Red Sox Vault: Boggs makes 200 hits routine
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Sept. 25, 1989: Boggs' seventh straight 200-hit season
Wade Boggs was the ultimate hit machine throughout his time with the Red Sox. He reached the 200-hit plateau for the seventh consecutive season in 1989 on the strength of a four-hit night against the Yankees. The late Tom Seaver -- who teamed with Boggs on the pennant-winning '86 Red Sox -- is the play-by-play man on the Yankees' broadcast as Boggs reached this impressive milestone. It was the fourth straight 200-hit, 100-walk season for Boggs, making him the first player in history to accomplish that.
Sept. 1, 1996: Nomar's first hit a homer
Though it was 1997 that Nomar Garciaparra was named the American League's Rookie of the Year, he started making his presence felt as soon as his first callup to the Majors during the previous season. Making his first MLB start on Sept. 1, 1996, at Oakland, Garciaparra roped what would be the first of 229 career homers on his first hit of the afternoon. The shortstop would go on to electrify the Red Sox for the next several seasons. And his auspicious first start, in which he delivered three hits, led Boston to an 8-3 win.
July 25, 1988: Clemens cools off Rangers
On a blazing hot night in Texas, with a game-time temperature of 100 degrees, Roger Clemens wasn't about to let the elements deter him. In fact, the Texas native turned in one of the signature performances of his career, outdueling Charlie Hough and leading the Red Sox to a 2-0 win. Clemens went the distance and allowed just three hits while striking out 14 batters. He threw a whopping 162 pitches, giving Boston a 12-0 mark at the start of their "Morgan's Magic" run. Ultimately, the Sox would win 19 out of their first 20 under manager Joe Morgan, who quickly lost the interim tag.
Oct. 15,1986: Rice puts AL pennant on ice
While the 1986 ALCS is best remembered for Dave Henderson's season-saving homer in Game 5, the Red Sox still had to win two games to get to the World Series. So it was fitting that it was Jim Rice who came through with the big knock in Game 7 against the Angels, a towering three-run homer to left off the light tower, sending the Fenway crowd into a frenzy. Rice's blast in the fourth inning turned a 4-0 lead into comfortable 7-0 edge, allowing the Red Sox and their fans to relax and celebrate the rest of the night. Rice had missed Boston's previous trip to the World Series in 1975 with a broken left wrist, so the '86 pennant was one for him to savor.
Sept. 14, 1988: Greenwell hits for cycle
Mike Greenwell didn't reach the Hall of Fame level of some other Red Sox left fielders, but he was a highly productive player in a career spent exclusively with Boston. Greenwell's best season was 1988, when he finished second in the AL MVP Award race. And one of his most memorable performances from that season came on Sept. 14, when he hit for the cycle against the Orioles with the Red Sox in the middle of a heated pennant race. The order of Greenwell's hits that night? Homer, double, triple, single. The Red Sox needed all of Greenwell's heroics in a tight 4-3 victory.
Oct. 17, 2004: Papi sparks comeback for the ages
New Hall of Famer David Ortiz was a budding superstar when he stepped to the plate in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. This swing started his legend. Big Papi smashed a walk-off homer into the visiting bullpen against Yankees righty Paul Quantrill and the Red Sox jumped on his back. His hit brought Boston out of a 3-0 deficit in the series -- and thanks to his continued heroics, these Red Sox became the first team in history to win a postseason series after losing the first three games. No team has done it since.
Sept. 28, 1986: Sox clinch AL East
Winning the AL East was a big deal for the Sox in '86, as it represented their first trip to the playoffs since '75. The celebration overflowed when Oil Can Boyd went the distance on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon against the Blue Jays. Bill Buckner caught the final out and the Fenway faithful erupted in support of a Boston team that took over first place on May 15 and held it for the rest of the season.
April 1, 1998: Pedro's dominant debut
There are a number of moments to choose from when highlighting Pedro Martinez's career with Boston. Why not start at the beginning? After being traded by the Expos, Martinez struck out 11 over seven shutout innings on Opening Day in Oakland, earning the win in his Red Sox debut. Martinez gave up just three hits in that outing, setting the tone for a spectacular career in Boston.
July 8, 1980: Lynn goes deep at ASG
While Fred Lynn's most memorable Midsummer Classic moment was his grand slam in 1983 -- the first in ASG history -- he ripped a two-run homer in his final All-Star Game in a Boston uniform in 1980. For the Southern California native, it was a thrill to hit a home run at Dodger Stadium on such a big stage and with Vin Scully calling it.
Oct. 22, 1975: Fisk waves homer fair
With the Red Sox facing elimination in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series vs. the Reds, Carlton Fisk stepped up to the plate in the 12th inning at Fenway Park hoping to force a Game 7. He did just that, and in dramatic fashion. With a 1-0 count, the catcher took Pat Darcy deep, sending a ball high above the Green Monster down the left-field line. Rather than following the ball's path, the NBC camera operator caught Fisk flailing his arms, seemingly attempting to will the ball to stay fair. The ball struck the foul pole and sent Boston to a walk-off win. Ultimately the Red Sox would fall to the Reds in Game 7 the following day.