Fenway Flashback: 1986 - Tom is Still "Terrific" as Sox Drop Game Two in Chicago

April 12, 1986: Tom is Still “Terrific” as Sox Drop Game Two in Chicago

With two fantastic starts by Nipper and Clemens and the offense scoring at will, the Red Sox were at .500 and looking to take their first series of the season. The 0–4 White Sox were all that stood in their way on this chilly Chicago evening in April.

Pitching Matchup and Lineups

Bruce Hurst would be making his second start of the season, hoping to do a little better than he did in the season opener, and probably just happy not to have to face Kirk Gibson again. Tony LaRussa would be giving the ball to his future Hall of Famer, Tom Seaver, who didn’t know it yet but might have been providing an early audition for the Red Sox front office.

The Red Sox lineup had a very similar look to it again:

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 second game of the series took on a very similar appearance to the last two games for the Red Sox, as their opponents got out to an early lead. Unfortunately for Boston, that would not mean a victory this time. In the top of the first inning, Seaver set down the Red Sox 1–2–3. In the bottom of the first, Hurst was not nearly as efficient. Third baseman Wayne Tolleson started the inning with a triple and quickly scored as the second batter, and former Red Sox center fielder Reid Nichols singled in the first run of the game. Hurst was able to strike out Baines, get Fisk to ground out, and then strike out Kittle to end the inning, but on…