ALCS Game # 4 - ' 04 Red Sox vs ' 74 Athletics

Boston Bullpen Wilts in Demoralizing Loss

Reggie Jackson continues to live up to his “Mr. October” billing as he led a seventh inning comeback to help vault the Athletics to a commanding 3-1 ALCS advantage. Oakland scored twice in the seventh and once more in the ninth to rebound from a 4-2 deficit to take Game 4 by a 5-4 score.

After Oakland third baseman Sal Bando singled off reliever Curtis Leskanic in the seventh, Boston opted to bring in lefty Randy Myers to face the hot hitting Jackson with a 4-2 lead. Myers left a fastball over the middle and Jackson hammered it into the gap in right for a RBI triple. It was one and done for Myers as Mike Timlin was summoned to face Joe Rudi. Timlin jammed Rudi, forcing a short infield popup in front of the pitcher’s mound that was not fielded cleanly. Rudi then stole second to put runners on second and third. Gene Tenace then hit a sharp grounder that was admirably flagged down by Mark Bellhorn, but his only play was at first which allowed Jackson to score and tie the game. Timlin walked Angel Mangual, but beared down nicely to force a weak grounder from Ray Fosse that enabled the Sox to throw out Rudi and home. Dick Green flew out to Manny Ramirez to finally end the inning.

Timlin took the Sox to the eighth but after Bando hit a two out single, Alan Embree was entrusted to retire Jackson, which he did, to keep the game deadlocked at three. In the ninth, Embree issued a one out walk to Gene Tenace, and Larry Haney was sent in to pinch run for Tenace. Haney made it to second on a slow rolling ground out to Bellhorn. With two out, Ray Fosse lined a single off Embree to plate Haney for the game winning run.

Boston got yeoman’s service from starter Tim Wakefield, who managed to scatter 10 hits in 5.2 innings and left the game allowing only 2 runs to count. With his pitch count over 100, Curtis Leskanic bailed Wakefield out to finish off the sixth, but he was charged with a run when Myers could not contain Jackson an inning later. Oakland’s starter, Glenn Abbott was roughed up and forced from the game after 5 innings. The real unsung hero for Oakland was reliever Billy Hamilton who held the Boston offense at bay for three scoreless innings allowing only 2 hits. This enabled the Athletics time to climb back into the game. 

Oakland jumped on Wakefield early forcing him to toss 30 pitches in the opening inning. Billy North led off with a single, stole second, and scored on a single by Reggie Jackson. Boston answered back with consecutive two out doubles by Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. Boston kept the heat on Abbott with more clutch hitting with two out. With Nixon and Mueller aboard with singles, Johnny Damon doubled to right scoring Nixon, putting runners on second and third. Mark Bellhorn then lashed a double to left center, clearing the bases and putting Boston up 4-1. A Dick Green sacrifice fly closed the gap to 4-2 until Oakland rallied in the seventh.

Boston will now turn to Pedro Martinez to send the series back to Oakland as he will face Catfish Hunter in a rematch of Game 1 starters.

*ICYMI > Game 3 http://buzzingthetowersawx.blogspot.ca/2014/06/alcs-game-3-04-red-sox-vs-74-athletics.html