Any chance that John McNamara's job could be saved evaporated quickly in early July. The Sox traveled to Kansas City and Minnesota and promptly lost 5 of 6. Royals Stadium continued to be a Boston graveyard, as KC swept them by scores of 8-7, 3-1, and 3-2.
The first loss saw bad luck plague the Townies, as an apparent two-run homer in the eighth by Rich Gedman was ruled a foul ball by umpire Dale Scott. Scott ruled that the ball had not hit the foul pole, but subsequent replays proved him wrong. The Royals thus maintained their one-run lead, with Steve Farr picking up his sixth save. Starter Bruce Hurst was slammed out early, leaving after 1 1/3 and surrendering 7 hits and 6 runs. Boston rallied against Bret Saberhagen to take a 7-6 lead behind the hitting of Dewey Evans (4 for 5, 3 rbi's) and Marty Barrett. Rookie Steve Ellsworth couldn't hold it, however. The winner was driven in by a Kurt Stillwell double in the sixth to cap a two-run rally. Ellsworth pitched fairly well, but saw his record drop to 1-6.
Sox bats, so potent in the previous homestand, went downhill again in the next two contests. First, Charlie Liebrandt and two relievers bested Oil Can Boyd. Wade Boggs had a rare inside-the-park homer to tie it at 1-1 in the fifth, but Pat Tabler's double in the bottom half plated the winner. The other ten Boston hits were singles. Mike Smithson gave a creditable effort in game 3, pitching out of several jams and leaving after 6 1/3 innings with a 2-1 lead. Erratic closer Lee Smith couldn't hold it, however. Kevin Seitzer's double knotted it in the seventh, and a two-out walk and a pair of singles plated the winner in the eighth. The loss brought the Sox' all-time record in Kansas City to 32-58.
In the final series game on July 4, Roger Clemens got lots of help in a 9-2 victory backed by a 17-hit attack. The Rocket allowed 9 hits in 8 innings and fanned 8 while lowering his ERA to 2.43. Boston shot out to a 5-0 lead early and eased in. Their extra-base power returned for one night, as Boggs went 4-for-5 with two doubles and Evans had 3 hits including his eighth homer.
Traveling to Minnesota, the Townies quickly saw their woes return. Twice scuffling into one-run leads, they saw Smith implode again. Relieving starter Wes Gardner in the seventh with the score 3-2, he allowed a hit by the immortal Kelvin Torve to tie the contest. Then, after a Mike Greenwell sac fly gave the visitors a 4-3 advantage, Smith fell victim to a mammoth three-run homer by Gary Gaetti to produce a 6-4 victory. The Sox had taken a 3-0 lead, helped by a bases-loaded hit from Todd Benzinger, but it quickly disappeared. The "blown save" stat still did not exist, but the high-priced closer had only 11 saves in 17 chances.
Things did not get better the next night, as Hurst failed again, suffering an 8-1 defeat to Frank Viola, who allowed 3 hits and walked one while running his record to 14-2. Hurst, who had suffered from mono in 87, was sent back to Boston for blood tests. His last five starts had resulted in an 8.59 ERA, and something was definitely amiss with the Sox' number 2 starter. Hurst was pulled in the second already down 3-0, but relievers Dennis Lamp and Tom Bolton did little better. Viola, who would spend three years in Boston late in his career, was on his way to a career best 24-7 record.
On the morning of July 7, the Sox were back near .500 at 40-39, 9 behind Detroit and only a game ahead of the fifth-place Brewers. The pitching staff was suffering, with only Clemens a consistent winner at 12-5 and 2.43. Hurst, Boyd and Smithson all had ERA's over 4.60, and no reliever seemed reliable. Though too proud to admit it, I'm sure Johnny Mac knew it would soon be over for him.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
