A three-run Yankee uprising in the sixth erased a 2-0 Red Sox lead, and New York forced a seventh and deciding game with a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of the ALCS. This series has been a titanic struggle featuring two comeback wins in the last two games.
This game was a rematch between Game 2 starters Luis Tiant and David Cone with both pitchers engaged in a scoreless duel after 5 innings. Tiant allowed only 3 singles and didn't permit a Yankee baserunner to reach second base. Cone gave up two singles in his first four innings of work and escaped a precarious jam in the fifth. Rick Burleson drew a two-out walk and consecutive singles by Jerry Remy and Fred Lynn loaded the bases. However, Jim Rice lined out to left field, and this squandered opportunity would later come back to haunt Boston.
After Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter booted a grounder to begin the sixth, Carl Yastrzemski crushed a two-run homer to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. George Scott coaxed a free pass, off Cone which would end his night. New York reliever Darren Holmes silenced the Boston bats by striking out Dwight Evans and was the benefactor of a twin killing on a grounder by Butch Hobson.
Tiant continued to cruise picking up the first two outs of the sixth, but Chuck Knoblauch slashed a single and stole second to become the first New York baserunner to reach scoring position. Bernie Williams smacked a double to keep the inning alive bringing Knoblauch home. Boston brought lefty Tom Burgmeier in to face the next two lefthanded hitters but he was unable to stop the bleeding. Darryl Strawberry singled to score Williams and moved to second on the throw. Paul O'Neill made Boston pay for giving Strawberry an extra base with an RBI single to make the score 3-2.
After Jeter belted a solo homer in the eighth, the Red Sox managed to bring the leading run to the plate in the ninth as they tried to rally against Yankee closer Mariano Rivera. With runners on the corners, Rick Burleson grounded into a game-ending double play.
Game 7 will see another rematch on the bump of Game 3 starters, Mike Torrez and Andy Pettitte. Torrez held New York scoreless for seven innings at Fenway and will have to be equally effective in enemy territory if Boston hopes to reach the Fall Classic.
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