Eck Hurls Red Sox to Victory; Yankees Remain Game Ahead

Dennis Eckersley scattered seven hits for his 19th win and Jim Rice slugged his 44th homer last night as the Red Sox kept pace with pennant fever, beating the Detroit Tigers by a score of 6-0.

"Eck" hurled nine strong innings and for the first time in weeks. Red Sox fielding and hitting didn't make things tough for him.

Boomer

"Now's the time to win," George Scott said. "If we're gonna peak -- and it looks like we're finally coming around -- now's the time."

Don Zimmer made some controversial changes in the lineup, benching all-star right fielder Dwight Evans for Jim Rice and playing utility infielder Jack Brohamer for a hurting Butch Hobson.

"I'm fine," Evans said, slumping over the top of his chair in the clubhouse. "After playing 146 ball games for the man, this hurts. You'll have to ask Zimmer why I'm not playing."

But Zimmer would only say, "We're goin' with the same lineup tomorrow. The slump's over, it's gone, we've just got to do the best we can."

"He's gotta field questions in there like a president," Spaceman Bill Lee said, holding a copy of "National Geographic." "Trouble is," Lee said," he looks more like Meldrim Thomson."

The ambiance of the clubhouse was very controlled, as players towelled themselves off, ate chili, knowing the Yankees also won, beating the irksome Toronto Blue Jays 4-1. The Red Sox still trail the Yanks by one game. "It's a five game season," Zimmer said.

What about Lee? Will he pitch?

"I don't know what you're talking about, it's news to me, go ask somebody else," Zimmer barked.

"Awww hell," Lee said. "He's just got a lot against me. You see, I'm the Jiminy Crickett of the team -- the moral conscience. He won't let me pitch. I feel like Jiminy Crickett getting crushed by a jackboot," he muttered.