Red Sox Give Indian Rookie a 24-5 Greeting

Left-hander Greg Swindell, former University of Texas All-American who was called up by the Cleveland Indians earlier in the day, got quite a welcome to the big leagues Thursday night.

In a game that had numbers resembling those found in a Little League rout, the Boston Red Sox beat the Indians, 24-5, at Cleveland, and Swindell took the loss.

In 3 innings, he allowed six runs--four earned--and six hits in his major league debut.

Swindell, 21, was called up from Class AA Waterbury of the Eastern League after making only three professional appearances. He was the second pick in the June free-agent draft.

Four Cleveland relievers didn’t fare much better. The 24 runs were the most ever scored against the Indians in their 86-year history and the most by an American League team this season.

Bryan Oelkers, the last of the five Indian pitchers, gave up 9 runs on 11 hits in 2 innings, and his earned-run average rose from 3.72 to 4.97.

Tony Armas led the Boston assault by driving in six runs with two homers, including a grand slam in a 12-run sixth inning.

Newly acquired shortstop Spike Owen scored six runs to tie the American League record set by Boston’s Johnny Pesky in 1946.

Although Boston had 24 hits, three more than the highest total in the majors this season, not all the Red Sox had big nights at the plate.

Wade Boggs went 0 for 5 and his average fell from .351 to .347. He slipped a fraction of a point behind Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett for the A.L. batting lead. Don Baylor also went 0 for 5.

Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd (12-9) allowed eight hits in seven innings to gain his first victory since July 8. Boyd had lost all three of his starts since returning from a suspension on Aug. 1, compiling a 5.95 ERA in that span.

The 24 runs by the Red Sox were the most in a major-league game since Philadelphia beat the New York Mets, 26-7, on June 11, 1985.

After his grand slam in the sixth, Armas hit a two-run homer in Boston’s five-run eighth, his ninth homer of the season.

Bill Buckner had five hits and Owen four, while Marty Barrett, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans and Armas had three each. Barrett and Evans each drove in four runs and Rice and Buckner three.

Twenty-two of the 24 Boston runs were scored with two out. BOSTON’S 12-RUN SIXTH INNING How the Red Sox scored: Owen singled to the pitcher. Boggs grounded out to second, Owen to second. Barrett singled to right, Owen scored and Barrett took second on the throw. Rice walked. Baylor flied to center, Barrett to third. Evans walked, Rice to second. Buckner walked, Barrett scored, Rice to third, Evans to second. Roman replaced Noles. Armas homered to left, Rice, Evans, Buckner and Armas scored. Sullivan walked. Owen singled to right, Sullivan to second. Boggs walked, Sullivan to third, Owen to second. Oelkers replaced Roman. Barrett doubled to left, Sullivan and Owen scored, Boggs to third. Rice singled to second base, Boggs scored and Barrett to third. Baylor walked, Rice to second. Evans singled to center, Barrett and Rice scored, Baylor to second. Buckner singled to left, Baylor scored, Evans to second. Armas flied to center.

Totals: 12 runs, 8 hits, no errors, 2 left. Boston leads, 18-1. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S BIGGEST ROMPS

June 8, 1950--Boston Red Sox 29, St. Louis Browns 4

Sept. 16, 1975--Pittsburgh Pirates 22, Chicago Cubs 0

June 18, 1953--Boston Red Sox 23, Detroit Tigers 3

Aug. 21, 1986--Boston Red Sox 24, Cleveland Indians 5

May 21, 1952--Brooklyn Dodgers 19, Cincinnati Reds 1