THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
The Sox lose the series in Seattle

July 20, 1986 ... Rookie pitcher Jeff Sellers was the shocked victim of today's 9-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners before an equally stunned Kingdome crowd of 12,873.

The heir apparent to Oil Can Boyd seemed in good shape after three innings. Boston had given him a 3-0 lead. By holding on, he could have given the Red Sox a split of the four-game Seattle series and restored their seven-game lead on the Yankees.

But after winning three straight games and showing the poise of a veteran, Sellers was shelled in a four-run fourth inning and a five- run sixth. The fourth-inning rally was the result of careless pitching and a general lack of concentration. With one out, he gave up three straight singles (two of them on 0-and-2 pitches) as Seattle cut the lead to 3-1. Then Sellers fell victim to a Dick Williams ploy, pinch hitting for his catcher in the fourth inning. Substitute Scott Bradley hit a three-run homer, giving the Mariners a lead they'd never relinquish.

The Sox still had the time and firepower to come back, and Sellers stuck around in what was a one-run game. An elbow problem had deprived the Sox of Sammy Stewart, their only experienced middle reliever. Sellers gave up four singles to start the sixth, and since all four scored, it's clear where the fault lay.

It certainly wasn't a lack of offensive support. Despite having Jim Rice on the bench with a knee problem, the Sox got 12 hits, including a two-run homer by Don Baylor, his first since June 11, and the 300th of his major league career. Rich Gedman had three hits.

In the first, a single by Wade Boggs and a double by Baylor set the stage for a two-run single by Dwight Evans, all off starter Jerry Reed (2-0). The bases became loaded as Gedman singled and Mike Stenhouse, filling in for Bill Buckner at first, walked. But Rey Quinones swung at the first offering and popped up.

In the fourth, Sellers made the kind of mistake that managers hate and pitchers regret. After Alvin Davis singled with one out, Sellers gave up hits to Danny Tartabull and Spike Owen, both on 0- and-2 pitches, before the pinch-hitting Bradley connected.

In the sixth, with a 4-3 lead, Williams removed Reed in favor of lefthander Lee Guettermann, who gave up a leadoff single to Gedman but induced another double-play ball.

Sellers' sixth-inning troubles were not so easily resolved. Davis and Tartabull singled past short. Ricky Nelson ran for Davis. Owen dropped a bunt, which was fielded by Sellers, who looked at third but had no play. But the time Sellers looked to first, Owen was there, and the bases were loaded. Bradley hit Sellers' first offering for a single up the middle, driving in his fourth and fifth runs to make it 6-3. Sellers was replaced by righthander Calvin Schiraldi, just called up from Pawtucket. But he was not the answer. Harold Reynolds singled, scoring Owen and sending Bradley to third. After Reynolds stole second, and Bradley scored on a passed ball, Phil Bradley stroked a two-out single, scoring Reynolds, and it was over.

In the eighth, Buckner doubled inside the bag off Guettermann, who was replaced by Pete Ladd. Baylor greeted him with a home run.

But it was a futile gesture. Evans struck out, and a double by Gedman and a walk to Mike Stenhouse were followed by the third double-play ball of the night, the second by Quinones.

Bill Buckner was scratched at first in favor of Mike Stenhouse because of a foot injury. Bionic Bill aggravated an old tendon problem running out a single in the fourth inning Saturday night. He felt good enough to serve as designated hitter. That slot became open as Don Baylor was sent to left field to replace Rice.

Reliever Sammy Stewart was unavailable because of recurring pain in his right elbow. The Sox are trying to arrange an examination for Stewart by either Dr. Rick Bost of Oakland or Dr. Frank Jobe of Los Angeles. Stewart, who was activated last Sunday after being on the disabled list since June 8th, said he is concerned because he has a twinge in a new area of the elbow. He now has pain on both the inside and outside of his elbow.

Catcher Marc Sullivan will rejoin the club today, one day after his wife Angela gave birth to a baby girl. It was the first grandchild for Sox owner Haywood Sullivan.

Before he struck out in the fifth inning, Dwight Evans had reached base seven straight times, and 11 of the previous 12.

Rich Gedman had a rough week. He had all he could handle with Charlie Hough's knuckleball in the All-Star Game, and had a passed ball in each of the games he played in the Kingdome.