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STORM DAVIS |
THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
The Orioles win and
take the series
June 22, 1986
... The Red Sox not only lost the rubber game of a three-game
series, 4-0, they also wasted another strong pitching effort by rookie Jeff Sellers,
who, despite his 0-3 record, might be the man to stay if the Sox ever get a
healthy pitching staff again. Sellers gave up single runs in the third and fifth
innings, despite giving up nine hits in the eight innings he worked. But his
luck remains bad. One run scored after a single by John Shelby, a wild pitch, a
ground ball and a sacrifice fly. The second came on a Wall-scraping double by
Larry Sheets, a grounder and a single through a drawn-in infield. Hardly a major
explosion, but enough to beat a Boston team that in the series managed only 15
hits to Baltimore's 37.
Storm Davis was almost too good after allowing a single to Bill
Buckner in the first. After that, he had but one baserunner in the next 21
batters. Rey Quinones reached on a Cal Ripken error in the third, and was
promptly wiped out in a double play.
Davis used the elements and pinpoint control to his
advantage. He has been bothered by a hip injury, but it wasn't evident, although
Baltimore manager Earl Weaver did cite it as one of the reasons he removed his
right-hander in the eighth. The other reason was bullpen ace Don Aase, who
pitched out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Barrett to line to third, then
mowed down the side in order in the ninth.
Sellers did his job in keeping the game close for eight
innings, and might have lasted to the ninth had not a Red Sox rally in the
eighth inning come up short. Boston loaded the bases with two outs, but
Baltimore escaped when Barrett lined to Tom O'Malley.
Dwight Evans singled to left, the second hit off Davis,
with one out. Tony Armas struck out for the second out. But then Rich Gedman
singled past short, prompting the Orioles to bring in Aase. Mike Stenhouse pinch
hit for Quinones and walked. That brought up Barrett, who pulled the ball, only
to find O'Malley 10 feet off the line and waiting for it.
Beating the Red Sox is a special reward for Aase, who gave
up seven runs to Boston in a 12-0 loss last July in what he calls the turning
point in his career.
Marty Barrett is in a slump that has lasted six games,
which just happens to coincide with the number of games third baseman Wade Boggs
has missed. In that stretch, Barrett is 4 for 28, including 2 for his last 25.
Boggs could rejoin the Red Sox as soon as tonight, but the ball club is leaving
it up to him. He remained in Florida after the funeral of his mother, who was
killed last week in an automobile accident.
Bill Buckner's first-inning hit extended his hitting streak
to seven games. Buckner also started a nice 3-6-3 double play in the fourth
inning.
Mike Stenhouse, who walked in the eighth inning while
batting for Rey Quinones, now has one hit, five walks and a sacrifice bunt in 10
plate appearances as a pinch hitter. |
