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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9 July 25, 1986 ... Roger Clemens has become the beacon his teammates know will lead them home safely. Maybe that is why for the second time since the All-Star break they responded with the kind of offense that befits a 17-game winner. That's what Clemens became in a two-hit, 8-1 victory over the California Angels. A crowd of 50,688 poured into Anaheim Stadium to see the stuff that legends are made of, and Roger did not disappoint them. Boston bats gave Clemens a 3-0 lead in the third inning, two of them on a double by Bill Buckner. Clemens responded by pitching four innings of no-hit ball, a spell that was ended by Reggie Jackson, who's rapidly becoming his most difficult adversary. Jackson doubled and scored in the bottom of the fifth. But in the Red Sox fifth, they had produced a five-run rally, highlighted by Rich Gedman's second career grand slam. All three grand slams the Red Sox have hit this year have been with Clemens on the mound. If that doesn't tell you about the lift he gives his teammates, nothing will. Clemens, the American League leader in strikeouts (161), wasn't so much concerned with that last night. He had only seven and gave up his other hit in the seventh when Jerry Narron doubled to left. But he did do the things that made him the first 17-game winner in the major leagues. The last Red Sox pitcher to win 17 was Dennis Eckersley (17-10) in 1978. Clemens now has seven complete games and it is still July. Clemens had been the stopper last Saturday after the Sox dropped two in a row to Seattle. The losing streak grew to four, including the first sweep by Oakland of the Red Sox since 1976. In seven games on this trip, Sox batters had been staggering at a .232 clip, and coupled with a 5.58 earned run average, the potential for reaching new depths was looming large. But the Sox took that 3-0 lead in the third inning, and Clemens had the incentive he needed. Rey Quinones drew a walk and Kevin Romine, after twice failing on a sacrifice attempt, ripped a double over the head of Brian Downing in left. A walk to Marty Barrett loaded the bases. The California starter, John Candelaria, then tried a 3-and-2 fastball to Wade Boggs, who drove it to left for a sacrifice fly that scored Quinones. Buckner then jumped on a high breaking ball and drove it up the gap in right-center, scoring Romine and Barrett. Clemens faced only nine batters in the first three innings, struck out four and only one of the nine reached base. That was Gary Pettis, whose bunt was misplayed by Clemens. The bunt rolled to a spot about 15 feet to the left of the mound. Clemens had time to wave his second baseman Barrett away and bend down and pick up the ball. Pettis was still five steps from first. But Clemens reached down and came up with air. The crowd booed when Pettis was deprived of a hit, but the call was a correct one, according to the replay. Pettis then was caught trying to steal. In the fifth inning, the Red Sox struck again, scoring five runs and sending Candelaria to the showers. The lefty was lifted after three batters. Barrett singled to center to open the inning and Boggs walked. When Buckner lined to center, Candelaria was replaced by Vernon Ruhle, a right-hander. Jim Rice singled to left, scoring Barrett. Don Baylor grounded into a force out at second for the second out, but that merely delayed the big wallop. It was set up by a walk to Dwight Evans, loading the bases. Gedman fell behind in the count, 3-2, and after fouling off one pitch, hit a bullet into the seats in right-center, and the lead was 8-0. The Yankees lost to Minnesota, so Boston's American League East lead is up to four games. Outfielder Jim Rice ended a four-game layoff caused by pain in his right knee and thigh. The decision was made following the draining of fluids from the affected area by Sox trainer Charlie Moss and a day of rest. |
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