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REVERSING THE CURSE,
PART 1
THE NOMAR ERA BEGINS
Nine run fourth inning propels the Red Sox
June 8,
1997 ... The
Red Sox came up with a nine-run fourth inning to erase a five-run
deficit on their way to posting a 12-6 victory over the Indians today
at Fenway Park. And the often-maligned bullpen held Cleveland to four
hits and only one run after starter Jeff Suppan was knocked out in
the third. To escape the American League East cellar, the Red Sox
must figure out how to repeat today's success.
Joe Hudson,
who relieved Suppan and allowed only one hit and one walk in three innings, got
the win after being recalled from Pawtucket Saturday night.
The Red Sox
did more than compete -- they soared after yet another shaky outing by their
starter. Early on, it looked like a third straight Cleveland win. The Indians
stole five bases -- three by Matt Williams, of all people -- in the first three
innings. Jim Thome hit a home run for the third straight game, and Chad Ogea
gave up only one infield hit in the first three innings.
But Williams
shuffled the lineup, and it paid dividends. Vaughn batted third, with Wilfredo
Cordero hitting cleanup. Mike Stanley started at catcher, giving balance to the
middle of the order. Reggie Jefferson batted fifth as the designated hitter, a
spot ahead of Stanley.
The changes
worked. Vaughn had a walk, a single, and drove in a run on an error that was
part of the nine-run inning. Cordero had two doubles and a sacrifice fly,
driving in three runs. Jefferson had two doubles and two RBIs. Troy O'Leary had
three hits. John Valentin batted ninth and had three RBIs off a single and a
two-run homer in the seventh. Stanley chipped in with a hit.
The Red Sox
sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth. The inning began with singles by
Bragg and Vaughn. Cordero followed with a double to right, scoring Bragg and
moving Vaughn to third. Vaughn and Cordero both scored on a Jefferson double off
The Wall, making it 5-3. Ogea recorded his only putout of the inning by striking
out Stanley. But a walk to Tim Naehring was followed by O'Leary's single,
loading the bases. Righthander Danny Graves replaced Ogea.
But he was
greeted by Valentin, whose single scored Jefferson. Garciaparra hit a single off
The Wall, plating two runs and putting Boston ahead, 6-5. Bragg walked, loading
the bases again. Mo Vaughn reached when his grounder went through the legs of
first baseman Jim Thome, scoring two runs to put Boston ahead, 8-5. Batting for
the second time in the inning, Cordero drove home the ninth run with a sacrifice
fly to center.
Cleveland
picked up a run in the seventh, but Boston rebounded for three more runs in the
bottom of the inning. With one out, O'Leary singled and Valentin hit his fourth
home run. When Garciaparra singled, Graves was replaced by lefthander Paul
Assenmacher. Bragg struck out, but a walk to Vaughn brought on yet another
pitching change. Eric Plunk replaced Assenmacher and promptly gave up a
run-scoring double to Cordero that gave Boston a 12-6 cushion.
Kerry Lacy,
Chris Hammond, and Heathcliff Slocumb combined to protect the lead through the
late innings. Suppan, who admitted he had trouble spotting his fastball, was
happy for everybody. |
