Boston takes first two from Texas

[jimbowie]

The Boston Red Sox have leaned heavily on their top rated pitching staff that leads the league in ERS (3.35), WHIP (1.24), fewest hits (483), ER (206), second in Earned runs (235), and first in saves (28). The eight runs scored in game two of the series was the most runs put on the scoreboard by the offense (8) since July 24 in game 101 against the very same Texas Tarantulas.

Game one went ten innings and Boston prevailed 3-2 when George Cole singled home Al Sessi in the tenth inning. Chris Wilson (4-2) was the winning pitcher in relief of Kettle Smalley who pitched a credible eight innings allowing eight hits and two runs. The only negative about Smalley's outing was he walked a season high five batters and struck out six. Ray Giannelli was the first man out of the bullpen, and he pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Jimmy Keough, the third Texas pitcher, took the loss (4-3).
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Game two

Boston rolled to their eighth consecutive win 8-5 behind Danny Dixon who tossed seven innings allowed eight hits and five runs, only two were earned thanks to two fielding errors by normally slick fielding second baseman Randy Rajsich.

Mike Jerome took care of the eighth and Chris Wilson, the ninth. Wilson picked up the win, 4-2.

Bill Dorish came on for his 26th save of the season lowering his ERA to 0.62 (29 games).

It was Texas that seized the early momentum, however. Bill Grote reached on Rajsich's first error of the game, and he scored on Ed Kreig's ninth homerun. (2-0).

The Tarantulas were back at it in the second adding a run to go up 3-0 when Dutch Sullivan reached on Jajsich's second error in so many innings and scored on Bob Kenney's single.

The third inning saw Texas add run number four on singles by Ralph McBride and Ross Glaviano.

Boston finally came to life in the bottom of that innings to ease some anxious fans in the stands. George Cole singled, stole second and third (14 &15), Rajsich's lofted a sacrifice fly to get the run in. (4-1).

In the fourth a one out single by Guy Zimmerman began another Boston rally. Justin Leach singled him to third base and Randy Thornton got Boston's second run home with a ground out to second. (4-2).

Ed Kreig's run scoring single with two outs in the fifth inning restored Texas' three run lead. (5-2).

Boston put together a big inning in the sixth off starter Randy Miller. Zimmerman again was the catalyst with a single to left with one out. Miller walked Leach ending his time on the mound for this game. Randy Florence took over and loaded the bases by walking Thornton and catcher Weldon Suder, a hot hitter in the power department of late.

Suder unloaded on Florence's second pitch to him for his eighth homerun and first career grand slam putting Boston in front 6-5.

A seventh inning two out two run double off John Goff increased Boston's lead to 8-5.

From there the bullpen took over. Mike Jacome in the eighth and Bill Dorish in the ninth for his 26th save sealed the deal for the BoSox.