Fenway Flashback: 1986 -Red Sox Bats Erupt to Salvage Series in Comiskey
April 13, 1986
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 of hits against the Tigers in the first three games. John McNamara was hoping his team could take the rubber game of this series with the White Sox and head home for their home opener with some positive vibes.
Pitching Matchup and Lineups
Both teams were throwing journeymen who were making their first starts of the season. Boston trotted out lefty Tim Lollar, and Chicago was relying on righty Joe Cowley.
The Red Sox lineup for the rubber game:
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
In the biggest surprise of the series so far, both pitchers held the bats scoreless in the first two innings, with neither one allowing a hit. Reality would return, at least for Boston’s offense, in the third inning.
Marty Barrett led off the third with a single to right and then stole second base. Nine-hole hitter Ed Romero drew the second walk allowed by Cowley in the game, and then Dwight Evans worked the third, loading the bases for Wade Boggs. To his credit, Cowley was able to find the zone, but unfortunately it was to one of the best hitters in the game, and Boggs slapped a single the other way to score both Barrett and Romero and give Boston a 2–0 lead. Buckner grounded out to first to drive in Evans, and then Jim Rice struck the killing blow of the inning by taking Cowley deep to left for his second homer of the year. With the score 5–0, LaRussa had seen enough from Cowley and brought in Neil Allen from his bullpen. Allen was able to retire Baylor and then Barrett with two men on to end the rally, but the damage was done.
Chicago mounted an offensive flourish of their own in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Ozzie Guillen singled and then went to second on a wild pitch and quickly stole third one pitch later. After Lollar walked Chicago center fielder John Cangelosi, Wayne Tolleson got the White Sox on the board with an RBI single.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Sox offense picked up where it left off in the third and basically put the game on ice. Ed Romero led off by singling to left and then advanced to second on a single by Evans. Allen then threw a wild pitch that put both runners in scoring position for Boggs, who delivered another opposite-field RBI single to make the score 6–1 and leave runners on the corners. Bill Buckner again made a productive out with a sacrifice fly to right for his second RBI of the game to make it 7–1.
Boston added insult to injury in the very next inning when they put four more runs on the board. A single by Tony Armas, followed by a fielder’s choice and a single by Marty Barrett, had runners on first and third again with one out for Ed Romero, who stroked his second hit of the game to left to score Gedman. Dwight Evans provided an RBI single of his own to make the score 9–1 and end the afternoon for Allen. Gene Nelson relieved Allen but didn’t provide any relief for LaRussa and the White Sox, as he was greeted with another RBI single by Boggs to left field. Jim Rice finally ended the scoring in the inning by singling home Evans with the Red Sox’s 11th run of the game.
Tim Lollar continued to mow down the White Sox, completing six innings, while giving up only one run. In the bottom of the seventh, John McNamara sent Wes Gardner to the mound, only to see him give up a leadoff triple to Ozzie Guillen and a sac fly to Wayne Tolleson to make the score 11–2. He was able to retire the remaining White Sox and end their scoring for the day.
Boston would add the final run of the game in the top of the ninth thanks to a walk by Barrett, a single by Romero, and an RBI single by Evans.
Pitching Notes
Tim Lollar recorded his first win of the season (1–0) in his first start. He went six innings, allowing only 1 earned run on two hits, but somehow survived 7 free passes while striking out 2.
Wes Gardner went 1 inning, allowing 1 earned run, 1 hit, and 1 strikeout.
Steve Crawford went 1 inning, allowing 1 hit.
Bob Stanley also went 1 inning, allowing 1 hit of his own.
Player Notes and Season Stats
The offense took out their frustrations from the Seaver start on Cowley and a quartet of relievers out of the White Sox bullpen. They exploded for a season-high 16 hits, incredibly with only one extra-base hit.
Dwight Evans: 3-for-5, 2 RBI (4), and 3 runs scored
Wade Boggs: 3-for-5, 4 RBI (7), 1 run scored
Jim Rice: 2-for-5, HR (2), 3 RBI (8), 1 run scored
Marty Barrett: 2-for-4, 3 runs scored
Ed Romero: 3-for-4, 1 RBI (1), 3 runs scored
The victory got Boston back to .500 and made for a happy flight back to Boston, where they would be opening up their season at Fenway against the defending World Champion Kansas City Royals. Red Sox Nation was excited for the first game of the year in the Fens, but they had no idea just what type of excitement the old ballpark had in store for them this year.
Stay tuned as we continue our day-by-day journey through the memorable 1986 Red Sox season.
Image courtesy of https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/comiskey-park/