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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9 September 26, 1986 ... Jesse Barfield's home run off Calvin Schiraldi in the 12th inning gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 1-0 victory over the Red Sox, stalling the team's drive to the American League East title. Barfield, the league leader with 36 home runs, had been struck out with two on in the ninth by Roger Clemens, who was foiled in his bid for his 25th victory. Clemens gave up eight hits but, aided by two double plays, allowed only one runner to reach second. He gave way to Schiraldi in the 10th. Righthander Jimmy Key matched Clemens into the eighth inning, leaving with two outs and the bases loaded. Mark Eichhorn came on to strike out Don Baylor. It was shown early that pitching and defense would be the keys to this contest. The tone for the night was set after Clemens gave up a leadoff walk to Tony Fernandez. The Toronto speedster immediately tried to steal second, and just as quickly was thrown out by Rich Gedman. He received more defensive help in the next two innings. Designated hitter Rick Leach singled past third, but when he tried for second on a ball that hit the base of the left-field seats, Spike Owen retrieved it quickly and threw a strike to second, where Marty Barrett tagged Leach. The Red Sox were also unproductive against Key, who pitched out of jams in three of the first four innings. Wade Boggs singled in the first, but was wiped out when Bill Buckner hit into a double play. In the third, Gedman reached on an error with one out. With two outs, Boggs singled to right. But again Key escaped by getting Barrett to fly to right. Baylor doubled high off the wall in left-center with two out in the fourth and Dwight Evans drew a walk on a close 3-2 pitch. But Dave Henderson, inserted in the lineup as a replacement for Tony Armas, struck out for the 104th time this year. The Red Sox had another opportunity in the seventh inning, and came up empty, thanks to brilliant defense by the Blue Jays. Evans walked with one out, and moved to second as Henderson grounded to third. That brought up Gedman, who lined a 2-1 pitch to left field. But George Bell made a perfect throw to the plate to former Sox catcher Ernie Whitt, who blocked Evans and made the tag. In the eighth, it was the Blue Jays' turn. Leach singled off Buckner's glove for the third hit of the night. But Clemens and the Sox had the perfect answer. Gedman called for a pitchout and nailed pinch runner Kelly Gruber. Boston got a break with two out in the eighth. Barrett hit a routine grounder to short, and Fernandez made a routine throw. Only it was off line, and pulled Upshaw off the bag. Buckner fell behind in the count, 0-2. But when Key threw an outside fastball, Buckner threw his bat at the ball and singled to right, sending Barrett to third. Eichhorn replaced Key, who had thrown 114 pitches. Last week in Toronto, Eichhorn had the Sox swinging at shadows. This time Jim Rice waited him out and walked on five pitches. That brought up Baylor, and Eichhorn struck him out on three pitches, and the rally was over. Clemens had thrown only 92 pitches through eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Fernandez grounded to short. But Upshaw singled right center for the eighth Toronto base hit. That was followed by a walk to Mulliniks, which made Upshaw the first Blue Jay runner to reach second base. This brought manager John McNamara to the mound. In a similar situation last Sunday in Toronto, McNamara didn't hesitate to yank his righthander. But this time he stuck with Clemens and was rewarded handsomely. Bell lined to right for the second out. Then Roger ran the count to 2-2 and poured a fastball past Barfield, the AL home run leader, for his sixth strikeout of the night. As he left the field, Clemens was given a standing ovation. Tom Seaver's right knee was examined for the second time by Dr. Arthur Pappas, the Red Sox physician. Pappas said the strain, which forced the veteran righthander to leave the team last week in Toronto, had improved but offered no timetable for Seaver's return. Tony Armas was replaced by Dave Henderson in the starting lineup. As expected, Pawtucket outfielder John Christensen was sent to the Seattle Mariners yesterday, completing the six-player deal that brought Henderson and Spike Owen to Boston. Bill Buckner singled in the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. This was the fourth time this season the Sox entered extra innings with the score tied, 0-0. They are 2-2 in those contests. Clemens lowered his earned run average to 2.46, tops in the AL, and raised his strikeout total to 238, only eight short of Jim Lonborg's 246 in 1967. |
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