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In a 7 game series that appeared to be all Royals after the first 3 games, something happened on the way to their home ballpark.
It was a mild day in Boston for the opening of the League championship. The Red Sox fans excitement was clearly showing at announcement of each of their players. The crowd was contained with but a small smattering of boos for the visiting Kansas City team. There wasn't much thought in the fans minds that this team from the Midwest would do much to against their rampaging Red Sox. Afterall, the Royals had struggled to get this far and the Red Sox had pushed the competition to the side of the road with little difficulty. The Sox had compiled a 12-1 record coming into this series while the Royals were 12-6. No one was feeling pity for the Royals ballclub but many had thought they had exceeded expectations already, but as the saying goes "That's why we play the games".
Game 1 had Mike Jones (3-0) hurling for the visitors while Roger Clemens (2-0) took the mound for the sox. The Royals were quickly dispatched in their half of the first on but 6 pitches. Beantowners were off to the races in the bottom of their inning. With one out, Barrett walked, went to 2nd on a wild pitch by Jones, Buckner promptly hit a sharp groundball up the middle scoring Barrett, Rice K'd and Gedman popped out to end the inning. RS 1-0. The top of the 2nd turned the page, McRae after being down in the count lined a single up the middle, Aikens forced McRae, Wathan felt the sting of a Clemens fastball on his thigh, Geronimo walked filling the bases. White hit a dribbler to shortstop who only had a play at first, allowing the runners to move up. Washington hit another dribbler to first this time, allowing the runners to move again. Two outs, Wilson hit a soft single up the middle scoring Geronimo. Otis on a 2-2 pitch took a Clemens' pitch for 387' to left center for a 3 run shot. KC 6 BRS 1 Boston was not to get another hit as Jones threw a one-hit one-run game. Geronimo hit his first home run in the top of the 3rd sending Clemens to an early shower. KC scored 3 more runs. KC 9 BRS 1
Another beautiful night for the 2nd game with Dennis Leonard (3-1) facing Dennis "Oil
Can" Boyd (4-0). The Royals got to Boyd early scoring 3 runs in the top of the 2nd, scoring with 2 singles, a walk a force play and another single. Boston put their first run on the board in the bottom of the 3rd using two singles, walk and a ground out. In the bottom of the 4th, the Sox scored again when Gedman walked, Evans singled, Easler hit into a DP moving Gedman to third. Hoffman then drove Gedman home with a double off the wall in left center. KC 3 BRS 2 KC scored their last run on 3 singles putting them ahead by 2. In the bottom the 9th with one out and Leonard still on the mound, Evans hit a sharp line drive single into center. The Royals went to Quisenberry, up to this point the Quiz had been largely ineffective in the tourney. Easler on a 1-1 count smashed a line drive single to right. Hoffman with runners at 1st and 2nd hit a dribbler to Quisenberry who threw to 2nd for the force but could not turn the double play. Lyons up, on a 2-1 pitch he hit a hard groundball into left field putting runners at 1st and 3rd and scoring Evans. Rennie Martin came in to try and end the game. He was asked to load the bases by intentionally walking Boggs. Bases load, two out, KC holding onto a 1 run lead. Barrett due up, was called back and left handed Rick Miller was sent to the plate. Miller took the first two pitches for balls, Martin dealt and Miller pounded a ball but right at Brett who threw to White at 2nd, game over. KC 4 BRS 3
A chilly 56 degree night in Boston, two left handed pitchers starting against each other, Larry Gura (0-1) against Bruce Hurst (3-1). White hit a solo shot for the Royals in the top of the 3rd to give them the lead 1-0. KC added their 2nd run of the night in the top of the 5th when Motley reached on an error by BUCKNER, White sacrificed him to 2nd. Chalk popped out and Wilson drove home Motley with a single to left center. The Royals added their last run in the top of the 7th when Hurst walked two batters after two ground outs. Wilson then doubled to right but Chalk, on 1st, didn't bring his wheels and couldn't score. Otis grounded out to end the inning. KC 3 BRS 0 Gura had his stuff going as Boston managed only a single by Evans. Gura walked 1 and Chalk committed an error which accounted for the other 3 runners to reach base for Boston. Wilson had 2 hits with 2 rbi for KC. KC 3 BRS 0
The Royals were riding a high going home with a 3 game advantage. They only needed to
win 1 more game. Game 4 saw Nipper go to the mound for only his 2nd time in the tourney while Splittorff was going back out their for his 5th time. Splittorff was 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA while Nipper was 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA. This from all appearances would be a run scoring game. Both pitchers however were on and dazzle opposing hitters until the top of the 6th, Boston got singles from Barrett and Buckner. With runners at 1st and 3rd, no outs, KC played deep for the double play. Gedman grounded to Washington who turned the two, however Barrett scored. BRS 1 KC 0 In the top of the 9th with Wright on the mound, Gedman lined a single to center. Boggs then grounded a single just beyond the reach of slick fielding White. Gedman hugged 2nd though, giving Boston runners at 1st and 2nd, no outs. Evens then blistered a line drive to Splittorff, which he caught. That was it for the Split, in came Quisenberry to again try to stop a rally. Jim Rice wasted no time, on the first pitch he lashed down the 3rd base line for a triple, driving both runners home. The infield in, Hoffman hit a grounder that White had to dive for, his only play was first. Boston did no more damage, the damage was done. BRS 4 KC 0 Nipper continued to stymie the Royals hitters until bottom of the 9th, Aikens hit a ball to the warning track in right center, 1 down. McRae worked the count to 2-1 the hit a screamer off the wall right down the third base line. Enter Stanley. Hurdle with a 2-0 counted popped a short fly to left, two outs. Quirk punched a soft liner into center scoring McRae. White finished it up by grounding out to 2nd base. Boston collected 9 hits, 2 walks and 4 runs to get their first win of the series. Rice was 3-4 with 2 rbi. Nipper allowed 4 hits in 8 innings lowering his ERA to 3.38, while Splittorff gave up 5 hits, 2 walks and 1 run to lower his ERA to 4.26 while taking his 3rd loss. BRS 4 KC 1
Game 5 couldn't come soon enough for the Royals who still led the series 3 games to 1, and only need 1 more win. It was the game 1 matchup again today, Roger Clemens (2-1) against Jones (4-0). Jones had been pretty good in his last outing and was hoping for more of the same,while Clemens was trying to redeem himself after getting a visit to the showers early in game 1. Boston made it easy for Clemens, in the top of the 1st Buckner walked Jones for a walk, Gedman then ripped a double off the right center field wall, scoring Buckner. Boggs hit a single up the middle with Gedman holding at 3rd. Evans hit a shallow fly to left for the 1st out. Rice, after getting himself in a hole 0-2, turned on a fastball and drove it over the wall down the left field line. BRS 4 KC coming to bat Boston scored again in the 3rd, after 1 out, Evans singled, Rice walked, Hoffman singled loading the bases. Hammaker was called upon for the Royals. Easler grounded to 2nd but no double play could be turned, the Sox scored. Armas ground out to end the inning. Geronimo hit his 2nd homer run of the tourney in the bottom of the 3rd to get the Royals on the board. In the bottom of the 5th Wilson led off with a single , Otis walked, Brett singled to right, Wilson scored, Geronimo and Aikens popped out,Wathan ground a single into right field scoring Otis. The scoring was finished for the game. Clemens pitched 6 2/3 giving up 8 hits, 4 walks and all 3 of KC's runs. Woodward picked up the save pitching 2 1/3 innings of hitless, scoreless ball. Jones took his first loss of the tournament, getting hammered in only 2 1/3 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and all 5 runs. Hammaker and Brett were able to shutout the Sox the rest of the way on 4 hits. Gedman was 3-5, Hoffman 2-4, while the big blow was the home run by Rice 1-2, 3rbi and 2 walks. For the Royals, Wilson 2-5, Geronimo 2-4 with a home run, and White 2-4 BRS 5 KC 3
In the final home game for KC, the fans were restless and starting to disbelieve in their
team. A great start had turned into something much less. If the Royals couldn't do it today, they would have to head back to Boston. It was Leonard's (4-1) turn on the mound for the home team versus the "Oil Can" (4-1). This game was just like the other 2 in KC, Boston struck hard with 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Lyons started the inning with a single to right center, Barrett sacrificed him to second, Buckner doubled off the wall down the right field line bring home Barrett, Gedman got a disputed call single, leaving Gedman at third. Boggs lashed a single into right scoring Gedman. Evans hit a hard line drive at Brett for the 2nd out. Leonard smacked Rice in the ribs, Hoffman walked to force home a run. Easler hit it right on the button but a full speed ahead Wilson caught it at his shoe tops to end the inning. Boston 3 KC 0 Boston would score one more time on a solo shot by Barrett in the 7th inning. Meanwhile, Boyd scattered 8 singles through his 8 innings of work giving up no runs and picking up his 5th win. Clear picked up his 1st save. Leonard took the loss dropping to 4-2 while giving up 9 hits, walking 1 and accountable for all 4 Boston runs. Wilson went 3-4 for the losers, while Buckner was 3-4, Wade Boggs 2-3 with both of them picking up an rbi for Boston. Boston 4 Kansas City 0 The series was tied now, 3-3 and Boston was getting to go home.
The series finale, back in Boston and a chilly night 56 degrees. Hurst (3-2) was hurling for the beantown crowd, while Gura (1-1) took the mound for KC. Boston took the lead in the bottom of the 1st when with 2 outs Boggs single to right, Evans followed with a single and Rice got the rbi when he punched a single into right center. BRS 1 KC 0 The top of the second set the tone for the game as the Royals took advantage of sloppy play of the Sox to open the floodgate. Lee May started by dribbling back to Hurst who picked it up then dropped it for an error. Motley fanned on 3 pitches. Wathan singled to right, White doubled to left center scoring May, putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Wilson ground it right back to Hurst,but this time he looked the runner back to third and threw to first for the 2nd out of the inning. Brett walked on 4 pitches, loading the bases for Otis. Otis fouled off 3 pitches before receiving a walk and forcing home a run. Willie Mays Aikens double off the wall down the right field line clearing the bases. It was back to May who ended the inning on a soft grounder to Hoffman at short. KC 6 BRS 1 Gura was wobbly giving up hit after hit to Boston but somehow his defense was turning the double plays to keep Boston from scoring until the bottom of the 6th. Hoffman led off with a single, Easler line a single, Armas singled loading the bases. Barrett hit into a double play scoring Hoffman. Buckner walked and the KC manager gave the hook. Hammaker was brought in. He coaxed Gedman into a fly out to center to end the threat. KC 6 BRS 2 The bottom of the 8th and Gale was pitching for the 1st time in the series, Easler on a 2-1 count smacked a home run down the right field line. Miller flied out, Barrett singled and Gale was done. Martin came in. Buckner took the first pitch but hit a ground ball to Brett's left, to White for one and to Aikens for two. KC 6 BRS 3 Martin put the Sox in order in the bottom of the 9th and KC became the series winner. Gura, although giving up 11 hits and walking 3 in his 5 2/3 innings picked up the win. Martin got his 2nd save. Hurst pitched 4 innings giving up 4 hits, 6 runs, only 2 earned but he took the loss to even his record to 3-3 and end the Sox hopes of moving to the championship.
It was an exiting series and I thank Tom Landers for managing a great series.
--submitted by Orion Bell--
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