May 12, 1985: Oakland A's (16-14) @ Boston Red Sox (16-13)
A good one for the purists today with Rocket Clemens taking on Dun Sutton, a guy whose high win total and professional demeanour I’m sure Rocket will be keen to emulate over the course of his career. Donny is a good pal of mine from our time together as Dodgers and we’ve obviously had plenty of meetings over the years from all the way back in 1977, when I of course moved from LA to the Cubs. And now we find ourselves both in the AL and able to resume “hostilities”. Pretty even going so far, although you’d have to give Don the decision on points seeing as he’s kept me to just a 250 BA and one measly homer over 52 ABs. Time to turn that around.
Bill Buckner YTD stats entering the game
Game Recap
Jim Rice gives us the early lead with a solo shot in the 1st and we extend that with 2 more in the next after I lead off with a single and a double by Geds puts us both in scoring position for Marty Barrett, who duly knocks us both in with another two-bagger.
Oakland comes right back at us in the 3rd, cancelling out our two-spot with one of their own as Roger just loses his way a little, but then both he and Don settle right down to business and the score is still 3-2 thru six frames.
Rocket then flames out in the 7th as they chase him with 3 runs on a dreaded leadoff walk followed by 3 hits and, while Rob Woodward keeps them quiet for the remainder, we can only tack on a late run in the 9th off Jay Howell and lose it 5-4. Another tough loss to take.
Best Performances, News & Highlights of the Day
The Real Deal
- MLB Debuts: NIL
- Daily Notes: On this day in 1955, Toothpick Sam Jones of the Chicago Cubs becomes the first black pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter - the first at Wrigley Field in nearly four decades.
- IRL, Cincy's Mario Soto is one out away from a no-hitter when the Cardinals' George Hendrick hits a home run to tie the game 1-1, although his teammates do manage to score in the home half for a walkoff win.