Fenway Flashback: 1986 - Darrell Evans Powers Tigers past the Sox in Extras
April 9, 1986
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 temperatures of Opening Day.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
John McNamara felt comfortable giving his winningest pitcher from the previous year, Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, the second start, while the Tigers were counting on their crafty lefty, Frank Tanana, to keep the team undefeated.
The lineup for Day 2:
Dwight Evans (RF)
Wade Boggs (3B)
Bill Buckner (1B)
Jim Rice (LF)
Don Baylor (DH)
Tony Armas (CF)
Rich Gedman (C)
Marty Barrett (2B)
Glenn Hoffman (SS)
Game Recap
Like Game 1, the Sox got out to an early lead…just not quite as early. Tanana and Boyd kept their opponents off the board for the first two innings, but in the top of the third, Boston put up a crooked number. Dwight Evans started the inning with a leadoff walk and scored on a two-run homer by Wade Boggs. Oil Can held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the third, and Boston struck again in the top of the fourth.
Tony Armas led off with a booming double to left and advanced to third on Rich Gedman’s single to right. After Marty Barrett walked to load the bases, Glenn Hoffman delivered a run with a sac fly to right. Boston looked poised to take a more commanding lead with men on the corners and only one out, but Evans lined one right back to Tanana, who snagged it and doubled off Barrett at first. The lost opportunity would prove costly, as Detroit finally got to Boyd in the bottom of the fourth and began their comeback.
The Tigers began to chip away at the 3–0 lead when first baseman Darrell Evans got a hold of one and deposited it into the Tiger Stadium seats in right field to cut the lead to 3–1. In the bottom of the sixth, they chipped away again, thanks to Evans’ second solo homer in as many at-bats.
The Sox were able to get the run back in the top of the seventh thanks to some poor fielding. Wade Boggs led the inning off by grounding a Randy O’Neal pitch to third, but Darnell Coles wasn’t able to make the play, and Bill Buckner quickly made him pay by driving in Boggs with a double to left. Oil Can Boyd held the Tigers in check in the bottom of the seventh, and when Boston failed to score a runner from second with one out in the top of the eighth, McNamara turned to his bullpen to hold the two-run lead.
Lefty Joe Sambito began the inning by facing the top of the Tigers’ lineup. After Dave Collins grounded out to shortstop, Glenn Hoffman for the first out, the Sox repaid Detroit for the earlier error with one of their own. Tiger second baseman Lou Whitaker reached on an error by Hoffman and, after advancing to second on a wild pitch by Sambito, scored on a double by Kirk Gibson. Bob Stanley replaced Sambito on the hill with a man on second and one out. The first man he faced, catcher Lance Parrish, singled to left, advancing Gibson to third, and then Darrell Evans struck again for his third RBI of the day by stroking a single up the middle to tie the game.
Both teams threatened in the ninth inning but failed to score, sending the teams to extra innings on this cold April afternoon. Sparky Anderson turned to Willie Hernandez for the second game in a row, but he was not as sharp as he was on Opening Day. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, he lost a little control and walked nine-hole hitter Glenn Hoffman, who was pinch run for by Ed Romero. Dwight Evans kept the inning going with a bloop single, and then Boggs singled to right to score Romero and give the Sox a 5–4 lead.
McNamara stayed with Stanley, who had finished the eighth inning and gotten through the ninth, but he would not be so fortunate in the tenth. Kirk Gibson started the inning with his third hit of the game, a single to center. Lance Parrish walked to put runners on first and second and mark the end of Stanley’s outing. Righty, Steve Crawford came in to face Evans, who singled to center to score Gibson with the tying run. Tiger shortstop Alan Trammell sacrificed the runners over, and Crawford intentionally walked first baseman Mike Laga to load the bases and set up the force at any base. Crawford was able to get centerfield, Chet Lemon to roll over on a pitch and ground one to Boggs at third, who forced the runner at the plate, but the Red Sox were not able to turn the double play at first, which would prove costly. Sparky Anderson went to his bench for veteran left-handed hitter Dave Bergman, who walked the Sox off with a single to right.
Pitching Notes
Oil Can Boyd got a no-decision despite pitching extremely well in his season debut. He went 7 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
Joe Sambito pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 1 hit.
Bob Stanley took the loss, going 1 2/3 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk.
Steve Crawford blew the save in his 2/3 of an inning, giving up 2 hits, 1 walk, and allowing two inherited runners to score.
Player Notes and Season Stats
The Sox bats pounded out a baker’s dozen hits again, with four players having multiple-hit days.
Wade Boggs: 4-for-6, with a double, HR (1), 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored
Dwight Evans: 2-for-5, with a run scored
Bill Buckner: 2-for-5, with a double, 1 RBI
Rich Gedman: 3-for-5
The second painful loss of the series, this time in extra innings, left the Sox hoping that someone out of their bullpen would be able to hold a lead. The offense was already clicking on all cylinders, they just needed the pitching to catch up, and the team could be very dangerous in the American League East.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the memorable 1986 Red Sox season.
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