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 comforts of home would help keep those bats warm for the first home series of 1986 at Fenway.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
Oil Can Boyd would get the ball for the BoSox in the home opener at Fenway, while the Royals and their manager, Dick Howser, turned to their veteran left-hander, Charlie Leibrandt.
The Red Sox Lineup:
• Dwight Evans (RF)
• Wade Boggs (3B)
• Bill Buckner (1B)
• Jim Rice (LF)
• Don Baylor (DH)
• Tony Armas (CF)
• Rich Gedman (C)
• Marty Barrett (2B)
• Ed Romero (SS)
Game Recap
The opener got off to an excellent start, with Boyd retiring the Royals in order in the first and Boston stringing a few hits together to take an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Wade Boggs singled to left and moved to second when Leibrandt walked Bill Buckner. After a flyout by Jim Rice for the second out of the inning, Don Baylor delivered a clutch two-out RBI single.
The lead would not last long, though, as Kansas City put together a multi-hit rally of its own in the top of the second to tie the game. Royals second baseman Frank White singled to left with one out and moved to third on a single by the big first baseman, Steve Balboni. Boyd was able to get Darryl Motley to pop out to third, but veteran catcher Jim Sundberg came through with a two-out single of his own to tie the game at one.
In the top of the third, left fielder Rudy Law got the Royals going again with a booming double to right field, and then he scored on a single by the speedy center fielder Willie Wilson.
With the score 2-1, both pitchers managed to throw two scoreless innings until Boston came to bat in the bottom of the fifth. Leibrandt had not allowed a hit since the first inning and had allowed only one batter to reach via a walk until Marty Barrett led off the inning with his first homer of the year, into the net in left field, to make the score 2-2. Ed Romero followed with a double, and when he moved to third on a fly ball by Evans, it looked like Boston was primed to take the lead back. However, a stellar play by Gold Glove second baseman Frank White on a ground ball by Boggs helped cut down the runner at the plate and end the threat.
Both Boyd and Leibrandt matched zeros through the sixth and seventh innings, adding a little late-inning drama to the Fenway home opener. Unfortunately, all of the late-inning drama was provided by the Royals’ bats in the top of the eighth inning.
With Oil Can starting to tire, the top of the Royals lineup went to work. Number-two hitter Willie Wilson led off with a single and went to third when future Hall of Famer George Brett singled to center, putting men on the corners with no outs. Hal McRae hit a slow roller to short, and all the Sox could do was get the runner at first. With the score now 3-2 Royals and a man on second, Frank White did some damage with his bat, doubling home Brett and doubling up the Red Sox.
McNamara went to the mound to relieve Boyd, but right-hander Bob Stanley was not able to put out the fire. Balboni greeted “The Steamer” with a single to center, and then Darryl Motley provided an RBI single of his own to make the score 6-2. After a strikeout by Sundberg, pinch-hitter Jorge Orta reached, and another run scored on an error by shortstop Ed Romero. Rudy Law ended the scoring, and basically Boston’s hopes, with an RBI single to make the score 8-2.
Pitching Notes
• Oil Can Boyd recorded his first loss of the season, going seven-plus innings and allowing six earned runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out three.
• Bob Stanley simply managed to pour gas on the fire in his one-third of an inning of work, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits.
• Steve Crawford finished off the game, going an inning and two-thirds, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one Royal.
Player Notes and Season Stats
• The offense went back to sleep in the home opener, managing only five hits off Leibrandt and the Royals’ relief ace, Dan Quisenberry.
• Marty Barrett: 1-for-2, 1 HR (1), 1 RBI, and 1 run scored
• Wade Boggs: 1-for-4 with a run scored
• Ed Romero: 1-for-3 with a double
The loss sent the Red Sox back under .500 and left the Fenway Faithful longing for a little more consistency from their home nine. Although it was early, the Red Sox were in last place in the American League East, trailing the 5-1 Yankees by 2.5 games.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the memorable 1986 Red Sox season.
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