Sox 88 – Week 1

Following the Sox opening loss, the Mac-haters were out in force. A fan from Milford called the manager a "boob" and pilloried him for 1) starting Spike Owen at shortstop over Jody Reed, 2) pitching to Alan Trammell with first base open, and 3) bringing in closer Lee Smith in a tie game.
 
The Sox quieted the cynics a bit by taking 5-of-6 from the less-than-formidable Rangers and Brewers. The streak began with a 4-0 shoutout in Texas marked by a fine effort from Oil Can Boyd (in his first action since July 87) and a dugout-emptying fight in the ninth after Boston's final run. The altercation began with words between Marty Barrett and volatile reliever Mitch Williams. Boston banged out 14 hits against five Texas hurlers, incuding 3 by Wade Boggs. The Can went 6-plus innings, surrendering 8 hits and walking one.
 
Sox pitching was supposed to be a strong point, and it remained so as Roger Clemens threw 152 pitches-that's right,152- in 8 innings, allowing 5 hits and an unearned run while fanning 9 in a 2-1 triumph. The Townies, though reachng starter Charlie Hough for just 3 hits, tied it in the eighth on a Rich Gedman homer and won in the ninth on Sam Horn's sac fly. Boston faded a bit in Sunday's finale, falling 4-1 to lefty Paul Kilgus, who went 7 before giving way to Williams. The home team jumped to a 3-1 lead in the fourth on some defensive lapses and wildness by starter Jeff Sellers. The righty would walk 6 and fan 7 and garner an 8-inning complete game though suffering his first loss.
 
Boston then returned home to face the Brewers and took a 3-1 decision before 12,000 chilled fans (this was long before the days of consecutive sellouts). Bruce Hurst bounced back from a poor effort vs Detroit, allowing 4 safeties in 7 innings before giving way to Lee Smith, who picked up his third save. Ellis Burks, returning from the disabled list, was the star with two hits, a fine defensive play and some speed on the bases, something seldom seen on this Sox squad. Oil Can gave another strong performance on Wednesday the 13th in 38-degree weather for a 6-3 victory, which was also Milwaukee's fifth straight defeat. Burks stayed hot with 3 hits, a stolen base, and a late two-run homer. The Sox overcame an early deficit with 4 in the fifth, featuring Burks' drag bunt and a double by John Marzano. Boyd pitched into the seventh before giving way to Wes Gardner and then Smith; Lee picked up his fourth save and had now pitched in 6 of Boston's 8 contests. The loss went to Juan Nieves, present Sox pitching coach but then one of Milwaukee's top starters.
 
The Brewers then had to face the Rocket in the cold and went down 2-0 to complete the sweep. Clemens and Bill Wegman both went all the way, with Roger walking one and fanning 13 Both Sox runs were unearned.
 
Though the home squad was now 6-3 and trailed the 8-1 Yankees by only two games, not all was perfect on Yawkey Way. Gedman was back on the DL with a broken foot. Cleanup hitter Jim Rice had only one extra-base hit. The staff ERA was 2.67, but after Clemens, Hurst, and Boyd, there was a big dropoff in the rotation to Sellers and Steve Ellsworth. Difficult days lay ahead.