October 23, 1986 ...
Bruce Hurst and carried the Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Mets in
the fifth game of the World Series at Fenway Park. For the second
time in a week, he came up with an important victory. As a result,
the Sox now lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2.
Dwight Gooden was humbled for the second time in a week by Red Sox bats, which
came to life for 12 hits. Once the flagship of National League pitchers, Gooden
continued his postseason slide, suffering his second Series loss and third since
the NL Championship Series began. Failing for the fourth time to notch a
postseason victory, he lasted but four-plus innings, giving up all four runs and
nine hits.
Hurst may have pitched better last Saturday in a 1-0
victory in New York. But in pitching a complete-game victory tonight, he was in
complete command, scattering 10 hits and striking out six while stretching his
shutout streak to 15 1/3 innings before surrendering a run in both the eighth
and ninth. Hurst threw 130 pitches and saved the best for last when he struck
out Len Dykstra, the potential tying run, to end the game.
Gooden looked worse than he had in a 9-3 loss in Game 2
Sunday. The Sox’ nine hits included two triples that might have been homers save
for a strong crosswind. Those conditions didn't seem to affect Hurst, who put
the Sox back in control after they'd squandered a 2- 0 Series advantage by
losing on consecutive nights at Fenway.
Hurst shoved the Mets into a precarious position and gave
the Sox the elixir they needed. Working on his normal four days' rest, he was
strong from start to finish as he posted the first Fenway World Series victory
by a Sox lefthander since Babe Ruth in the championship season of 1918. Hurst's
control might have been off. But once he was given a lead, there was no catching
him.
After being humbled for two nights by Bobby Ojeda and Ron
Darling, the Red Sox came out strong and never let up. They jumped on Gooden for
a run in the second inning and kept up the attack in the third and fifth. Dave
Henderson tripled and scored in the second on a sacrifice fly by Spike Owen. In
the third, Bill Buckner reached on an error and scored on a single by Dwight
Evans.
Gooden was forced out in the fifth after surrendering a
triple by Rice that was followed by a run-scoring single by Don Baylor and
another single by Evans. Reliever Sid Fernandez gave up a double to Henderson
that brought Baylor home with the final run.
New York rallied with a pair of late runs.
Right-handed-hitting Tim Teufel, who started at second in place of Wally Backman
against the lefty, hit a solo homer in the eighth.
And in the ninth, the Mets brought Hurst's apparent cruise
to a perilous close. With two out, Mookie Wilson doubled to left and scored on a
single by Rafael Santana, turning it into a two-run game. But Hurst responded by
striking out Dykstra.
Sox manager John McNamara had prepared Hurst perfectly for
this start by using Al Nipper as his Game 4 starter. He was second-guessed after
the Sox lost that game, despite a decent effort by Nipper, but McNamara's logic
seemed clear once Hurst took the mound tonight.
Roger Clemens may have the most victories in 1986, but
Hurst has been the Sox' postseason savior, as he proved with his vital victory
against Gooden. Hurst has pitched well all season and in all places, but no
better than he has pitched in Fenway Park
His first curtain call came with two out in the ninth and
two strikes on Mookie Wilson, the Fenway fans all on their feet, shouting,
"Bruce, Bruce, Bruce." But Wilson doubled and then Rafael Santana singled,
bringing up the tying run. Again Dykstra.
Again two strikes, again Fenway in a roar, again the pitch
that had to be made, the pitch that doubters used to doubt Hurst would throw.
The same pitch as the fifth, a fastball, this one higher than the last, and
again Dykstra whiffed, K’d, fanned and waved at the ball, getting nothing.
It is now up to Roger Clemens as John McNamara set the
stage. No more questions can be asked of Bruce Hurst, no more challenges
presented. Bruce Hurst has done all he could in all his biggest games.
