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 and Mariners, who had given up a lucky 13 runs each.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
Boston would turn to fourth-year right-hander Al Nipper to try and hold the Tiger offense down while Sparky was going with his 1985 All-Star right-hander, Dan Petry, to try to complete the sweep.
The lineup for the finale:
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 two right-handers threw zeros in the first inning, and Petry did the same in the second, but Nipper was the first to blink as he surrendered his first run of the ’86 campaign in the bottom of the second. Tiger catcher Lance Parrish led off with a single to left and advanced to second when Darrell Evans drew a walk. Darnell Coles grounded out to Buckner at first, advancing both runners. First baseman Mike Laga popped out for the second out, but Nipper walked his second batter of the inning, Chet Lemon, to load the bases with two outs. It looked like Nipper was going to get out of the inning as he induced a ground ball to first, but Buckner booted it, allowing a run to score (a bit of foreshadowing of the true pain that would befall the club in a matter of a few months!). Nipper was able to recover the ball and throw-out Coles at the plate to avoid any further damage.
Both pitchers were able to hold their opponents off the board for the next two innings, when the Sox offense finally got going against Petry in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Ed Romero, who was getting his first start of the season, doubled to left field and would score on Dwight Evans’ RBI single to tie the game at 1. Boggs drew a walk, moving Evans to second and setting up Buckner for a bit of redemption. He lined a pitch into right field for his third double of the year, scoring Evans and advancing Boggs to third base. Cleanup hitter Jim Rice then finished up the scoring by slapping a single the other way to score both runners and give Nipper a 4–1 lead, a lead he was determined not to relinquish this day.
Nipper retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the fifth and sixth, before finally slipping a little in the bottom of the seventh. Detroit third baseman Darnell Coles led off the inning with a single and moved up to second, two batters later on a Chet Lemon single to left. Nipper then walked pinch-hitter Harry Spilman to load the bases with only one out. He again induced a ground ball to Buckner, who made the play successfully and flipped it to Nipper, who was covering, to record the second out of the inning while allowing the Tigers their second run of the game. That would be it for Detroit, though, as Nipper got second baseman Lou Whitaker to fly harmlessly to center to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the ninth, putting two runners on, but Tiger lefty, Chuck Cary was able to escape the inning without surrendering any runs. McNamara stuck with Nipper for the ninth, and it looked like it was going to be the right move as he got Coles to ground out weakly to second to start the inning and then got the next batter, Mike Laga, to ground one to Buckner. Unfortunately, Buckner’s glove was not up to the task again, and Laga reached on the error. Chet Lemon popped up to Gedman for the second out of the inning, but Nipper walked pinch-hitter Dave Bergman to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of the Tigers’ leadoff man, switch-hitting Dave Collins. Sox Skipper, John McNamara turned to his left-handed specialist, Joe Sambito, to turn Collins around to his weaker side. Tiger Maanger, Sparky Anderson countered by sending up pinch-hitter, the veteran right hander, Larry Herndon. Sambito was able to get Herndon to tap weakly back to him to end the game and record the first win for the 1986 Red Sox.
Pitching Notes
Al Nipper was outstanding, recording the win, going 8 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits, 5 walks, and striking out 6.
Joe Sambito pitched 1/3 of an inning, retiring the only batter he faced and recording his first save of the season.
Player Notes and Season Stats
The Red Sox recorded another double-digit hit day (10) but scored “only” four runs in the win.
Dwight Evans: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, and a run scored
Bill Buckner: 1-for-5, with a double, 1 RBI, and a run scored
Jim Rice: 1-for-4, with 2 RBI
Tony Armas: 2-for-4
Nipper’s outing finally got the Sox in the win column and showed the rest of the league just how dangerous the Red Sox could be if they were able to get just a little pitching. Despite the win, the play of Buckner at first base would be a precursor to things to come for the ’86 Boston Red Sox.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the memorable 1986 Red Sox season.
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