July 17, 1996: Wetteland blows save, Yankees lose series
After erasing a 9-2 deficit, the Yankees were primed to steal the final game of a three-game set at Fenway Park tonight. However, they ended up losing in heartbreaking fashion as John Wetteland blew his third save of the season.
The Yankees scored nine runs over the final three innings to take an improbable 11-9 lead. Wetteland came on and recorded the first out, but it all went downhill after that. After a walk, double and a strikeout, the Yankees intentionally walked Reggie Jefferson to face Troy O'Leary with the bases loaded and two out. O'Leary promptly ripped a two-run double to left, tying the game at 11. Wetteland then fell behind Jeff Frye 2-0 before allowing a walk-off single.
New York wasted great outputs by Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez, who each went 4-for-5. Ruben Sierra chipped in with two hits and four RBI. Altogether, the Yankees collected 19 hits on the night - including 10 off Red Sox starter Tom Gordon - but it was all for naught.
Kenny Rogers went 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on five hits while walking four. Bob Wickman allowed two runs in relief, and Jeff Nelson allowed one over 1.1 innings. Jim Mecir restored order by pitching a scoreless eighth before handing the ball over to Wetteland. Mariano Rivera was unavailable after tossing two innings of scoreless ball the night before.
The Yankees now head to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers for a four-game weekend series. Dwight Gooden gets the start against Scott Karl tomorrow night.
Box score and current stats
Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Boggs 3B 5 1 2 0 1 0 .323 .394 .406
B.Williams CF 6 3 3 3 0 1 .322 .403 .550
ONeill RF 5 3 4 2 1 0 .325 .446 .483
Strawberry DH 5 1 1 1 1 1 .267 .389 .533
Martinez 1B 5 1 4 1 1 0 .288 .345 .465
Sierra LF 5 1 2 4 0 1 .255 .327 .404
G.Williams LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308 .366 .492
Leyritz C 4 0 0 0 0 2 .238 .329 .343
Aldrete PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 .341 .500
Girardi PR-C 1 0 0 0 0 0 .295 .362 .357
Jeter SS 5 0 2 0 0 1 .280 .355 .395
Fox 2B 2 0 0 0 1 0 .202 .295 .279
Duncan PH-2B 2 1 1 0 0 0 .321 .341 .4682B:Jeter (15, off Gordon);Boggs 2(16, 1 off Gordon, 1 off Stanton);
Duncan (16, off Slocumb).
HR:O'Neill (9, off Gordon, 3rd inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep CF-RF);
Sierra (10, off Gordon, 7th inn, 2 on, 1 out to Deep RF Line);
B Williams (17, off Stanton, 8th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).
RBI:Sierra 4 (48); B Williams 3 (60);O'Neill 2 (56);
Martinez (67);Strawberry (7).Baserunning: SB:Boggs (1, 2nd base off Gordon/Stanley).
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Rogers 4.2 5 6 6 4 3 0 4.47
Wickman 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 3.88
Nelson 1.1 2 1 1 0 3 1 4.60
Mecir 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.78
Wetteland BS (3) L (0-2) 0.2 3 3 3 2 1 0 3.32