottom of the second as Carl Everett caught Naehring asleep with a bunt single to start. Alex Ochoa doubled off the second base bag and Matt Franco grounded out to short to move Everett. Luis Lopez was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jones. Gilkey lined out to center to end the inning with the Mets up 1-0.

                                                          Mets strike first

The Sox exploded in the top of the third as Shane Mack took strike three to start. Eshelman somehow beat out a bunt down the third base line and Garciaparra belted his ninth home run of the year to put the Sox on top. Bragg doubled to center and Vaughn drilled a base hit to left to score him. Naehring doubled to left and Hatteberg walked to load the bases. Valentin hit a routine grounder to third and Franco tried to throw home....instead the threw the ball away for an error to score Vaughn and and Naehring. Unfortunately Vaughn came up limping and had to leave the game. The Sox can NOT afford to lose him. O'Leary was intentionally walked and the gamble worked as Mack grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-1.

                                                     Sox pour it on but lose Vaughn

Mike Stanley took over for Vaughn at first to start the bottom of the third as Baerga grounded out to third to start. Olerud flied out to left and Hundley took strike three to end the inning.

Eshelman bunted foul for strike three to start the top of the fourth and Garciaparra struck out swinging. Bragg flied out to left to end the inning. Everett grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fourth and Ochoa grounded out to third. Franco grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox got another run in the top of the fifth with Barry Manuel now on the mound. Stanley lined out to right and Naehring grounded out to first. ESPN analysts Joe Morgan and Jon Miller were discussing how Sam Lacy was assigned to over Jackie Robinson in Spring Training in Havana, Cuba. Both Jackie and Sam were denied service and had to stay in a fleabag motel. In real time, Hatteberg then pounded his fourth home run of the season to increase the lead. Valentin got a base hit to center but O'Leary lined out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 6-1.

                                                          What a blast by Hatteberg

Lopez grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth and Manuel took strike three. Gilkey lined out to left to end the inning.

Mack beat out a roller to second to start the top of the sixth but Eshelman's bunt was too hard, forcing Shane at second. Eshelman took second on a balk but was doubled off on the Garciaparra liner to Franco to end the inning. Baerga lined out to right to start the bottom of the sixth and Olerud lined out to left. Hundley walked and Everett doubled to left, but Ochoa grounded out to first to end the inning.

The Sox rallied in the top of the seventh as Bragg popped up to right to start. Stanley walked and Naehring got a base hit to right. Hatteberg struck out swinging but Valentin got a base hit to right. The throw beat Stanley to the plate but Hundley dropped the ball for an error to score Mike. O'Leary was intentionally walked to get to Mack and Shane made them pay with a double to left to score Naehring & Valentin. Eshelman grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 9-1.

                                                            This turned into a rout

Eshelman returned for one final inning in the bottom of the seventh and Lopez struck out swinging. Kevin Morgan made his ML debut pinch hitting for Manuel and popped up to short to end the inning. Eshelman was outstanding, allowing just one run off four hits and a walk in seven innings of work.

                                                   One of the best starts of Vaughn's career

The Sox rallied in the top of the eighth with Alberto Castillo behind the plate and Takashi Kashiwada now on the mound. Garciaparra doubled into the right field corner then took third on the Bragg grounder to second. Stanley walked and Naehring hit a sac fly to left to score Garciaparra. Hatteberg flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 9-1.

                                                          Another run for Boston

Kerry Lacy came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Gilkey got a base hit to left to start. Baerga flied out to the centerfield warning track and Gilkey took second on defensive indifference. Olerud took strike three and Castillo lined out to right to end the inning.

Cory Lidle came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Valentin grounded out to short to start. O'Leary struck out swinging and Mack grounded out to third to end the inning. Joe Hudson came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Everett grounded out to first to start. Ochoa grounded out to second and Steve Bieser pinch hit for Lidle. Bieser grounded out to first to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-1.

                                                              Sox win

Hero of The Night is Vaughn Eshelman. He allowed just 1 run in 7 innings off 4 hits and a walk. He was also 1 for 4 with a run scored at the plate.

                                                             Hero Eshelman

The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 5 with a 2 run home run and scored 2 total runs.

Mo Vaughn was 1 for 2 with an rbi and a run scored before leaving the game.

Mike Stanley walked twice and scored a run.

Tim Naehring was 2 for 4 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.

John Valentin was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Shane Mack was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis.

Kerry Lacy tossed a scoreless eighth inning.

Joe Hudson tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

None

The Ugly:

Scott Hatteberg was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and hit a home run.

Troy O'Leary was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts but walked twice.

Final Thoughts:

The Sox are already without Wil Cordero for being a dumbass but now they lost Vaughn as well. Thankfully x-rays showed negative so there's no immediate danger but we'll see what the MRI results are when they get back to Boston. This season has been so bad that even when they knock out the best pitcher in the National League, hang 10 runs total on the Mets and have Vaughn Eshelman's best career start, they still find a way to sour it. Hopefully Vaughn is okay but who knows the way this year is going. Still, where was that from Eshelman the last two years? If he can come back from Pawtucket and pitch like that moving forward, they might have something here. Otherwie, this season is heading to hell in a hand basket so enjoy the small victories like tonight's when they happen. The win improved the Sox to 28-38, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox resume inter-league play tomorrow night when they come home to face the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since the 1915 World Series. Tom Gordon goes for the Sox against Matt Beech of Philadelphia. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Rally Past Angels on Opening Day (4/2/97)

For eight innings it looked like the Boston Red Sox were about to drop their first Opening Day without Roger Clemens in 13 years. The Angels pounced on Sox starter Tom Gordon for 2 runs before knocking him out in the fifth inning. Vaughn Eshelman and Butch Henry also got tagged as the Angels led 5-2 going into the ninth inning. All of a sudden the Sox sprang to life with two outs and used two walks and a hit batsmen to tie the game. Troy O'Leary beat out an infield single to drive in the go-ahead run and Sox closer Heathcliff Slocumb slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth. It was an epic come from behind 6-5 win on Opening Day for the Sox at Anaheim Stadium.

                                               Kimber West approves of the win

Mark Langston got the start for the Angels and rookie Nomar Garciaparra led off with a fly out to right. John Valentin doubled and Mo Vaughn walked, but Valentin could only advance to third on the fly out to center by Mike Stanley. Tim Naehring grounded out to short to end the inning. The Angels wasted no time getting to Gordon in the bottom of the first although Darin Erstad led off with a swinging strikeout. Old friend Luis Alicea also went down swinging but Jim Edmonds hit a home run all the way to San Diego to put the Angels on top. Tim Salmon took strike three but the Sox were down 1-0.

                                                       Edmonds puts Anaheim on top

Wil Cordero struck out swinging to start the top of the second before Rudy Pemberton popped up to third, sending his bat flying. Bill Haselman walked and Shane Mack made his Red Sox debut by hitting a bullet to Alicea to end the inning. Dave Hollins popped up to short to start the bottom of the second but Garret Anderson beat out a chopper to third. 41 year old Eddie Murray hit a grounder to Gordon who threw wide of second for an error. Jim Leyrtiz flied out to the centerfield wall which moved Anderson to third. Gary DiSarcina forced Murray at second to end the inning.

                                                  Bad throw by Gordon

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the third as Garciaparra flied out to Salmon in right to start. Valentin walked and Langston tried to pick him off, but the throw hit him and the ball got away. Valentin scampered to second and moved to third on the grounder by Vaughn. Stanley walked but Naehring struck out swinging to end the inning. The Angels struck again in the bottom of the third although Erstad grounded out to second to start. Alicea walked, Edmonds singled Luis to third with a base hit to left and Salmon walked to load the bases. Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan came out to tell Tom that he sucks and Hollins hit a grounder to second for the force but Valentin's throw was off, scoring Alicea when Dave was safe. Anderson grounded out to first to end the inning with the Angels ahead 2-0.

                                                 Another bad throw leads to a run

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Cordero struck out swinging to start. Pemberton grounded out to short and Haselman struck out swinging. Murray lined out to short to start the bottom of the fourth and Leyritz went down hacking. DiSarcina singled to center and stole second, but Erstad struck out swinging to end the inning.

Langston cruised in the top of the fifth as Mack struck out swinging to start. Garciaparra flied out to left and Valentin grounded out to short to end the inning. The Angels chased Gordon in the bottom of the fifth as Alicea singled to left to start. Alicea stole second and moved to third on the grounder by Edmonds. Salmon struck out swinging but Hollins walked. Sox manager Jimy Williams pulled Gordon after 4 2/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. Anderson popped up to first to end the inning.

                                                  Not the best outing for Gordon

The Sox struck back in the top of the sixth as Vaughn struck out swinging to start. Stanley was retired on a ground ball to third but Naehring hit the first home run for Boston this season to cut the lead. Cordero singled to center but Pemberton popped up to third to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                  Naehring hits a home run

The Angels roared back in the bottom of the sixth as Murray and Leyritz stroked back to back singles to start. DiSarcina lined a base hit to center to load the bases but Erstad forced Murray at home on a grounder back to the mound. Alicea blooped a base hit to right to score Leyritz and DiSarcina to increase the lead. That was it for Eshelman as Butch Henry made his Red Sox debut by getting Edmonds to hit a bullet to Valentin, doubling off Alicea at first to end the inning with Anaheim ahead 4-1.

                                                        Eshelman is NOT happy

The Sox fought back in the top of the seventh with Mike James now pitching for Anaheim. Haselman struck out swinging but Darren Bragg pinch hit for Mack. Bragg walked and moved to second on the Garciaparra grounder. Valentin lined a base hit to center to score Bragg and cut the lead. Vaughn beat out a chopper up the middle to chase James. Chuck McElroy came in to pitch and Sox manager Jimy Williams had Reggie Jefferson pinch hit for Stanley. Jefferson struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 4-2.

                                                            Valentin drives in a run

Just when the Sox clawed back in the game, the Angels struck again in the bottom of the seventh although Salmon popped up to second to start. Hollins singled to center and Anderson dropped a base hit to right to move Hollins to third. Murray scored Hollins with a sac fly to increase the lead but Leyritz grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.

                                                      Murray drives in a run

Naehring tried to start a rally in the top of the eighth with a base hit to right but Cordero lined out to left. Pemberton Struck out swinging and Haselman struck out swinging to end the inning. Pat Mahomes came in for the bottom of the eighth and DiSarcina popped up to first to start. Erstad flied out to center and Alicea struck out swinging to end the inning. Good work Mahomes!

                                                Mahomes shuts them down

All of a sudden the Sox exploded in the top of the ninth with Jorge Fabregas behind the plate and Troy Percival now on the mound. Bragg and Garciaparra both struck out swinging and down to their final out, Valentin doubled to left. Down to their last strike....Vaughn drew a walk and Jefferson beat out a chopper to third to load the bases. Jeff Frye pinch ran for Jefferson and Naehring drew a walk to score Valentin. Down to HIS last strike, Cordero walked to score Vaughn and re-load the bases. Pemberton was plunked to tie the game and chase Percival from the game. Pep Harris was brought in to pitch and Troy O'Leary pinch hit for Haselman. O'Leary beat out a chopper to third to score Naehring and give the Sox the lead. Bragg hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-5.

                                                 Pemberton takes one for the team

Heathcliff Slocumb came in to close out the bottom of the ninth with Scott Hatteberg now behind the plate. Edmonds grounded out to second to start and Tim Salmon grounded out to short. Hollin walked, Anderson singled in the hole at second and Murray walked to load the bases. Orlando Palmeiro pinch ran for Murray but on a 3-2 count Fabregas popped up to left to end the game. The Sox had pulled a miracle and won it 6-5.

                                                            Sox win

Hero of the Night is Troy O'Leary. He came off the bench to drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth.

                                                 Troy O'Hero

The Good:

John Valentin was 3 for 4 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Mo Vaughn was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Tim Naehring was 2 for 4 with a walk, home run, 2 total rbis and 2 total runs scored.

Reggie Jefferson was 1 for 2 as a pinch hitter.

Jeff Frye scored a run as a pinch runner.

Pat Mahomes got the win with a scoreless eighth inning.

Heathcliff Slocumb got the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Shane Mack was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Vaughn Eshelman allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning.

Butch Henry allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.

The Ugly:

Wil Cordero was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked and drove in a run.

Rudy Pemberton was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but his HBP drove in the tying run.

Bill Haselman was 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts but walked.

Darren Bragg was 0 for 2 but walked and scored a run

Tom Gordon only lasted 4 2/3 innings but allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks.

Honorable Mention:

Scott Hatteberg caught the bottom of the ninth.

Final Thoughts:

What a game! Prognosticators had the Red Sox dead in the water this season after Roger Clemens left but for one day at least, they can all eat crow. The Sox were down to their final strike four times in the top of the ninth and each batter delivered. It took brass balls from Vaughn, Jefferson, Naehring and Cordero to fight off Percival when down to their last strike. Pemberton taking one for the team was great and O'Leary coming off the bench ice cold to drive in the winning run takes a lot of heart. The Sox may not be good this season but for one night they stuck a big middle finger to the haters. The pitching was nothing special but kudos to Pat Mahomes and Heathcliff Slocumb for keeping the Angels off the board. The offense showed a lot of toughness but that's tough to maintain over 162 games. Its only one game but a win is a win, they all count. Tomorrow night Tim Wakefield makes his season debut against Jason Dickson of the Angels. The game begins at 10:30 PM Eastern time at Anaheim Stadium.