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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
Don Baylor powers the
Red Sox
June 3, 1986
... The
Red Sox churned out 13 hits, the biggest of which was a Don Baylor
over-the-rainbow two-run homer in the seventh, and dropped the Cleveland
Indians, 5-1. A crowd of only 17,432 watched in the chill breeze at Fenway.
The entire pack in the American League East can
look up this morning and see that Boston's Un-Green
Team is playing .700 ball (35-15), believed to be
its best record this late in the season since June
26, 1978 (51-21, .708). The Sox have won four
straight overall and seven in a row at Fenway.
Like the
night before, the Sox never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead in the third. They had
excellent starting pitching from Mike Brown (4-1) and superb relief from Bob
Stanley (two innings, no runs, two hits). And once Andre Thornton's homer cut
their lead to 2-1 in the fourth, they doggedly rattled along and finished off
the Indians with Baylor's homer off starter Don Schulze (3-3).
But little
can disturb a team that is playing 20 games above .500 for the first time in
seven years. The Sox don't get themselves in trouble. They played without an
error last night. Brown allowed only one walk. And catcher Rich Gedman, besides
driving in the go-ahead run, even threw out a runner that led to three out calls
by umpire Rich Garcia.
Gedman's
trifecta came in the fifth, with the Sox holding their 2- 1 advantage. After
leading off with a single, Brett Butler tried to steal second. Gedman's throw
looked late, but Garcia flashed the out sign. Out No. 1. Butler argued
vehemently and was heaved out of the game by Garcia. Out No. 2. Manager Pat
Corrales then came out for one of his tirades and was ejected. Out No. 3.
But it was
Baylor, the designated hitter Yankee owner George Steinbrenner said couldn't hit
the long ball anymore off right-handers, who gave the final thumbs up to the
Indians. With one out and Bill Buckner on first, Baylor blasted Schulze's 1-0
offering over the left-field screen for a 4-1 lead. It was, by George, Baylor's
11th homer against right handers.
Baylor, a
proud man, will not go so far as to say that he hopes the Yankees, and their
chief ship-builder, are watching all this. But he's certainly enjoying his new
opportunity.
Brown, for
his part, is also performing admirably. He finally had to surrender after seven
innings because of a harmless cramp in his left leg. Like all the pieces the Sox
have dropped into their ever- changing puzzle this year, Brown has fit in
perfectly.
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