Prologue

It’s odd to think about now, but there are kids today who are old enough to drink who don’t remember the Mo Vaughn Red Sox. Of course, these days seem downright gloomy compared to the present run of success the Red Sox have put together with three titles in the last 13 years, but there was a time in the not-too-distant past when Red Sox nation didn’t expect happy endings.

The Red Sox had made the playoffs with an unexpected run in 1995, but fallen back in 1996 and 1997. They hadn’t won a postseason game since game 5 of the 1986 World Series. They had acquired Pedro Martinez from the Expos in the offseason, but were off to a 3-5 start after a west coast trip to start the season.

Opening Day 1998

They opened Fenway Park with a Friday afternoon tilt with the Seattle Mariners. The M’s had Randy Johnson on the hill, and Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Edgar Martinez in the lineup. The Red Sox sent a prospect to the mound that never really panned out, in Brian Rose.

The Sox got out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Damon Buford of all people hit a two-run shot off Johnson. (My buddy Mark got us tickets to a game that year from Buford as a tip for valeting the center fielder’s car. True story. We didn’t actually believe he’d met Buford until the guy at will call actually handed us the tickets.)

It was still 2-0 Boston until the top of the 6th, when Martinez hit a two run double to tie the game. The Mariners took the lead on John Valentin throwing error.

Then the wheels fell off. The Mariners would add two runs off Dennis Eckersley in the 8th, and two more off Tom Gordon in the 9th.

The Bottom of the 9th

So the Red Sox went into the 9th inning trailing 7-2. The bottom of the 9th inning was a virtual Red Sox encyclopedia. Mariners manager Lou Piniella

The Mariners trotted out their closer – old friend Heathcliff Slocumb, who the Sox had dealt to the Mariners the previous July for Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. Slocumb promptly gave up a single to Troy O’Leary, walked Mark Lemke, and gave up a double to former Mariner Darren Bragg.

Piniella had seen enough, going to former Red Sox lefty specialist Tony Fossas to get Mike Benjamin (who by the way, is not left-handed.) He walked him.

Having quickly seen enough of Fossas, Piniella turned to future Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin.

Timlin gave up an RBI single to Nomar Garciaparra to bring Boston within two. The next batter was John Valentin, who Timlin hit with a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.

Mo Vaughn At the Bat

The Mariners then turned to Paul Spoljaric to face big Mo Vaughn.

And then this happened…

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