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JEFF SELLERS |
THE CURSE OF
THE BAMBINO, PART 9
"IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER"...
It's a sweep for the Sox in Baltimore
June 29, 1986
... The Baltimore Orioles watched young Jeff Sellers help
Boston complete a three-game sweep with an 8-3 victory before 43,708 at Memorial
Stadium.
In winning his first game of
the season, Sellers (1-3) scattered nine hits and
showed the poise under pressure that manager John
McNamara cannot hide his enthusiasm over. Sellers
became the first Sox pitcher to throw a complete
game since June 18th. And that includes Roger
Clemens and Oil Can Boyd.
And the Red Sox are in command. In the dozen games against
the Yankees and Orioles, they went 8-4, and they did it the hard way with two
sweeps on the road. The second-place Yankees are eight games back, only a game
and a half ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays, who come to Fenway Park tonight for
four games.
Just as impressive as Sellers was Boston's offensive attack
against Mike Boddicker, who nine days ago had gone the distance in a six-hit,
14-3 victory at Fenway. Marty Barrett, Wade Boggs and Evans each had two of
Boston's 11 hits (8 off Boddicker in 7 2/3 innings). A Barrett single and Boggs
double led to two runs in the first. In the second, after a walk to Evans, Tony
Armas celebrated his everyday status in center field (thanks to the trade) by
hitting his third home run of the year. It was 4-0 and Boston never looked back.
Sellers helped Boston's confidence by the way he pitched out of trouble in the
first two innings. Romero botched a double play ball, leaving two runners on
base in the first and one out. Yet Sellers survived by getting Murray and Cal
Ripken.
Juan Beniquez singled with one out in the second, but
Sellers got Tom O'Malley to hit into a double play. Home runs by Lee Lacy and
Ripken accounted for two of the three Orioles run.
Sellers pitched out of a jam in the fourth, and picked off
Alan Wiggins to end another in the fifth. Obviously, Sellers was not paying
attention to off-field happenings.
After nearly eight months of trying, the Red Sox completed
a deal for the 41-year-old right-hander, who they think will make Boston his last
stop before the Hall of Fame. To get Tom Seaver, the Red Sox had to send
outfielder Steve Lyons to the Chicago White Sox, but it was a price Boston was
willing to pay.
With 11 pitchers on the roster, and Sammy Stewart scheduled
to come off the disabled list on Wednesday, the Sox must make some moves. The
first was made today as they called up Pawtucket outfielder Kevin Romine, who
will be the backup center fielder to Tony Armas. Romine is hitting .304, with 4
home runs and 27 RBIs. |
