1995 ALDS
From SoSH
Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox
| Game | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston 4, Cleveland 5 | October 3,1995 |
| 2 | Boston 0, Cleveland 4 | October 4, 1995 |
| 3 | Cleveland 8, Boston 2 | October 6, 1995 |
After the realignment into three divisions in 1994, the 1995 postseason marked the first time in major league history that a team could qualify for postseason play without finishing in first place in its league or division. The 'Wild Card' was created, and the team with the best record outside of the three division winners qualified for the postseason.
The 1995 Red Sox reached the postseason for the first time in five years, after winning the AL East. Although the Red Sox had homefield advantage in the initial quirky ALDS setup, the first two games would be played in Cleveland. The Red Sox were completely overmatched by the Cleveland Indians and were swept in three straight. AL MVP Mo Vaughn and slugger Jose Canseco went 0-for the series.
The Red Sox sent veteran Roger Clemens to the hill and the Indians turned to the ancient Dennis Martinez in Game 1. Boston got off to a good start, with John Valentin leading the offense with a 2-run shot in the 3rd, and Clemens holding the potent Indians lineup scoreles through the first 5 frames. Cleveland would rally for 3 runs in the 6th to take the lead, only to have the Sox tie it back up on a Luis Alicea homer in the 8th off Julian Tavarez. The game was interrupted in the 8th by a rain delay for 23 minutes. The game went to extra innings, and Tim Naehring homered in the 11th after Indians closer Jose Mesa was relieved by Jim Poole. With the Sox still having closer Rick Aguilera available in the bullpen, it appeared the Sox would steal the series opener against the favored Indians. Unfortunately, Aguilera would be burned in the bottom of the 11th by an Albert Belle (who many felt was the deserving candidate of the 1995 MVP) homerun that extended the contest. Former Red Sox Tony Pena hit a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 13th off Zane Smith to end a memorable 5-hour Game 1.
In Game 2, the Red Sox turned to surprising Erik Hanson while Cleveland sent playoff-tested Orel Hershiser to the mound. The Red Sox bats couldn't find an answer for Hershiser, who kept the Sox 1-6 batters hitless. Overall, Boston could only muster 3 hits. The Indians Omar Vizquel would start the scoring with a 2-run double off of Hanson in the 5th. The game would stay 2-0 into the 8th. Manager Kevin Kennedy, who had to be careful with his bullpen after a lengthy Game 1, would stay with Hanson a bit to long. Veteran Eddie Murray hit a 2-run shot in the 8th to seal the victory, and put Boston on the brink of elimination with the series heading back to Boston.
The Red Sox chances of extending their season rested on the shoulders of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who was perhaps the most surprising performer of the season for the Sox. Wakefield squared off against Charles Nagy in the first game of the series at Fenway Park. Cleveland jumed out to an early lead on a Jim Thome homerun and never looked back. A 5-run 6th sealed the Red Sox fate, and Cleveland elimated Boston in a 3-game sweep. A remarkable season ended on a sour note for AL MVP Mo Vaughn, who failed to muster a hit in the series. The Red Sox postseason losing streak reached 11, dating back to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Game 1, October 3 Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2 |
| Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| W: Ken Hill (1-0) L: Zane Smith (0-1) | ||||||||||||||||
| HRs: BOS – John Valentin (1), Luis Alicea (1), Tim Naehring; CLE – Albert Belle (1), Tony Pena (1) | ||||||||||||||||
Game 2, October 4 Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| W: Orel Hershiser (1-0) L: Erik Hanson (0-1) | ||||||||||||
| HRs: CLE – Eddie Murray (1) | ||||||||||||
Game 3, October 6 Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 2 | |
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | |
| W: Charles Nagy (1-0) L: Tim Wakefield (0-1) | |||||||||||||
| HRs: CLE – Jim Thome (1) | |||||||||||||
The Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians went on to meet in the 1995 American League Championship Series (ALCS). The Indians became the American League champion, and lost to the National League champion Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series.
