May 18, 1985: Boston Red Sox (18-15) @ Cleveland Indians (18-16)
Two southpaws in action again this afternoon, with Bruce Hurst taking on Neal Heaton. This is just his fourth season in the bigs and he enters this game at career 25-26. We’ve only faced each other in the one game last year, in which I managed a single in three trips to the plate. Keen to put yesterday’s shocker behind us with an improved showing here. Looks like 3 is my new hitting slot v LHP.
Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game
Game Recap
We fall behind early in this one as Bruce gives up a booming 2-run home run to Tony Bernazard in the 2nd and then, in almost a mirror-image of yesterday, chase our starter prematurely after he gives up another longball, this time to Butch Benton with two aboard.
Our sleepy bats finally come to life in the next as we cancel out their 3-spot, two of which runs come via a double by yours truly after Dewey Evans had doubled in our first run of the game. We exchange singles a couple frames later to make it 6-4 but we just keep bleeding runs and, despite a flurry in the 9th that sees us close the gap to one, we eventually lose by that margin with a 7-6 final. Little going right for us just at the moment.
Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day
- The O's score 6 in the 10th to get an 11-5 road win in Seattle, while four of the other twelve games result in shutout wins.
The Real Deal
- MLB Debuts: NIL
- Daily Notes: On this day in 1955, the Indians score 11 runs in the 5th inning to beat the Red Sox 19-0 at Fenway Park - the worst shutout pasting ever for Boston and the most runs ever in a shutout by the Indians.