SportsCenter highlights from the 1998 ALDS between the Red Sox and the Indians. Game 1: Tuesday, September 29 Game 2: Wednesday, September 30 Game 3: Friday, October 2 Game 4: Saturday, October 3
I remember as a kid, Pedro Martinez was the first pitcher I had ever seen where the fans were more excited to watch him than the offense. People would get up to go get their snacks and go to the bathroom while the Red Sox were hitting because they didn't want to miss one pitch with him on the mound. I don't remember a pitcher before or since that has captivated people the same way where his ability to dominate the game was almost hypnotizing.
Following one of the most thrilling regular seasons in MLB history, the postseason is now upon us. In Cleveland, the Indians went 89-73 to win the AL Central by 9 games and make the playoffs for the 4th straight year. Their opponents were the Red Sox, winners of 92 games against 70 defeats to win the Wild Card by 4 games over Toronto. The Indians were looking to win their first title in 50 years while it had been 80 years since Boston last won. In Game 1 at the Jake, Jaret Wright and company got burned by Mo Vaughn and Nomar Garciaparra. Mo smashed two home runs and drove in 7 while Nomar also went yard. Pedro Martinez pitched 7 brilliant innings and the Red Sox won the opener, 11-3, to snap their 13-game postseason losing streak. Tempers flared early in Game 2. First, manager Mike Hargrove got tossed after three pitches for arguing balls and strikes. Then, Garciaparra drove in two runs, even though the replays showed the trail runner, John Valentin, was tagged by catcher Sandy Alomar before he touched the plate. Starter Dwight Gooden was incensed enough to be sent back to the doctor's office early via ejection. The Indians rallied, as David Justice smashed a three-run shot in the 2nd inning to put Cleveland ahead, 6-2. They went on to win, 9-5, and head to Fenway even at one game each. At Fenway Park for Game 3, New England native Charles Nagy and Bret Saberhagen both pitched well. But any wrong pitch Saberhagen made went over the wall. Jim Thome, Kenny Kofton and Manny Ramirez all went yard off Bret. And Manny added a 2nd homer in the 9th for a 4-1 Indians' lead. Good thing, since Nomar hit a two-run shot to make it 4-3, but that would be the final score. The Tribe now led, 2-1 in the series as Nagy went 8 frames, allowing only one run. Before Game 4, Boston Manager Jimy Williams left the door open for a lot of second guessing for starting Houston cast-off Pete Schourek rather than Pedro on three day's rest. Schourek silenced the skeptics with 5 1/3 shutout innings on two hits, while Garciaparra--who else--homered off Bartolo Colon in the 4th for a 1-0 lead. It was still 1-0 in the 8th whem Tom Gordon took the mound, looking to send the series back to Cleveland for Game 5. But the Tribe had runners on the corners for David Justice. Justice gunned down Valentin at the plate in the 6th and now he doubled home both Lofton and Vizquel and the cone of silence fell on Fenway. The Indians pitching took it from there, sealing the 2-1 win, take the series in 4 games, and now it is on to New York for the ALCS. As for Mo Vaughn, was this his last game in a Sox' uniform?
2:49: A questionable strike call in Game 2 of the ALDS between the Boston Red Sox @ Cleveland Indians/Guardians causes a whole bunch of problems for the home team. This eventually leads to then-Cleveland Indians/Guardians Manager Mike Hargrove to come out (3:00); to calm down his starting pitcher. The only problem was it already 3 pitches in the game. However, Mr. Hargrove didn’t care about that. So, he, and then-MLB Umpire Joe Brinkman decide to go at one another (3:09); about not his questionable strike call & the issue with showing up his pitcher. And, that’s was it for Mike Hargrove, because he got tossed (3:11); and decides to continue his non-friendly conversation to Mr. Brinkman (3:12; 3:15). However, he wasn’t the only one. After a missed tag at home plate (3:39); and the replay (3:48); shows it as well, then Indians’/Guardians’ Starting Pitcher, Doc Gooden has had it. And, he gets tossed (3:49); and decides to get his money’s worth (3:50-3:51 [3:52-3:53-3:54: Also, don’t you talk about my mama!!]; 3:55-3:56-3:57; 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣). And, it was understandable, because Doc got screwed in that game. Final Score: Indians/Guardians def. Red Sox, 8-5. Series tied 1-1.
Gosh, Mo Vaughn had the best opposite field power I have ever seen for a left handed hitter. Right behind him is Ryan Howard (Phillies) and Jim Thome. I forgot Jaret Wright could get his fastball up in the upper 90's. Shame Sox let that game 4 get away with a fully rested Pedro waiting for them in Cleveland
Red Sox had a better record (92 wins to 89), but Cleveland got homefield advantage because they were a division winner (albeit BOS had the AL's #2 record and in an AL East with more winning teams than the Central).
Tough series. I didnt even remember this. I think I got it confused with 1995 which was a straight sweep. That game 4 was a heartbreaker.....Justice double in the 8th. Damn. The Sox were pretty tough in 1998.
This was a brutal series loss for the RSOX RSOX won game 1 Had a lead in game 2, and the Cleveland starter was ejected early Losing a close game 3 And then losing that game 4 when being up by a run with 6 outs to go with a fully rested Pedro waiting in game 5
Fun fact: Doc Gooden never won a postseason game. He has pitched great in many of them, but never a victory. Not with 86 Mets not with 88 Mets Not in his time with the Yankees Not in his time with Cleveland
Manny horrible baserunning in game 1 in the bottom of the second inning. Good thing he wasnt cadillacking it or anything like that so it wont become something he would do later in his career........
You have to wonder on numerous occasions. The Jeffrey Maier "home run" call would HAVE been overturned if replay was there in 1996. We won't know if the Orioles would've won Game 1, but if you're going to lose a game, at least make sure it's NOT because of a bad call or two.
