Red Sox Shelled, 12-2, Trail by Two

Recent reports of the Boston Red Sox' return to good health were dispelled last night, as the Detroit Tigers crushed the Bosox, 12-2, in Detroit.

For a short-time things looked good for the Sox. They trailed the Tigers only 1-0 while the first-place Yankees looked as though they'd lose both ends of a double-header to the lowly Toronto Blue Jays. The roof collapsed in Motown, however, when the Tigers exploded for 11 more runs to put the game out of reach for the locals, and the Bronx Bombers rallied in Toronto to salvage their nightcap.

Faltering Mike Torrez, now 15-12, took the loss for the Sox-it was his sixth defeat in his last seven starts. Dave Rozema, 9-10, went the distance for the Tigers to pick up the win.

Jim Rice spoiled the shut-out for Rozema by belting his 42nd homer of the season in the ninth. Jerry Remy, who was on first with his fourth hit of the night (he went 4-for-4), scored ahead of Rice.

The Red Sox had their best scoring opportunity in the first. Burleson led off with a single and Remy beat out a bunt, but Rozema struck out Rice, Carl Yastrzemski grounded out, and the Tigers were rolling.

Alan Trammel made it 3-0 for Detroit in the fourth with an infield dribbler that went past Remy for a two-run double. Tiger rookie Lou Whitaker touched Boston's freshman from Pawtucket, John LaRose, for a three-run homer in the sixth, and it was 6-0, Detroit.

The Tigers rounded out their scoring in the seventh with a healthy six-run performance that put the Bosox away. Rusty Staub smashed in three runs with his 23rd four-bagger of the year off Jim Wright, while Ron LeFlore chipped in a two-run double and Aurelio Rodriguez singled to account for the other three tallies.

The Sox now trail the Yankees by two full games with ten contests remaining for each club. Boston will finish the series in Detroit tomorrow night with Dennis Eckersley looking for his 18th win.