August 12, 1985: Kansas City Royals (59-49) @ Boston Red Sox (60-49)
The Royals hit town for three and, as we saw in that recent series in KC, these are two really evenly-matched sides. The A’s are still 4½ to the good in the AL West, so we expect no quarter to be given here. It will be Al Nipper and Mark Gubicza squaring off in the opener on a chilly, tough night for pitchers with the wind blowing out to LF.
NOTE: Frustratingly, another error here - Clemens should have started yesterday but is once again on the IL. At least this time I caught it so I could reset Nipper's fatigue. It has been reported.
Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game
Game Recap
They waste no time getting a run on the board in the 1st and add two more on three hits in the 3rd, then one more in the 4th with Lonnie Smith just carving us up—3-for-3 with 2 RBI for the game already.
We finally score in the home 4th, then add a second in the next on a solo shot by Mike Easler after I am caught trying to steal second.
They cancel them out in a big 6th that sees the end of Nipper’s night, with Smith adding another hit and ribbie to his tally.
They put us to the sword with another deuce in the 8th and cruise to an 8-3 final in a really disappointing performance from our boys.
Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day
(click link for BBRef boxscore)
- MLB Debuts: Lance McCullers
- Daily Notes: On this day in 1940, Ernest Lawrence Thayer, author of "Casey at the Bat" dies at age 77.