As Dan Shaughnessy began his story about the Sox opener on Monday April 4, "the anticipation is often better than the reality." As often happens, the team disappointed in their opening series at Fenway, dropping 2 of 3 to the tough Tigers.
Highly-touted reliever Lee Smith failed in his Opening Day appearence, surrendering a two-run homer to Alan Trammell in the tenth to absorb a 5-3 loss before 34,000 fans. Starter Roger Clemens threw 136 pitches, a huge amount by today's standards, and fanned 11 before leaving after nine in a 3-3 tie, while Detroit ace Jack Morris also threw nine, walking one and fanning 9. After falling behind 2-0 to Morris, Boston went ahead 3-2 in the third, the big hit a two-run single by DH Sam Horn. Matt Nokes soon tied it with a homer over the bullpen, and it remained that way until the top of the tenth. The inning began inauspiciously as Spike Owen fumbled Gary Pettis' grounder, and after a sacrifice and long fly to right, the reliable Trammell deposited one into the net for a two-run lead. Closer Mike Henneman then set the Sox down in the bottom half for the victory. Brady Anderson, then a promising rookie, had 3 hits in his first major league game.
After an off-day, the Bosox rebounded for their first win, but it was not easy. It took a four-run rally in the eighth to top Detroit 6-5, aided by some misplays and wildness from reliever Willie Hernandez. After a walk and hits by Horn and Dwight Evans loaded them, a sacrifice fly by Rich Gedman plated one, and pinch hitter Todd Benzinger slapped a screwball to right to score Evans. After a hit batsman, manager Sparky Anderson brought in Henneman, but a throwing error by catcher Mike Heath drove in the tying run. Following an intentional walk to Wade Boggs, a passed ball by the shaky Heath scored Brady A with the winner. Smith then redeemed himself a bit by retiring Detroit on 12 pitches to earn his first AL save.
The series' rubber game saw rookie Steve Ellsworth hit hard in his debut, surrendering 8 hits and 5 runs in 2-plus innings on the way to an 11-6 defeat. An Owen homer gave the Sox an early lead, but the Tigers went to work with two off Ellsworth in the second, paced by a Nokes leadoff homer. When Nokes connected again for a three-run job with one out in the third, John McNamara went to Mike Smithson, but the onslaught continued. Detroit would connect for 21 hits off four Boston pitchers and go out to a 10-4 lead after six. Former Soxer Frank Tanana went 7 innings for the victory, giving up 10 hits but walking none.
The opening series had revealed that the Sox had some pitching problems and that Smith might not be the shutdown closer that the team had anticipated. It was now on to Texas and Oil Can Boyd's first start.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
