The 1986 American League Championship Series was a back-and-forth battle between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels for the right to advance to the 1986 World Series to face the winner of the 1986 National League Championship Series. The Red Sox came in with a 95–66 record and the AL East division title….while the Angels went 92–70 during the regular season to win the AL West.
In Game 7, the Red Sox loaded the bases in the second off John Candelaria with no outs on an error, single and walk….then Rich Gedman’s groundout scored a run….and after an intentional walk reloaded the bases….when Wade Boggs’s two-run single made it 3 – 0 in favor of the Red Sox…..when in the fourth…Boston’ Dave Henderson reached third on an error….then scored on Spike Owen’s single. After a two-out walk, Jim Rice’s three-run home run made it 7–0 Red Sox….with all the runs being unearned. Dwight Evans’s home run in the seventh off Don Sutton made it 8 – 0….when the Angels scored their only run of the game on Doug DeCinces’s RBI single off Calvin Schiraldi….with the run being charged to starter Roger Clemens. Schiraldi pitched two innings to close as the Red Sox advanced to the World Series with an 8–1 win….after trailing the series three games to one…..for their first pennant in 11 years.
