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REGGIE JACKSON |
THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
Reggie Jackson helps
beat Tom Seaver
July 11, 1986
... Tom Seaver suffered his 5-0 loss in a Red Sox uniform
to the California Angels before a crowd of 35,497, the second largest of the
season at Fenway Park.
Seaver, 41, didn't hesitate to
criticize himself after Boston's three-game winning
streak ended and the Sox' American League East lead
over the Yankees had been cut to seven games. There
was little he could do while California's Kirk
McCaskill (10-5) was hurling an eight-hit shutout.
Seaver left after 6 2/3 innings, having yielded 12
hits and four runs.
Seaver also was quick to give credit to Reggie Jackson, an
old nemesis who undoubtedly will join him in baseball's Hall of Fame. Jackson
jumped on two Seaver mistakes for his eighth and ninth homers of the season,
both solo shots, and all the Red Sox right-hander could say was that he'd have
been surprised if Jackson hadn't clobbered those pitches.
The battle between Seaver and Jackson, who had three hits,
was about the only real excitement in AL West leader California's fifth victory
in six games. Fenway Park has been tumultuous for two days, with comings and
goings off the field as exciting as the games. But last night, it was back to
basics, and McCaskill was basically outstanding.
The former University of Vermont hockey All-America never
faltered after getting the early lead provided by Jackson. He teased the Red Sox
with changeups all night. In difficult situations, he dazzled them with
fastballs and snuffed out all four decent scoring chances. McCaskill's task was
made easier by Jackson, whose last pervious homer had been against Roger Clemens
on May 14th.
Reggie Jackson's second-inning homer was his 24th career
blast against the Red Sox. It was his first homer since May 14th, when he
connected against Clemens.
Tony Armas' pulled left thigh muscle is no better. The Red
Sox have placed him on the 15-day disabled list and have called up outfielder
LaSchelle Tarver, whose .359 average is tops in the International League. |
