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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9 May 20, 1986 ... In storming to their fourth straight victory, the Sox pounded Minnesota, 17-7, and expanded their American League East lead to two games over the Yankees. This was an old-fashioned Fenway offensive festival as Boston rolled up season highs for runs and hits (20). Wade Boggs led the way with a 5-for-6 splurge, and reached on an error the only time he didn't get a hit. Six runs in the first inning. So long, Frank Viola. One run in the second. Now we know why the Sox didn't leap for Roy Lee Jackson. Two runs in the third, including one that scored from second on a strikeout and passed ball. Small wonder Roger Clemens reeled off his seventh victory without a loss. All he had to do was fight the boredom that grew as the rout did. He left after seven innings, during which he notched four strikeouts and got tagged for homers by Greg Gagne and Gary Gaetti. Bob Stanley mopped up. Clemens benefited from a Boston attack featuring Boggs and a host of supporting players. Reserve catcher Marc Sullivan had three hits, a career high, and Tony Armas, who had started the night in an 0- for-11 slump, collected four. In contrast to Monday's last-ditch suspense, the Sox left no doubt as to who was in command right from the beginning last night. Marty Barrett led off with a double off The Wall. Then Viola lost his cool as Boggs beat out a bunt single to first, advancing Barrett to third. Viola became furious at the call, claiming he'd tagged Boggs out with a swipe as he crossed the bag. Umpire Al Clark ruled otherwise, and manager Ray Miller had to restrain Viola. Still upset, Viola walked Dave Stapleton, loading the bases. Jim Rice blooped a single to right, scoring Barrett for a 1-0 lead. Two more runs scored when Don Baylor doubled off The Wall. Armas then broke his slump with a flourish, cracking a two-run double that pushed the lead to 5-0. Jackson took over for Viola and retired the next two batters on fly balls. But Sullivan singled up the middle, scoring Armas. Boston made it 7-0 in the second, an inning which could have produced more. Jackson gave up a single to Boggs and a double to Stapleton. The run scored as Baylor grounded to short with one out. But Stapleton tried to move to third and was thrown out by Gagne. Armas singled, but it went for naught as Rey Quinones flied to right. In the first two innings, Clemens had breezed, retiring six of the last seven batters he faced, permitting only a Kent Hrbek double in the first. But in the third, he experienced a streak of wildness, and the Twins capitalized for two runs. Singles by catcher Mark Salas and Gagne and a wild pitch by Clemens put runners on second and third with none out. Kirby Puckett drove a single up the middle, cutting the Sox' lead to 7-2. Clemens bore down and got the next three batters. Boston made it 9-2 in the third with two hits and a runner scoring from second on a strikeout. With one out, Sullivan rifled a single to right. Boggs brought him home with a two-out double to the fence in right. Stapleton struck out. But when Salas let the pitch get by him for a passed ball and threw wildly to first for an error, Stapleton reached and Boggs came around from second, restoring the seven-run lead. Clemens, however, seemed in no hurry to make a short night of it. He gave up three hits and a run in the fourth. Gaetti doubled with one out. After Medford's Steve Lombardozzi struck out, Salas singled, scoring Gaetti. The Twins kept pecking away as Gagne hit a solo homer in the sixth, extending Minnesota's home run total to 59, tops in the American League. But Boston answered with a four-run explosion that put the game on ice in the bottom of the inning. The Sox sent nine players to the plate. A walk to Baylor with one out and to Quinones with two out sent newly acquired Keith Atherton to the showers in favor of veteran Juan Agosto. Steve Lyons drove home one run with a single, and Sullivan delivered another with his third hit. After a walk to Barrett, Boggs drove in two with his fifth hit, turning this into a 13-4 rout. With lefthander Frank Viola starting for the Twins, first baseman Bill Buckner and catcher Rich Gedman were given a rest. Armas was in right in place of injured Dwight Evans. |
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