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April 17, 1986: Baylor’s Blast Saves the Day

Two games at Fenway Park had resulted in two losses, and the Red Sox entered the finale at 3-5 on the young season. While it was still early, much of Red Sox Nation was wondering when the vaunted Boston offense was going to make its way back from spring training in Florida and join the rest of the team. For th…

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April 16, 1986: One Mistake, One Run, One Loss

After dropping the home opener at Fenway and stewing over it during the scheduled day off in case of weather, the Sox looked to get back into the win column against the Royals on a Wednesday afternoon in early April. Sitting one game below .500 after the first seven games wasn’t the worst possible start imag…

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April 14, 1986: Home Opener Ends in Disappointment

With the bats blazing after exploding in Chicago in the series finale, the Sox headed home, where they welcomed the American League team from the “Show Me State,” the Kansas City Royals. At 3-3, the Red Sox were riding the wave of inconsistency, at least offensively. John McNamara was hoping that the com…

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April 13, 1986: Red Sox Bats Erupt to Salvage Series in Comiskey

The final game of the opening road trip was upon them, and the Red Sox were 2–3, having lost the opening series to Detroit and on the verge of possibly losing two series in a row to open the season. The pitching had been improving, but the bats had cooled off a little since their onslaught …

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April 12, 1986: Tom is Still “Terrific” as Sox Drop Game Two in Chicago

With two fantastic starts by Nipper and Clemens and the offense scoring at will, the Red Sox were at .500 and looking to take their first series of the season. The 0–4 White Sox were all that stood in their way on this chilly Chicago evening in April.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups

Bruce…

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April 11, 1986: The Rocket Launches for the First Time in ‘86

Following the performance by Al Nipper to get the Sox in the win column, they left the Motor City for another three-game set in the Windy City with the White Sox. The start of the ’86 season was not kind to either of the Sox, as the pale version were coming off a sweep at the hands of the Brew…

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April 10, 1986: Nipper Salvages the Finale for the Sox

The Sox had scored 10 runs on 25 hits in two days, yet they were 0–2. While the offense was pounding away in Tiger Stadium, their pitching was serving up batting practice to the Tigers. The twelve runs that the Sox arms had relinquished were second most in the major leagues, behind only the Angels an…

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April 9, 1986: Darrell Evans Powers Tigers past the Sox in Extras

After stewing over their Opening Day loss to the Tigers, the Red Sox were hoping to record their first W of the 1986 season. Today, the Red Sox had to battle more than just the Tigers’ lineup though. The noon start, along with a high of 40 degrees, was a big shift from the comfortable temp…

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April 7, 1986: Gibson Steals the Show on Opening Day in Detroit

Opening Day of the 1986 season had finally arrived. The Red Sox left their Spring Training home in Winter Haven, Florida, for the incredibly balmy Detroit, Michigan. The temperature at Tiger Stadium for the afternoon opener was a pleasant 67 degrees. The Sox were scheduled to open up the sea…

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Remembering the Joy and Heartbreak of the 1986 Boston Red Sox

This year we are going to relive the 1986 season game by game. Each day we will tell the story of how the day’s game went, reflect on some of the ups and downs of the season, and revel in the joys and cry at the heartbreak. 1986 was one of the most memorable seasons in Red Sox Nation because i…

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September 7, 1975 (Game 1) The Gold Dust Twins Deliver

Coming off the trouncing of the Brewers in the second game of the four-game set at County Stadium, the Sox were ready to square off with Milwaukee in an important doubleheader that could provide Boston with an advantage for home field in the American League. Baltimore was playing a single game agains…

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September 6, 1975: The Bats Erupt in Milwaukee

Following their loss in the series opener to Milwaukee on Friday night, the Sox remained tied with the A’s at the top of the league and were holding a 6.5-game lead over Baltimore in the East. The loss snapped Boston’s mini three-game win streak, and the Sox were eager to get back in the saddle against the s…

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September 5, 1975: Brewers Top Sox in Series Opener

With the Sox beginning the second leg of their road trip in Milwaukee, they held an eight-game lead over the Orioles after sweeping them in Baltimore and had pulled even with Oakland for homefield advantage. The four-game series in Middle America offered the Brewers, once only 4.5 games back at the All-…

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September 4, 1975: Pole and Drago Silence Orioles

Game two of the short series in Baltimore gave the Red Sox another opportunity to extend their lead in the American League East. Following Rick Wise’s brilliant performance the night before, Boston entered Thursday seven games up in the division and just a half-game behind Oakland. One more strong effort …

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September 3, 1975: Wise Outduels Palmer in Baltimore

With a little momentum following their series finale win over the Yankees, and with Oakland idle on Wednesday, the Red Sox turned their full attention to Baltimore. Entering the two-game set with a six-game lead and only 25 left to play, Boston knew a sweep would go a long way toward wrapping up its fi…

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September 2, 1975: Fisk Returns as Sox Salvage Finale

With their lead over Baltimore at its narrowest point since mid-August and their deficit to Oakland now two games, the Red Sox entered September looking sluggish. The offense and pitching seemed to be working different shifts, when they hit, they couldn’t pitch, and when they pitched, the bats went si…

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September 1, 1975: Doc Goes to Work on Labor Day

Labor Day had arrived, and the Red Sox were just 27 games away from their first postseason appearance since 1967. Boston entered the day with a six-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East but had slipped a game behind Oakland after dropping two of three in their weekend showdown. While homefield advantage …

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August 31, 1975: Reggie’s Big Day Sinks Sox in Series Finale

The end of August had finally arrived, with Boston playing their 28th game in 31 days. Entering the finale of the A’s series, the Sox were 16–11 for the month, solid, but not as sharp as the 21–12 run that had vaulted them into first place earlier in the summer. Since visiting Oakland in mid-Au…

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August 30, 1975: Oakland Edges Sox in Extra-Inning Thriller

Up a game in the series, and a game ahead in the race for homefield advantage, the Red Sox were poised to seize control of the American League lead. But the defending AL champion A’s were no strangers to pressure, and they weren’t about to be overwhelmed by the moment at Fenway Park on the final…

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August 29, 1975: Wise Outduels Bahnsen as Sox Take Lead for Homefield

With another day off behind them and the final regular season battle with Oakland about to unfold in the Fens, the Red Sox were poised to take hold of their playoff destiny. On Thursday, Oakland was beaten by the Yankees 3–2, which placed the two clubs in a flat-footed tie. Baltimore d…

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