Phil Niekro turned back the hands of time as the venerable veteran went 8 strong innings surrendering only 4 hits to lead New York to a 1-0 shutout victory over Boston. The series now shifts to Gotham knotted at a game apiece. Niekro had everything working as the Red Sox never seemed to square up the ball or threaten until he was lifted in favor of closer Dave Righetti for the ninth.
Niekro began the ninth but plunked Boston's Dwight Evans. Righetti promptly allowed a Mike Greenwell single to put runners on first and second. Ellis Burks couldn't manage to put the ball in play and was a Righetti strikeout victim. Evans was able to move 90 feet away from tying the game on a Jim Rice deep fly to center field. The Red Sox brought in Larry Parrish to bat for catcher Rich Gedman, but he popped up to second base to end the game.
New York scored their only run early on thanks to a two out RBI single by ninth place hitter Bobby Meacham. Willie Randolph had led off the inning with a single and then stole second. Boston starter Bruce Hurst then set down the next two batters by way of the K, but was unable to escaped unscathed due to Meacham's clutch hit.
Bruce Hurst also pitched brilliantly, striking out 7 over 7.2 innings as this series has seen nothing but quality starts from all four pitchers that have appeared so far. Both the Yankees' Joe Cowley and Boston's Mike Boddicker will look to continue this trend in the Bronx in Game 3.
*ICYMI > Game 1 http://buzzingthetowersawx.blogspot.ca/2014/09/alds-game-1-88-red-sox-vs-85-yankees.html
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