THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
Don Baylor blasts the Yankees

June 18, 1986 ... In his first real chance to show George Steinbrenner his stuff since the ballyhooed trade for Mike Easler in spring training, Don Baylor victimized righty reliever Brian Fisher for a three-run double in the ninth inning, giving the Red Sox a 5-2 victory over the Yankees and a three-game series sweep. It is Boston's first such achievement here since October 1982. Baylor's hit enabled the Sox to widen their American League East advantage to 6 1/2 games over the Yankees and 7 1/2 over the Orioles, who come to Boston for three games this weekend.

It also made a winner of Oil Can Boyd (9-4), who thrived on the New York stage. Further, it overshadowed the effort of prodigal Yankee Ken Griffey, who returned to the team after having been AWOL for Tuesday's game, was fined $10,000 plus a day's pay (estimated at $6,000) by Steinbrenner and proceeded to hit a double and a game-tying homer.

In using Fisher against the right-handed Baylor, the Yankees played by the book. But they turned the wrong page. Marty Barrett led off the ninth with a single and moved to third on a ground-rule double by Ed Romero. Both hits were off lefthander Bob Shirley, who left the game after getting Bill Buckner to pop up. Fisher took over and issued an intentional walk to Jim Rice. That proved to be a big mistake as Baylor came through on a 3-2 pitch.

Boyd went the distance in winning for the seventh time in his last eight starts. He threw 130 pitches and scattered eight hits, walking one and striking out four. He also had a busy night in the field with two putouts and five assists, including one that started a key double play in the eighth inning.

In the first two games against the Yankees, the Red Sox got off to fast starts that led to 10-1 and 7-6 victories. But this game was a true duel.

While Boyd went after the Yankees with an assortment of pitches, New York starter Bob Tewksbury mixed a repertoire of junk with an occasional fastball. The Red Sox have had more trouble with his style than any other.

The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first. Romero singled with one out. He moved to third on a single by Buckner and came home on a fly to deep center by Jim Rice.

The Yankees countered in the second. Easler led off with a single and moved to third when Griffey ripped a double down the right- field line. Easler scored when Mike Pagliarulo grounded to first.

Boston regained the lead in the fourth. Tewksbury opened the inning by walking Dwight Evans. Tony Armas (4 for 4) followed with a single to left, moving Evans to second. Marc Sullivan's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, and Evans scored when Rey Quinones lofted a fly to center.

In the sixth, Boyd threw one strike by Griffey, but his next offering was dispatched into the left-field seats for Griffey's eighth homer of the year. It was the 16th homer Boyd has surrendered.

Boston had a chance to take the lead in the seventh when Barrett led off with a double to right and moved to third on a groundout by Romero. But the Red Sox couldn't get him home. Tewksbury finessed Buckner. After falling behind, 0 and 2, Buckner fouled off four pitches. Then he hit a shot to Willie Randolph, who was playing in at second base, and Barrett could not score on the throw to first. Rice ended the inning when he flied deep to center.

Boston knocked Tewksbury out of the game in the eighth but failed to score. Baylor led off with a single to left and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Evans. He advanced to third when Armas delivered his fourth hit, a single to left. Quick work by Griffey kept Baylor at third, but Tewksbury got the heave-ho when Rich Gedman was announced as a pinch hitter for Sullivan. The Yankees brought in Shirley, who struck out Gedman on a 1-2 pitch and got Quinones to fly out, ending the threat.

New York threatened in the bottom of the inning. Rickey Henderson led off with a single. But Boyd got Mattingly to bounce into a 1-6- 3 double play. He was so pleased with himself, he pranced around the infield like a peacock and proceeded get Winfield to ground to third for the third out.

The Red Sox' 43-21 record puts them 22 games over .500 for the first time since 1979. The club has a 6 1/2-game lead, biggest since Sept. 1, 1978. The Sox have won eight of its last 10 series and is 14-6-2 thus far.

Tony Armas had four hits for the second time this year. His average moved to a season-high .272.