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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9 April 15, 1986 ... No game scheduled April 16, 1986 ... The Red Sox got the kind of pitching they dreamed about all spring . . . and it goes for naught. The Sox high-powered lineup was stifled by Bret Saberhagen and the Kansas City Royals, 1-0, at Fenway Park. Saberhagen notched his third career shutout and allowed only two hits, a personal best. Al Nipper certainly didn't need that. The Red Sox right-hander was the loser in the type of game that isn't supposed to take place at Fenway, in fact, there have been only 11 1-0 duels here in the last 11 years. Nipper only allowed five hits, but one of those was a hanging change-up in the second inning that Steve Balboni deposited into the left-field screen. The pitch Balboni hit was a mistake, of course. A meatball to a man who last year struck out eight straight times at Fenway. But mistakes are the things that keep big hitters like Balboni around for years. Usually in April, the hitters can catch up with the pitchers, even as talented a pitcher as Saberhagen, the 1985 Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP. But it was the pitcher who was in command yesterday. Saberhagen admitted that the Red Sox are not his favorite opponent and that his 3-0 career record against them is misleading. Before the game, his earned run average against Boston was 8.52, and he had allowed 21 hits in 12 2/3 innings. Saberhagen went all the way, and while that didn't surprise catcher Jim Sundberg, his early intensity did. Tony Armas singled with two out in the second inning for Boston's first hit. After Baylor singled to lead off the fifth, the Sox never came close as Saberhagen retired the last 15 batters. The Sox hit only four fly balls, a testimony to Saberhagen's ability to keep them off balance by mixing his pitches and location. Of course, Nipper (1-1) had no need to apologize. It's just that Balboni had been looking for a gift from a Boston pitcher, and finally got one. Wes Gardner was placed on the 15-day disabled list. An examination by team physician Arthur Pappas showed that the 24-year- old rookie right- hander is suffering from a muscle separation in his throwing shoulder. Gardner had experienced stiffness after pitching one inning of an 8-2 Red Sox victory over Chicago Sunday. Gardner's place on the roster will be taken by right-hander Mike Brown, who many felt pitched better than Gardner in the spring. Brown pitched seven innings of an 8-1 Pawtucket victory Sunday in his only Triple-A start. In spring training, Brown had an 0.75 earned run average in seven appearances, all in relief. Ed Romero started his sixth straight game at shortstop as the Red Sox continued to exercise caution regarding Glenn Hoffman's ankle sprain. |
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