June 2, 1985: Texas Rangers (24-23) @ Boston Red Sox (27-20)
The final game of this Rangers series sees Bruce Hurst up against Dickie Noles, a guy I’ve had my share of troubles against in our limited number of meetings – managing just the solitary hit in 9 ABs dating back to 1980, when he was a member of the World Champion Phillies outfit. He’s a real gamer, one of those guys not blessed with overwhelming talent who usually gets the most out of what he’s got. No easybeat, that’s for sure. They say that winning form is good form – well, it’s also popular form if the big crowd out for a spot of Sunday afternoon baseball is any guide.
Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game
Game Recap
For the second game in a row, they take a 1st-inning lead – this time via a solo shot by Oddibe McDowell – but again we hit straight back with 3 in the home half as Easler doubles in a pair and Geds the other on a single.
After a couple quiet frames, they get back on level terms with a pair of solo homers in the 4th but we once again poke our noses in front immediately with a run on a single by Rick Miller, making his first appearance of the season and making the most of it.
Hurst just never looks settled, however, and gives up his fourth solo jack of the game to make it 4-4, only for our bats to bail him out again with a big 3-run bottom half that sends Noles for an early shower. We tack one more on in the next on a misplay by their shortstop.
But this is another really worrying performance by our pitching as they chase Hurst in the 7th when Lance Parrish goes yard with one on, then add another off The Rocket to be just one back of us.
A Steve Lyons solo poke gives us an insurance run but the scoring continues as they cancel it out with one in the 8th.
Steve Crawford, who enters the game in the 8th, can’t finish the job as they tie the game at 9 in the 9th and spares are needed. I’m on a nasty 0-for-4 collar to this point but get a chance to redeem myself in the 10th as we put a man in scoring position with two out in the 10th. Facing Greg Harris, who I doubt will remember this series fondly, I manage a nice little dying quail into shallow left and Boggs – showing fantastic instincts – scurries around and in to score his 4th run of the game and give us a messy walkoff win. I like hitting for a high BA, but I’ll take that sort of one-fer over five hits in a losing cause anytime and twice on Sundays.
Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day
- Barfield's six hits come in a DH.
(click link for BBRef boxscore)
- MLB Debuts: Charlie O'Brien
- Daily Notes: On this day in 1943, the Red Sox and Browns play their fourth consecutive extra-inning game, making a total of 45 innings played since May 31. Both leagues will set season records for extra-inning activity this year: 91 in the AL and 80 in the NL.