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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9 August 13, 1986 ... It is not gilding an ancient lily to say that Tom Seaver’s work in tonight's 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals was nothing short of inspirational. It only reminds you that when he pitches under the gun, as was the case tonight before a crowd of 30,614, it was worth all the late-night oil the Red Sox burned in getting him into a Boston uniform. The 41-year-old right-hander isn't perfect. After getting a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Seaver struggled like a raw rookie in the early going, and almost gave the lead back. Kansas City scored twice in the bottom of the first, and he was getting hit. But not to worry. Not with a veteran pitcher who understands himself and the game as Seaver does. Once he straightened out, there was no beating him or the Red Sox, who ended a three-game losing streak and kept their lead in the AL East at 3 1/2 games over second-place New York. Seaver gave the Red Sox exactly the kind of lift they needed. He pitched 7 2/3 innings, scattering nine hits, before getting relief help from Calvin Schiraldi. This was just as important a victory for Boston as was his 6-1 complete game against Detroit on Friday night, when the Sox began this eight-game swing with a four-game lead. No one had to remind Seaver that his first inning was hardly a vintage effort. He solved his own problems, and despite a nagging problem in his calf and thigh, shut the Royals down the rest of the way until he finally ran out of gas. That Seaver understands his role with Boston goes without saying. Most of his personal goals have been accomplished. He is here to help the Red Sox win a division and league pennant. The lows for Seaver came in the first inning when Kansas City scored two runs after the Sox had struck for four runs. The fireworks in the first against Royals lefthander Charlie Leibrandt (9-10) began with one out. Marty Barrett ripped a double up the gap in left-center. Jim Rice followed with a line double to the same spot, scoring Barrett. Don Baylor grounded to short for the second out. But Dwight Evans walked and Bill Buckner singled, scoring Rice. Tony Armas hit a bloop double to right, scoring Evans and sending Buckner to third. Buckner scored on a single to left by Rich Gedman, completing the surge. All of which should have put Seaver on Easy Street. But it didn't work out that way as the Royals came back in the bottom of the first. Singles by Lonnie Smith and Willie Wilson put runners on first and third. Wilson stole second without drawing a throw from Gedman. One run scored as Rice made a nice running catch of a fly by George Brett. Wilson moved to third on the play and scored on a double by Jorge Orta. In the second, the Red Sox scored again and chased Leibrandt in the process. With one out, Barrett got his second double of the night, a line drive past third, and scored on a single by Rice. When Smith played Baylor's drive to left into double, Leibrandt was lifted in favor of Al Hargesheimer, who recently was recalled from Omaha, where he had a 13-6 record. The right-hander walked Evans, loading the bases. But then he got Buckner to hit into a double play, the first of three on the night for the Sox, raising their two-night total to 10. Boston would get no more runs after that. But neither would the Royals. Calvin Schiraldi picked up his fourth save since coming up from Pawtucket and didn't even think he pitched well last night. Jim Rice had three hits and was robbed of a fourth by a leaping catch by shortstop Buddy Biancalana. Marty Barrett had two doubles and scored twice. Wade Boggs went 0 for 4, ending a seven-game hitting streak. |
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