1978 Boston Red Sox season

The 1978 Boston Red Sox season was the 78th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. After 162 regular-season games, the Red Sox and the New York Yankees finished tied atop the American League East division, with identical 99–63 records. The teams then played a tie-breaker game, which was won by New York, 5–4. Thus, the Red Sox finished their season with a record of 99 wins and 64 losses, one game behind the Yankees, who went on to win the 1978 World Series.

1978 Boston Red Sox
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Fenway Park
City	Boston, Massachusetts
Record	99–64 (.607)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	Buddy LeRoux, Haywood Sullivan, Jean Yawkey
President	Jean Yawkey
General manager	Haywood Sullivan
Manager	Don Zimmer
Television	WSBK-TV, Ch. 38 (Dick Stockton, Ken Harrelson)
Radio	WITS-AM 1510 (Ned Martin, Jim Woods)
Stats	ESPN.com Baseball Reference
Seasons

Offseason

• November 23, 1977: Mike Torrez was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox.
• December 8, 1977: Don Aase and cash were traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for Jerry Remy.
• December 14, 1977: Ferguson Jenkins was traded by the Red Sox to the Texas Rangers for John Poloni and cash.
• December 27, 1977: Dick Drago was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox.
• March 28, 1978: Denny Doyle was released by the Red Sox.
• March 30, 1978: Rick Wise, Mike Paxton, Ted Cox, and Bo Díaz were traded by the Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall.

Regular season

Record by month

Month	Record		Cumulative		AL East		Ref.
	Won	Lost	Won	Lost	Position	GB
April	11	9	11	9	2nd	3
May	23	7	34	16	1st	+3
June	18	7	52	23	1st	+8
July	13	15	65	38	1st	+5
August	19	10	84	48	1st	+6+1⁄2
September	14	15	98	63	2nd	1
October	1	1	99	64	2nd	1

The Red Sox played 163 games, as a tie-breaker game was needed to determine the winner of the AL East.

The "Boston Massacre"

For several days in July, the Red Sox were 14 games ahead of the rival New York Yankees; at the end of play on July 19, Boston was 62–28 and New York was in fourth place at 48–42. However, the Yankees worked their way back. At the end of play on September 6, the Yankees had reduced the 14-game deficit to only four games, just in time for a four-game series at Fenway Park in Boston. The Yankees won all four games in the series, by a combined score of 42–9, leaving the teams tied with identical 86–56 records at the end of play on September 10. The series became known as the "Boston Massacre", named after the confrontation with British soldiers on March 5, 1770.

Tie-breaker game

The Yankees held a one-game lead over the Red Sox before the final day of the regular-season schedule. With a Red Sox win over the Toronto Blue Jays, and a Yankee loss to the Cleveland Indians, the two teams finished the season in a tie for the AL East division title, both with records of 99–63. The next day, in a tie-breaker game played at Fenway Park, the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 5–4, with the help of a memorable home run by Bucky Dent.

Main article: 1978 American League East tie-breaker game

The Yankees went on to win the World Series in six games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although Dent became a Red Sox demon, the Red Sox would get a measure of retribution in 1990, when the Yankees fired Dent as their manager during a series at Fenway Park.

Season standings

AL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	100	63	.613	—	55‍–‍26	45‍–‍37
Boston Red Sox	99	64	.607	1	59‍–‍23	40‍–‍41
Milwaukee Brewers	93	69	.574	6½	54‍–‍27	39‍–‍42
Baltimore Orioles	90	71	.559	9	51‍–‍30	39‍–‍41
Detroit Tigers	86	76	.531	13½	47‍–‍34	39‍–‍42
Cleveland Indians	69	90	.434	29	42‍–‍36	27‍–‍54
Toronto Blue Jays	59	102	.366	40	37‍–‍44	22‍–‍58

Record vs. opponents

1978 American League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TEX	TOR
Baltimore	—	7–8	4–6	8–1	9–6	7–8	2–8	7–8	5–5	6–9	11–0	9–1	7–4	8–7
Boston	8–7	—	9–2	7–3	7–8	12–3	4–6	10–5	9–2	7–9	5–5	7–3	3–7	11–4
California	6–4	2–9	—	8–7	6–4	4–7	9–6	5–5	12–3	5–5	9–6	9–6	5–10	7–3
Chicago	1–8	3–7	7–8	—	8–2	2–9	8–7	4–7	8–7	1–9	7–8	7–8	11–4	4–6
Cleveland	6–9	8–7	4–6	2–8	—	5–10	5–6	5–10	5–5	6–9	4–6	8–1	1–9	10–4
Detroit	8–7	3–12	7–4	9–2	10–5	—	4–6	7–8	4–6	4–11	6–4	8–2	7–3	9–6
Kansas City	8–2	6–4	6–9	7–8	6–5	6–4	—	6–4	7–8	6–5	10–5	12–3	7–8	5–5
Milwaukee	8–7	5–10	5–5	7–4	10–5	8–7	4–6	—	4–7	10–5	9–1	5–5	6–4	12–3
Minnesota	5–5	2–9	3–12	7–8	5–5	6–4	8–7	7–4	—	3–7	9–6	6–9	6–9	6–4
New York	9–6	9–7	5–5	9–1	9–6	11–4	5–6	5–10	7–3	—	8–2	6–5	6–4	11–4
Oakland	0–11	5–5	6–9	8–7	6–4	4–6	5–10	1–9	6–9	2–8	—	13–2	6–9	7–4
Seattle	1–9	3–7	6–9	8–7	1–8	2–8	3–12	5–5	9–6	5–6	2–13	—	3–12	8–2
Texas	4–7	7–3	10–5	4–11	9–1	3–7	8–7	4–6	9–6	4–6	9–6	12–3	—	4–7
Toronto	7–8	4–11	3–7	6–4	4–10	6–9	5–5	3–12	4–6	4–11	4–7	2–8	7–4	—

Notable transactions

• May 20, 1978: Bob Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.

Opening Day lineup

2	Jerry Remy	2B
7	Rick Burleson	SS
14	Jim Rice	DH
8	Carl Yastrzemski	LF
27	Carlton Fisk	C
19	Fred Lynn	CF
15	George Scott	1B
24	Dwight Evans	RF
4	Butch Hobson	3B
21	Mike Torrez	P

Source:

Roster

1978 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers 16 Tom Burgmeier 22 Bill Campbell 26 Reggie Cleveland 41 Dick Drago 43 Dennis Eckersley 31 Andy Hassler 26 John LaRose 37 Bill Lee 28 Allen Ripley 47 Bobby Sprowl 46 Bob Stanley 23 Luis Tiant 21 Mike Torrez 45 Jim Wright		Catchers 27 Carlton Fisk 10 Bob Montgomery Infielders 30 Bob Bailey  3 Jack Brohamer  7 Rick Burleson 17 Frank Duffy  4 Butch Hobson 18 Fred Kendall  2 Jerry Remy 15 George Scott		Outfielders 29 Sam Bowen  1 Bernie Carbo 24 Dwight Evans 38 Garry Hancock 19 Fred Lynn 14 Jim Rice  8 Carl Yastrzemski		Manager 34 Don Zimmer Coaches 33 Walt Hriniak (Bullpen) 32 Al Jackson (Pitching) 35 Johnny Pesky (First base) 36 Eddie Yost (Third base)

Game log

1978 Boston Red Sox Season Game Log: 99–64 (Home: 59–23; Away: 40–41)
April: 11–9 (Home: 8–2; Away: 3–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 1 April 7 @ White Sox 5–6 LaGrow (1–0) Drago (0–1) Comiskey Park 50,754 0–1 2 April 8 @ White Sox 5–6 Torrealba (1–0) Campbell (0–1) LaGrow (1) Comiskey Park 11,832 0–2 3 April 9 @ White Sox 5–0 Lee (1–0) Wood (0–1) Comiskey Park 30,794 1–2 4 April 10 @ Indians 4–5 Kern (1–0) Cleveland (0–1) Cleveland Stadium 4,177 1–3 5 April 12 @ Indians 6–3 Torrez (1–0) Garland (1–1) Drago (1) Cleveland Stadium 6,234 2–3 6 April 14 Rangers 5–4 (10) Drago (1–1) Barker (0–1) Fenway Park 34,747 3–3 7 April 15 Rangers 12–4 Lee (2–0) D. Ellis (1–1) Fenway Park 18,624 4–3 8 April 16 Rangers 8–6 Stanley (1–0) Umbarger (0–1) Burgmeier (1) Fenway Park 22,168 5–3 9 April 17 Brewers 9–2 Torrez (2–0) Stein (0–1) Fenway Park 26,075 6–3 10 April 18 Brewers 7–6 Tiant (1–0) Rodríguez (0–1) Fenway Park 18,928 7–3 — April 20 Brewers Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 12 11 April 20 Brewers 10–4 Lee (3–0) Haas (2–2) Fenway Park 16,238 8–3 12 April 21 Indians 9–7 Drago (2–1) Kern (1–1) Fenway Park 25,401 9–3 13 April 22 Indians 4–13 Wise (1–2) Ripley (0–1) Fenway Park 36,005 9–4 14 April 23 Indians 6–3 Campbell (1–1) Kinney (0–1) Fenway Park – 10–4 15 April 23 Indians 7–10 (11) Kern (2–1) Stanley (1–1) Kinney (1) Fenway Park 36,246 10–5 16 April 25 @ Brewers 4–3 Lee (4–0) Augustine (3–2) Drago (2) County Stadium 9,051 11–5 17 April 26 @ Brewers 4–6 Caldwell (1–0) Torrez (2–1) McClure (2) County Stadium 8,724 11–6 18 April 28 @ Rangers 4–5 (11) Cleveland (1–2) Campbell (1–2) Arlington Stadium 29,731 11–7 19 April 29 @ Rangers 1–4 D. Ellis (2–1) Eckersley (0–1) Arlington Stadium 34,101 11–8 20 April 30 @ Rangers 1–2 Jenkins (1–2) Campbell (1–3) Arlington Stadium 22,554 11–9
May: 23–7 (Home: 14–2; Away: 9–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 21 May 1 Orioles 9–6 Torrez (3–1) Briles (1–2) Stanley (1) Fenway Park 18,710 12–9 22 May 2 Orioles 1–3 D. Martínez (3–1) Ripley (0–2) Fenway Park 19,930 12–10 23 May 3 Twins 11–9 Burgmeier (1–0) D. Johnson (0–2) Stanley (2) Fenway Park 16,403 13–10 24 May 4 Twins 8–1 Eckersley (1–1) Thormodsgard (1–3) Fenway Park 15,784 14–10 — May 5 White Sox Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 6 25 May 6 White Sox 6–4 (10) Stanley (2–1) Willoughby (0–2) Fenway Park – 15–10 26 May 6 White Sox 3–0 Wright (1–0) Barrios (0–2) Fenway Park 32,238 16–10 27 May 7 White Sox 5–0 Torrez (4–1) Torrealba (1–4) Fenway Park 30,921 17–10 28 May 8 Royals 8–4 Stanley (3–1) Leonard (3–5) Fenway Park 25,891 18–10 29 May 9 Royals 4–3 Eckersley (2–1) Colborn (1–2) Fenway Park 22,369 19–10 30 May 10 @ Orioles 2–3 Flanagan (3–3) Burgmeier (1–1) Memorial Stadium 10,023 19–11 31 May 11 @ Orioles 5–4 Lee (5–0) D. Martínez (3–2) Drago (3) Memorial Stadium 14,950 20–11 — May 12 @ Twins Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 24 32 May 13 @ Twins 4–2 Torrez (5–1) Zahn (2–2) Burgmeier (2) Metropolitan Stadium 7,914 21–11 33 May 14 @ Twins 6–2 Eckersley (3–1) Thormodsgard (1–5) Burgmeier (3) Metropolitan Stadium 7,008 22–11 34 May 15 @ Royals 1–3 Gale (3–0) Ripley (0–3) Royals Stadium 34,166 22–12 35 May 16 @ Royals 3–2 Lee (6–0) Splittorff (4–3) Royals Stadium 23,474 23–12 36 May 19 @ Tigers 5–7 Sykes (3–0) Torrez (5–2) Hiller (4) Tiger Stadium 48,817 23–13 37 May 20 @ Tigers 6–5 Campbell (2–3) Foucault (1–4) Tiger Stadium 30,856 24–13 38 May 21 @ Tigers 1–2 Wilcox (3–1) Lee (6–1) Tiger Stadium – 24–14 39 May 21 @ Tigers 9–3 Tiant (2–0) Rozema (2–2) Tiger Stadium 52,368 25–14 40 May 22 @ Blue Jays 5–4 Ripley (1–3) Clancy (2–4) Stanley (3) Exhibition Stadium 25,054 26–14 41 May 23 @ Blue Jays 1–2 (12) Jefferson (3–5) Campbell (2–4) Exhibition Stadium 14,578 26–15 42 May 24 @ Blue Jays 8–2 Torrez (6–2) Lemanczyk (1–8) Exhibition Stadium 28,825 27–15 43 May 25 @ Blue Jays 9–5 Eckersley (4–1) Underwood (1–5) Drago (4) Exhibition Stadium 17,197 28–15 44 May 26 Tigers 6–3 Lee (7–1) Wilcox (3–2) Fenway Park 33,431 29–15 45 May 27 Tigers 1–0 Tiant (3–0) Morris (0–1) Fenway Park 33,335 30–15 46 May 28 Tigers 4–3 (10) Stanley (4–1) Hiller (4–3) Fenway Park – 31–15 47 May 28 Tigers 4–3 Wright (2–0) Slaton (4–2) Drago (5) Fenway Park 34,672 32–15 48 May 29 Blue Jays 5–4 Torrez (7–2) Underwood (1–6) Fenway Park 25,935 33–15 49 May 30 Blue Jays 4–0 Eckersley (5–1) Garvin (2–4) Fenway Park 25,853 34–15 50 May 31 Blue Jays 2–6 Clancy (4–4) Lee (7–2) Fenway Park 27,945 34–16
June: 18–7 (Home: 11–2; Away: 7–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 51 June 2 @ Angels 6–1 Tiant (4–0) Ryan (3–5) Drago (6) Anaheim Stadium 31,324 35–16 52 June 3 @ Angels 5–4 Torrez (8–2) Hartzell (1–4) Campbell (1) Anaheim Stadium 34,228 36–16 53 June 4 @ Angels 2–4 Tanana (9–2) Eckersley (5–2) LaRoche (7) Anaheim Stadium 29,911 36–17 54 June 5 @ Athletics 7–9 Broberg (6–4) Ripley (1–4) Sosa (8) Oakland Coliseum 36,463 36–18 55 June 6 @ Athletics 1–7 Renko (1–1) Lee (7–3) Oakland Coliseum 7,914 36–19 56 June 9 @ Mariners 3–2 Tiant (5–0) Mitchell (2–6) Kingdome 11,677 37–19 57 June 10 @ Mariners 13–1 Torrez (9–2) Pole (4–7) Kingdome 15,910 38–19 58 June 11 @ Mariners 5–3 Eckersley (6–2) McLaughlin (0–2) Campbell (2) Kingdome 18,626 39–19 59 June 12 Angels 10–9 Campbell (3–4) LaRoche (5–3) Fenway Park 31,652 40–19 60 June 13 Angels 5–0 Wright (3–0) Knapp (6–5) Fenway Park 26,539 41–19 61 June 14 Athletics 9–0 Tiant (6–0) Broberg (6–6) Fenway Park 29,690 42–19 62 June 15 Athletics 7–3 Torrez (10–2) Lacey (5–3) Fenway Park 32,281 43–19 63 June 16 Mariners 6–3 Campbell (4–4) Pole (4–8) Fenway Park 31,519 44–19 64 June 17 Mariners 5–4 Stanley (5–1) Montague (0–3) Fenway Park 32,551 45–19 65 June 18 Mariners 2–3 Abbott (2–4) Wright (3–1) Fenway Park 28,961 45–20 66 June 19 Yankees 10–4 Burgmeier (2–1) Gossage (3–7) Fenway Park 33,163 46–20 67 June 20 Yankees 4–10 Gullett (2–0) Torrez (10–3) Fenway Park 32,643 46–21 68 June 21 Yankees 9–2 Eckersley (7–2) Beattie (2–3) Fenway Park 32,459 47–21 69 June 23 Orioles 5–2 Lee (8–3) Palmer (10–5) Fenway Park 34,582 48–21 70 June 24 Orioles 8–3 Tiant (7–0) McGregor (8–5) Fenway Park 32,213 49–21 71 June 25 Orioles 4–1 Torrez (11–3) D. Martínez (6–5) Fenway Park 33,526 50–21 72 June 26 @ Yankees 4–1 Eckersley (8–2) Messersmith (0–2) Campbell (3) Yankee Stadium 52,124 51–21 73 June 27 @ Yankees 4–6 (14) Lyle (6–1) Drago (2–2) Yankee Stadium 55,132 51–22 74 June 29 @ Orioles 4–3 Ripley (2–4) D. Martínez (6–6) Memorial Stadium 28,899 52–22 75 June 30 @ Orioles 2–3 (11) Stanhouse (2–5) Tiant (7–1) Memorial Stadium 33,034 52–23
July: 13–15 (Home: 7–4; Away: 6–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 76 July 1 @ Orioles 2–3 (11) Briles (2–4) Torrez (11–4) Memorial Stadium 38,542 52–24 — July 2 @ Orioles Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 6 77 July 3 Yankees 9–5 Eckersley (9–2) Figueroa (7–6) Fenway Park 34,722 53–24 — July 4 Yankees Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 7 78 July 5 @ White Sox 9–2 Lee (9–3) Stone (6–6) Stanley (4) Comiskey Park 26,434 54–24 79 July 6 @ White Sox 7–6 (10) Campbell (5–4) Willoughby (1–6) Comiskey Park 29,330 55–24 80 July 7 @ Indians 9–10 Spillner (2–0) Campbell (5–5) Cleveland Stadium 19,543 55–25 81 July 8 @ Indians 12–5 Eckersley (10–2) Paxton (6–5) Cleveland Stadium – 56–25 82 July 8 @ Indians 3–2 Wright (4–1) Clyde (4–5) Stanley (5) Cleveland Stadium 41,859 57–25 83 July 9 @ Indians 1–7 Wise (7–11) Ripley (2–5) Cleveland Stadium 41,394 57–26 ASG July 11 All-Star Game AL 3–7 NL Sutter (1–0) Gossage (0–1) San Diego Stadium 51,549 84 July 13 Rangers 7–12 D. Ellis (8–4) Tiant (7–2) Fenway Park 33,995 57–27 85 July 14 Rangers 3–4 Jenkins (9–4) Torrez (11–5) Cleveland (9) Fenway Park 32,899 57–28 86 July 15 Twins 5–4 Lee (10–3) Jackson (2–2) Stanley (6) Fenway Park 32,861 58–28 87 July 16 Twins 5–3 Eckersley (11–2) Harrison (0–1) Campbell (4) Fenway Park – 59–28 88 July 16 Twins 3–2 Wright (5–1) Erickson (9–6) Stanley (7) Fenway Park 35,589 60–28 89 July 17 Twins 3–2 (10) Campbell (6–5) Marshall (4–7) Fenway Park 33,233 61–28 90 July 19 @ Brewers 8–2 Torrez (12–5) Sorensen (12–6) County Stadium 45,332 62–28 91 July 20 @ Brewers 6–8 Rodríguez (2–3) Lee (10–4) McClure (5) County Stadium 35,044 62–29 92 July 21 @ Royals 0–9 Splittorff (11–8) Eckersley (11–3) Royals Stadium 39,841 62–30 93 July 22 @ Royals 5–6 (10) Hrabosky (4–3) Drago (2–3) Royals Stadium 37,538 62–31 94 July 23 @ Royals 3–7 Pattin (2–2) Wright (5–2) Royals Stadium 39,425 62–32 95 July 24 @ Twins 4–5 Jackson (3–3) Drago (2–4) Marshall (12) Metropolitan Stadium – 62–33 96 July 24 @ Twins 4–2 Hassler (2–4) Zahn (8–9) Stanley (8) Metropolitan Stadium 21,580 63–33 97 July 25 @ Twins 2–5 Erickson (10–6) Lee (10–5) Marshall (13) Metropolitan Stadium 18,608 63–34 98 July 26 @ Rangers 0–2 Medich (5–5) Eckersley (11–4) Arlington Stadium 21,671 63–35 99 July 27 @ Rangers 1–3 Matlack (8–8) Tiant (7–3) Arlington Stadium 29,684 63–36 100 July 28 Royals 0–4 Gale (12–3) Torrez (12–6) Fenway Park 35,348 63–37 101 July 29 Royals 1–0 Wright (6–2) Leonard (12–12) Fenway Park 35,098 64–37 102 July 30 Royals 1–2 Splittorff (12–9) Lee (10–6) Hrabosky (14) Fenway Park 34,626 64–38 103 July 31 White Sox 9–2 Eckersley (12–4) Kravec (7–10) Fenway Park 28,858 65–38
August: 19–10 (Home: 11–5; Away: 8–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 104 August 1 White Sox 2–5 Proly (2–0) Tiant (7–4) Fenway Park 30,020 65–39 105 August 2 @ Yankees 7–5 (17) Stanley (6–1) Clay (2–4) Yankee Stadium 52,701 66–39 106 August 3 @ Yankees 8–1 (7) Torrez (13–6) Beattie (2–6) Yankee Stadium 53,379 67–39 107 August 4 @ Brewers 2–6 Sorensen (13–8) Lee (10–7) County Stadium 52,562 67–40 108 August 5 @ Brewers 8–1 Eckersley (13–4) Rodríguez (2–5) County Stadium 52,968 68–40 109 August 6 @ Brewers 4–0 Tiant (8–4) Travers (7–6) County Stadium 48,444 69–40 110 August 8 Indians 9–7 Stanley (7–1) Freisleben (1–3) Fenway Park 34,485 70–40 111 August 9 Indians 1–5 Wise (9–14) Lee (10–8) Kern (9) Fenway Park 33,285 70–41 112 August 10 Indians 6–5 (13) Stanley (8–1) Spillner (2–1) Fenway Park 33,541 71–41 113 August 11 Brewers 5–10 Rodríguez (3–5) Tiant (8–5) Fenway Park 35,142 71–42 114 August 12 Brewers 3–1 Wright (7–2) Travers (7–7) Fenway Park 33,092 72–42 115 August 12 Brewers 11–4 Stanley (9–1) Caldwell (14–7) Fenway Park 27,030 73–42 116 August 13 Brewers 4–3 (10) Torrez (14–6) Castro (3–4) Fenway Park 34,460 74–42 117 August 14 Brewers 3–4 Sorensen (14–8) Lee (10–9) McClure (7) Fenway Park 33,766 74–43 118 August 15 @ Angels 2–5 Tanana (16–7) Eckersley (13–5) Anaheim Stadium 41,144 74–44 119 August 16 @ Angels 4–2 Tiant (9–5) Ryan (6–11) Anaheim Stadium 37,535 75–44 120 August 17 @ Angels 8–6 Stanley (10–1) Griffin (2–4) Anaheim Stadium 30,486 76–44 121 August 18 @ Athletics 6–3 Torrez (15–6) Renko (6–8) Drago (7) Oakland Coliseum 12,730 77–44 122 August 19 @ Athletics 4–8 Johnson (10–6) Lee (10–10) Lacey (5) Oakland Coliseum 11,806 77–45 123 August 20 @ Athletics 4–2 Eckersley (14–5) Keough (7–11) Oakland Coliseum 13,411 78–45 124 August 22 @ Mariners 2–5 Abbott (6–10) Tiant (9–6) Kingdome 21,486 78–46 125 August 23 @ Mariners 3–5 McLaughlin (2–4) Torrez (15–7) Romo (10) Kingdome 22,718 78–47 126 August 25 Angels 6–0 Eckersley (15–5) Aase (8–8) Fenway Park 33,583 79–47 127 August 26 Angels 7–1 Wright (8–2) Hartzell (5–8) Fenway Park 33,531 80–47 128 August 27 Angels 4–3 (12) Stanley (11–1) D. Miller (4–1) Fenway Park 34,216 81–47 129 August 28 Mariners 10–9 Stanley (12–1) Romo (10–6) Fenway Park 24,301 82–47 130 August 29 Mariners 10–5 Drago (3–1) McLaughlin (2–5) Burgmeier (4) Fenway Park 32,393 83–47 131 August 30 Blue Jays 2–1 Eckersley (16–5) Kirkwood (3–2) Fenway Park – 84–47 132 August 30 Blue Jays 6–7 Cruz (6–1) Stanley (12–2) Fenway Park 32,825 84–48
September: 14–15 (Home: 7–7; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 133 September 1 Athletics 1–5 Keough (8–11) Tiant (9–7) Fenway Park 30,156 84–49 134 September 2 Athletics 3–4 Langford (7–10) Torrez (15–8) Heaverlo (10) Fenway Park 33,051 84–50 135 September 3 Athletics 11–6 Stanley (13–2) Broberg (9–11) Fenway Park 29,029 85–50 136 September 4 @ Orioles 3–5 McGregor (13–12) Eckersley (16–6) Stanhouse (20) Memorial Stadium 17,967 85–51 137 September 5 @ Orioles 1–4 Palmer (18–12) Sprowl (0–1) Stanhouse (21) Memorial Stadium 15,644 85–52 138 September 6 @ Orioles 2–0 Tiant (10–7) D. Martínez (12–11) Memorial Stadium 11,251 86–52 139 September 7 Yankees 3–15 Clay (3–4) Torrez (15–9) Fenway Park 34,119 86–53 140 September 8 Yankees 2–13 Beattie (4–7) Wright (8–3) Fenway Park 33,134 86–54 141 September 9 Yankees 0–7 Guidry (21–2) Eckersley (16–7) Fenway Park 33,611 86–55 142 September 10 Yankees 4–7 Figueroa (16–9) Sprowl (0–2) Gossage (23) Fenway Park 32,786 86–56 143 September 11 Orioles 5–4 Stanley (14–2) Kerrigan (3–1) Fenway Park 28,575 87–56 144 September 12 Orioles 2–3 D. Martínez (13–11) Torrez (15–10) Fenway Park 28,924 87–57 145 September 13 @ Indians 1–2 Clyde (7–10) Eckersley (16–8) Kern (12) Cleveland Stadium 5,568 87–58 146 September 14 @ Indians 3–4 Paxton (11–9) Wright (8–4) Kern (13) Cleveland Stadium 4,479 87–59 147 September 15 @ Yankees 0–4 Guidry (22–2) Tiant (10–8) Yankee Stadium 54,901 87–60 148 September 16 @ Yankees 2–3 Hunter (10–5) Torrez (15–11) Yankee Stadium 55,091 87–61 149 September 17 @ Yankees 7–3 Eckersley (17–8) Beattie (5–8) Stanley (9) Yankee Stadium 55,088 88–61 150 September 18 @ Tigers 5–4 (11) Hassler (3–4) Baker (1–3) Tiger Stadium 13,849 89–61 151 September 19 @ Tigers 8–6 Campbell (7–5) Morris (3–5) Hassler (1) Tiger Stadium 15,901 90–61 152 September 20 @ Tigers 2–12 Rozema (9–10) Torrez (15–12) Tiger Stadium 16,689 90–62 153 September 21 @ Tigers 5–1 Eckersley (18–8) Wilcox (13–11) Tiger Stadium 15,213 91–62 154 September 22 @ Blue Jays 4–5 Murphy (6–9) Hassler (3–5) Exhibition Stadium 22,172 91–63 155 September 23 @ Blue Jays 3–1 Tiant (11–8) Jefferson (7–15) Exhibition Stadium 30,059 92–63 156 September 24 @ Blue Jays 7–6 (14) Drago (4–4) Buskey (0–1) Exhibition Stadium 33,618 93–63 157 September 26 Tigers 6–0 Eckersley (19–8) Rozema (9–11) Fenway Park 27,078 94–63 158 September 27 Tigers 5–2 Tiant (12–8) Wilcox (13–12) Stanley (10) Fenway Park 26,035 95–63 159 September 28 Tigers 1–0 Torrez (16–12) Young (6–7) Fenway Park 26,774 96–63 160 September 29 Blue Jays 11–0 Stanley (15–2) Clancy (10–12) Fenway Park 29,626 97–63 161 September 30 Blue Jays 5–1 Eckersley (20–8) Jefferson (7–16) Fenway Park 32,659 98–63
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record 162 October 1 Blue Jays 5–0 Tiant (13–8) Kirkwood (4–5) Fenway Park 29,201 99–63 163 October 2 Yankees 4–5 Guidry (25–3) Torrez (16–13) Gossage (27) Fenway Park 32,925 99–64

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

= Indicates team leader

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
C	Carlton Fisk	157	571	94	162	.284	20	88	7
1B	George Scott	120	412	51	96	.233	12	54	1
2B	Jerry Remy	148	583	87	162	.278	2	44	30
3B	Butch Hobson	147	512	65	128	.250	17	80	1
SS	Rick Burleson	145	626	75	155	.248	5	49	8
LF	Jim Rice	163	677	121	213	.315	46	139	7
CF	Fred Lynn	150	541	75	161	.298	22	82	3
RF	Dwight Evans	147	497	75	123	.247	24	63	8
DH	Bob Bailey	43	94	12	18	.191	4	9	2

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
Carl Yastrzemski	144	523	70	145	.277	17	81	4
Jack Brohamer	81	244	34	57	.234	1	25	1
Frank Duffy	64	104	12	27	.260	0	4	1
Garry Hancock	38	80	10	18	.225	0	4	0
Bernie Carbo	17	46	7	12	.261	1	6	1
Fred Kendall	20	41	3	8	.195	0	4	0
Bob Montgomery	10	29	2	7	.241	0	5	0
Sam Bowen	6	7	3	1	.143	1	1	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	CG	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
Dennis Eckersley	35	16	268.1	20	8	2.99	71	162
Mike Torrez	36	15	250.0	16	13	3.96	99	120
Luis Tiant	32	12	212.1	13	8	3.31	57	114
Bill Lee	28	8	177.0	10	10	3.46	59	44
Allen Ripley	15	1	73.0	2	5	5.55	22	26
Bobby Sprowl	3	0	12.2	0	2	6.39	10	10

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
Jim Wright	24	116.0	8	4	3.57	24	56
Andy Hassler	13	30.0	2	1	3.00	13	23

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Bob Stanley	52	15	2	10	2.60	38
Dick Drago	37	4	4	7	3.03	42
Tom Burgmeier	35	2	1	4	4.40	24
Bill Campbell	29	7	5	4	3.91	47
John LaRose	1	0	0	0	22.50	3
Reggie Cleveland	1	0	1	0	0.00	0

AL East tie-breaker game

Main article: 1978 American League East tie-breaker game

October 2, 1978 at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	0	5	8	0
Boston Red Sox	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	4	11	0
WP: Ron Guidry (25-3)   LP: Mike Torrez (16-13)   Sv: Goose Gossage (27) Home runs: NYY: Bucky Dent, Reggie Jackson BOS: Carl Yastrzemski

Awards and honors

Awards

• Dwight Evans – Gold Glove Award (OF)
• Fred Lynn – Gold Glove Award (OF)
• Jim Rice – American League Most Valuable Player, AL Player of the Month (May, August)

Accomplishments

• Jim Rice, American League leader, Hits (213)
• Jim Rice, American League leader, Home runs (46)
• Jim Rice, American League leader, RBIs (139)

All-Star Game

• Rick Burleson, reserve SS (did not attend)
• Dwight Evans, reserve OF
• Carlton Fisk, starting C
• Fred Lynn, reserve OF (started CF)
• Jerry Remy, reserve 2B
• Jim Rice, starting LF
• Carl Yastrzemski, reserve OF (did not attend)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Pawtucket Red Sox	International League	Joe Morgan
AA	Bristol Red Sox	Eastern League	Tony Torchia
A	Winston-Salem Red Sox	Carolina League	Bill Slack
A	Winter Haven Red Sox	Florida State League	Rac Slider
A-Short Season	Elmira Red Sox	New York–Penn League	Dick Berardino

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Bristol
Source:

Further reading

• "1978 The Denting of the Red Sox". This Great Game. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
• Finn, Chad (September 27, 2018). "SI film finds something heroic about the ill-fated 1978 Red Sox". Boston.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.

External links

• Home opener news coverage from WNAC-TV (April 14, 1978)
• 1978 Boston Red Sox team page at Baseball Reference
• 1978 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com