9 Run Comeback Flashback: 1987 Comeback vs. Clemens

As the Yankees were sending the Red Sox to an embarrassing Saturday afternoon, it brought me back to June 26, 1987. The Yankees and Red Sox faced off at Yankee Stadium with Roger Clemens, fresh off his '86 AL MVP season was on the hill for the Red Sox.

Yankees starter Tommy John didn't have a better day than Freddy Garcia did Saturday afternoon. The Red Sox tagged him for just eight runs in 1.1 innings pitched. With Clemens on the mound for Boston, a comeback was not likely down 9-0 in the 3rd.

But Dave Winfield belted a 3-run home run to kick start the bottom of the 3rd. Mike Pagliarulo and Wayne Tollenson combined for thee RBI and Clemens night,despite a 9-6 lead, was done after 2.1 innings. But the Yankees hitters weren't done with reliever Steve Crawford and Tom Bolton.

Gary Ward's 2-run single drove home cut the lead to 9-8 and Don Mattingly followed with an RBI double to tie the game. Though Ward was thrown out at third, Winfield drove in his fourth run in the inning with a single and later scored on a Rich Gedman passed ball for an 11-9 Yankees lead.

Unlike Saturday's game, Boston came back to tie things up with a couple of runs off Rich Bordi in the 4th and the game would eventually head to extra innings. That's when Tolleson delivered the game winner - a single off Calvin Schiraldi - to cap a memorable evening.