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There were a couple of interesting pregame things I didn’t know or remember as the series started which I was reminded of on the broadcast. The Red Sox had home field advantage in the series and hosted games 1, 2, 6, and 7 while the Angles hosted games 3, 4, and 5. The series started on October 7, 1986, a mere two days after the Red Sox final game of the regular season. The ALCS and NLCS, which had come into being in 1969 when Major League Baseball split the two leagues into two divisions each, had been a best-of-five series from 1969 to 1984.
However, Baylor came up and hit a two-run home run on a full count to cut the lead to 5-4. This home run gets forgotten about when this game is discussed but without it, Henderson’s home run wouldn’t have ever happened. It was particularly impressive because Baylor reached out for a low and away pitch and pulled it to left-center field, an impressive display of strength. The Athletics finished the season with a 104–58 record, and won the American League West by 13 games over the Minnesota Twins.
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The Angels tied the game 6–6 in the bottom of the ninth, and the game went into extra innings. In the top of the 11th, the Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs, and Henderson hit a sacrifice fly that Baylor scored on, which put the Red Sox ahead 7–6 and proved to be the margin of victory. Still down 3 games to 2 in the series, the Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park for the final two games, where they defeated the Angels 10–4 and 8–1 to capture the AL pennant. Henderson played center field for both of those games – collecting a walk and a run in each game, but going hitless – as Armas' injury kept him from playing. For the ALCS, Henderson finished 1-for-9 at the plate, with his only hit being the season-saving home run in Game 5. Before the start of the 1994 season, Henderson was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals, as the club intended to platoon him with Bob Hamelin.
This entire game was incredible but the last five innings in particular were some of the best baseball you’ll ever see. Everything that’s great about the sport, from the heartbreak to the jubilation, is contained in those pulse-pounding innings. This is where you could really feel the momentum shift as the Red Sox seemed fired up while the Angels and the crowd were more subdued.
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In early September, he was recalled, with his first appearance back with the Mariners coming on September 3, in a 20-inning game against the Red Sox—one of the longest MLB games ever played. Henderson is best remembered for the two-out, two-strike home run he hit in the top of the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series. He helped his teams reach the World Series four times during his career—Boston in 1986 and Oakland from 1988 to 1990, with Oakland winning the championship in 1989. His uncle Joe Henderson appeared in 16 MLB games as a pitcher during the mid-1970s. Henderson is best remembered for a two-out, two-strike home run at the top of the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series.
Henderson began his career in Seattle as the first draft pick in the history of the Mariners franchise in 1977. He made his debut in 1981 and played parts of six seasons with the Mariners. Henderson was traded to Boston during the 1986 season and later played for San Francisco and Kansas City. Former major league outfielder Dave Henderson, best remembered for his dramatic home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS, died Sunday.
Summary of 197 Home Runs
In 1985 it was expanded into the best-of-seven game series we know today. Regardless of whether you’re a Red Sox fan or not, Game Five is one of the greatest games in baseball history. It was just incredible, dramatic theater and I fully acknowledge that my words can never do it justice. The Red Sox jumped around and celebrated like they’d just won the pennant while the Angels look shell-shocked and their fans were despondent. The Angels, one strike away from winning their first ever pennant, now had to fly across the country to play another game. Calvin Schiraldi then came in to close out the game in the bottom of the inning and mowed down the Angels, whiffing the first two batters and inducing a pop fly for the final out.
The Red Sox kept the same lineup and batting order for the entire series whereas the Angels used a different lineup and order in every game. The Angels loved to try and steal bases, but I had forgotten how great a defensive catcher Rich Gedman was . He threw out four of the five steals the Angels attempted in the series and had thrown out 50% of base stealers during the 1986 regular season. It was even pointed out multiple times by Jim Palmer that Clemens “only” threw ten complete games that season in his 33 starts. Contrast that with, for example, Chris Sale who has only thrown 16 complete games in his entire career. Even all these years later, it’s one of the most shocking comebacks in baseball history.
Dave Henderson, who hit famous playoff homer against Angels, dies at 57
The Angels tied it in the bottom of the inning, but Boston won the game in the 11th on Henderson's sacrifice fly and eventually won the series. Owen led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and to third on a wild pitch. Barrett drove him in with a single and then himself scored on a passed ball and an error to make it 3-0. Everything seemed to go wrong for the Angels in this inning and it looked like the Red Sox were well on their way to tying the series. Clemens entered the ninth inning with a 3-0 lead, three outs away from getting the Red Sox back into the series. The Angels scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and had loaded the bases with one out.
During the 1982 season, Henderson's playing time increased significantly, as he appeared in 104 games, with 85 complete games played . In 1983, his batting average improved to .269 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs, while appearing in 137 games, with 124 of them being complete games in the outfield . Henderson spent some of the 1984 season on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury. Still, he hit well, batting .280 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 112 games played with 78 complete games in the outfield .
Witt’s full-count pitch was outside, but Baylor reached out and hooked it, pulling it to deep left. The ball carried and carried, sailing over the fence for a two-run homer. The crowd was quieter, but they knew their Angels still held a 5-4 lead — and when Dwight Evans fouled to third for the second out, they began loudly cheering again. The Anaheim Stadium crowd was roaring as Witt faced the heart of the Red Sox order in the ninth inning.
Angels backup catcher Jerry Narron led off with a single and was advanced to second on Pettis’ sacrifice bunt. After intentionally walking Jones, Schiraldi gave up the game winning RBI single to Bobby Grich and improbably, the Angels won the game 4-3 and took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Meanwhile, Witt threw a complete game and only allowed five hits and the single run. The 8-1 loss was mirrored by the very underwhelming showing from the Red Sox bats. The Sox hadn’t been to the postseason since the one game playoff in 1978 and hadn’t been to the ALCS since 1975.
He gave up a lead off solo home run to Doug DeCinces and then got an out to get within two outs of the complete game victory. After giving up back to back singles, though, McNamara pulled him and brought in Calvin Schiraldi to close the game. Clemens had definitely learned from his mistakes in the series opener and it showed as he struck out two batters in each of the first three innings. Sutton kept the Red Sox off the board as well until the sixth inning when Buckner doubled with two on and two outs to make it 1-0 Boston.
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