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THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
The Yankees stifle
the Sox
October 2,
1986 ... Bruce Hurst (13-8) was shelled for four runs in the
fifth. Rookie right-hander Doug Drabek (7-8), one hit the Sox through eight
innings and tied a career high with six strikeouts, giving up only three hits
before he was relieved in the ninth by Bob Shirley and Dave Righetti, who earned
his 44th save, just one shy of the major league record. The Yankees won, 6-1,
before 31,697 at Fenway Park.
An Ed Romero walk and Spike
Owen triple gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the third,
but New York came back in the fifth with four runs
on four hits. Leo Hernandez delivered a three-run
double to left that made it 4-1.
After Rickey Henderson had flied to left, Willie Randolph
singled up the middle. Mattingly ripped a double for his first hit of the game,
tying the Yankee mark for most doubles in a season (52), set by Lou Gehrig in
1927.
But the Yankees hadn't finished, and they reached Sammy
Stewart for two more runs in the seventh. Mattingly led off with a his 232d hit
of the season, a single up the middle, breaking Earle Combs' team record of 231
in 1927.
The Sox didn't threaten until the ninth when they managed
to load the bases off Shirley. That prompted Yankee manager Lou Piniella to
bring in his relief ace, Righetti, who got Romero to fly to left on an 0-and-2
delivery for the save. But never mind that.
Don Mattingly had a record-breaking 2-for-4 effort, while
all Wade Boggs could do was nurse his hamstring. Boggs' status for the remaining
three games against the Yankees is uncertain. According to trainer Charlie Moss,
Boggs will require a day or two of rest to insure the injury will not keep him
out of the American League playoffs, which begin Tuesday. |
