Fenway Flashback: 1986 - Nipper Salvages the Finale for the Sox

April 10, 1986: Nipper Salvages the Finale for the Sox

The Sox had scored 10 runs on 25 hits in two days, yet they were 0–2. While the offense was pounding away in Tiger Stadium, their pitching was serving up batting practice to the Tigers. The twelve runs that the Sox arms had relinquished were second most in the major leagues, behind only the Angels and Mariners, who had given up a lucky 13 runs each.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups

Boston would turn to fourth-year right-hander Al Nipper to try and hold the Tiger offense down while Sparky was going with his 1985 All-Star right-hander, Dan Petry, to try to complete the sweep.

The lineup for the finale:

Dwight Evans (RF)

Wade Boggs (3B)

Bill Buckner (1B)

Jim Rice (LF)

Don Baylor (DH)

Tony Armas (CF)

Rich Gedman (C)

Marty Barrett (2B)

Ed Romero (SS)

Game Recap

The two right-handers threw zeros in the first inning, and Petry did the same in the second, but Nipper was the first to blink as he surrendered his first run of the ’86 campaign in the bottom of the second. Tiger catcher Lance Parrish led off with a single to left and advanced to second when Darrell Evans drew a walk. Darnell Coles grounded out to Buckner at first, advancing both runners. First baseman Mike Laga popped out for the second out, but Nipper walked his second batter of the inning, Chet Lemon, to load the bases with two outs. It looked like Nipper was going to get out of the inning as he induced a ground ball to first, but Buckner booted it, allowing a run to score (a bit of foreshadowing of the true pain that would befall the club in a matter of a few months!). Nipper was able to…