1988 Boston Red Sox season

Offseason

• December 8, 1987: Lee Smith was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Red Sox for Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi.
• January 5, 1988: Dennis Lamp was signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.

Regular season

Highlights

;A rough beginning The 1988 team seemed to start much better than their chaotic 1987 predecessors, going 14–6 in April; however, the team went sour thereafter, especially for Jim Rice as he moved from left field to designated hitter. Dwight Evans also had problems when he played first base, and the usually reliable Lee Smith had problems closing, including giving up a game-winning home run to the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day.

The Red Sox had an 11–16 record in May, followed by a slightly better June with a 14–12 record, but lost pitcher Jeff Sellers when he was hit by a line drive in Cleveland that broke his hand. Wes Gardner was moved from the bullpen to the rotation, but the team and its fans were losing patience.

;"Morgan Magic" At the All-Star break, the Red Sox were 43–42, nine games behind the Tigers in the AL East standings. Management had seen enough, firing John McNamara and elevating third base coach Joe Morgan to manager.

On July 15, the first game after the All-Star break, the Red Sox and Roger Clemens beat the Kansas City Royals and Bret Saberhagen, 3–1. The team cooled off in the final two weeks of the season, finishing with nine losses in their final 13 games, but held on to win the AL East, finishing one game ahead of the Tigers, for their second division title in three seasons.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• April 15, 1988: Rick Cerone signed as a free agent with the Red Sox.
• July 29, 1988: Brady Anderson was traded by the Red Sox with minor league pitcher Curt Schilling to the Baltimore Orioles for Mike Boddicker.

Opening Day lineup

Source:

Alumni game

The team held an old-timers game on May 14, before a scheduled home game against the Seattle Mariners. The alumni game marked the 40th anniversary of the 1948 Red Sox team, which had lost a one-game playoff to the Cleveland Indians.

Roster

Game log

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 4 || Tigers || 3–5 (10) || Morris (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || Henneman (1) || 34,781 || 0–1 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 2 || April 6 || Tigers || 6–5 || Lamp (1–0) || Hernández (0–1) || Smith (1) || 16,965 || 1–1 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 7 || Tigers || 6–11 || Tanana (1–0) || Ellsworth (0–1) || || 13,807 || 1–2 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || April 8 || @ Rangers || 4–0 || Boyd (1–0) || Jeffcoat (0–1) || || 18,470 || 2–2 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || April 9 || @ Rangers || 2–1 || Clemens (1–0) || Hough (1–1) || Smith (2) || 27,527 || 3–2 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 6 || April 10 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Kilgus (1–0) || Sellers (0–1) || Williams (2) || 14,024 || 3–3 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 11 || Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Cold); Makeup: July 29 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 7 || April 12 || Brewers || 3–1 || Hurst (1–0) || Bosio (1–1) || Smith (3) || 12,045 || 4–3 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 8 || April 13 || Brewers || 6–3 || Boyd (2–0) || Nieves (0–2) || Smith (4) || 14,114 || 5–3 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 9 || April 14 || Brewers || 2–0 || Clemens (2–0) || Wegman (0–2) || || 15,693 || 6–3 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 10 || April 15 || Rangers || 2–3 (10) || Hough (2–1) || Gardner (0–1) || || 12,369 || 6–4 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || April 16 || Rangers || 0–2 || Kilgus (2–0) || Ellsworth (0–2) || Williams (4) || 25,936 || 6–5 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 12 || April 17 || Rangers || 15–2 || Hurst (2–0) || Jeffcoat (0–2) || || 32,243 || 7–5 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 13 || April 18 || Rangers || 4–3 || Smith (1–1) || Williams (0–1) || || 33,976 || 8–5 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 14 || April 19 || @ Tigers || 7–3 || Clemens (3–0) || Morris (2–2) || || 11,920 || 9–5 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 20 || @ Tigers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 15 || April 21 || @ Tigers || 12–3 || Ellsworth (1–2) || Robinson (1–2) || || 13,862 || 10–5 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 22 || @ Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: April 25 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 23 || @ Brewers || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: August 9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 16 || April 24 || @ Brewers || 4–0 || Clemens (4–0) || Higuera (2–1) || || 16,379 || 11–5 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 17 || April 25 || @ Brewers || 5–1 || Hurst (3–0) || Wegman (1–3) || || 11,109 || 12–5 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 26 || @ White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: July 8 |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || April 27 || @ White Sox || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: July 9 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || April 28 || @ White Sox || 0–6 || LaPoint (3–1) || Boyd (2–1) || || 8,204 || 12–6 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 19 || April 29 || Twins || 6–5 || Smith (2–1) || Berenguer (3–3) || || 32,022 || 13–6 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || April 30 || Twins || 8–3 || Hurst (4–0) || Lea (0–3) || Gardner (1) || 32,708 || 14–6 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 21 || May 1 || Twins || 0–2 || Viola (3–1) || Sellers (0–2) || || 31,124 || 14–7 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 2 || Royals || 0–2 || Bannister (4–1) || Ellsworth (1–3) || Garber (4) || 20,400 || 14–8 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 3 || Royals || 3–9 || Saberhagen (4–2) || Boyd (2–2) || || 21,602 || 14–9 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || May 4 || White Sox || 2–6 || McDowell (2–2) || Clemens (4–1) || || 21,191 || 14–10 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 25 || May 5 || White Sox || 16–3 || Hurst (5–0) || Horton (3–4) || || 24,135 || 15–10 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 26 || May 6 || @ Twins || 0–5 || Viola (4–1) || Sellers (0–3) || || 29,767 || 15–11 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 7 || @ Twins || 2–5 || Blyleven (2–3) || Ellsworth (1–4) || || 33,416 || 15–12 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 28 || May 8 || @ Twins || 10–6 || Boyd (3–2) || Mason (0–1) || || 28,896 || 16–12 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || May 9 || @ Royals || 2–0 || Clemens (5–1) || Gubicza (3–4) || || 24,806 || 17–12 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 10 || @ Royals || 2–7 || Bannister (5–2) || Hurst (5–1) || || 21,645 || 17–13 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || May 13 || Mariners || 14–8 || Boyd (4–2) || Campbell (2–5) || Gardner (2) || 29,582 || 18–13 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || May 14 || Mariners || 3–0 || Clemens (6–1) || Bankhead (0–1) || || 33,846 || 19–13 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 33 || May 15 || Mariners || 7–11 || Jackson (1–1) || Smith (2–2) || || 33,109 || 19–14 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 34 || May 16 || Athletics || 0–3 || Davis (4–1) || Sellers (0–4) || Eckersley (14) || 24,642 || 19–15 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 35 || May 17 || Athletics || 7–12 || Ontiveros (2–1) || Ellsworth (1–5) || Honeycutt (4) || 28,407 || 19–16 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 36 || May 18 || Athletics || 4–1 || Boyd (5–2) || Stewart (8–2) || Smith (5) || 24,683 || 20–16 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || May 20 || Angels || 2–4 (10) || Buice (1–2) || Clemens (6–2) || Harvey (2) || 31,032 || 20–17 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || May 21 || Angels || 8–4 || Hurst (6–1) || Krawczyk (0–1) || Smith (6) || 32,180 || 21–17 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 22 || Angels || 12–4 || Stanley (1–0) || Fraser (4–3) || || 32,678 || 22–17 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 40 || May 23 || @ Mariners || 3–14 || Swift (4–1) || Boyd (5–3) || || 15,511 || 22–18 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 41 || May 24 || @ Mariners || 1–14 || Campbell (3–5) || Smithson (0–1) || || 9,473 || 22–19 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || May 25 || @ Mariners || 4–0 || Clemens (7–2) || Langston (4–4) || || 17,968 || 23–19 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 43 || May 27 || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Young (4–2) || Hurst (6–2) || Eckersley (15) || 32,723 || 23–20 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 44 || May 28 || @ Athletics || 5–7 || Honeycutt (1–0) || Lamp (1–1) || Eckersley (16) || 43,177 || 23–21 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 45 || May 29 || @ Athletics || 4–5 || Nelson (3–2) || Sellers (0–5) || Plunk (2) || 43,427 || 23–22 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 46 || May 30 || @ Angels || 5–2 || Clemens (8–2) || Petry (2–4) || || 46,598 || 24–22 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 47 || May 31 || @ Angels || 4–3 || Smithson (1–1) || Fraser (4–4) || || 24,005 || 25–22 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 2 || Blue Jays || 4–5 || Wells (3–2) || Hurst (6–3) || Eichhorn (1) || 32,144 || 25–23 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 49 || June 3 || Blue Jays || 3–6 || Stottlemyre (2–7) || Boyd (5–4) || Henke (10) || 32,292 || 25–24 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 4 || Blue Jays || 2–10 || Clancy (3–5) || Clemens (8–3) || Ward (4) || 33,067 || 25–25 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 5 || Blue Jays || 4–12 || Ward (2–0) || Smithson (1–2) || || 33,756 || 25–26 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 52 || June 6 || @ Yankees || 3–2 || Hurst (7–3) || Allen (2–1) || Smith (7) || 37,244 || 26–26 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 53 || June 7 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Hudson (5–2) || Boyd (5–5) || Guante (6) || 37,081 || 26–27 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 8 || @ Yankees || 4–3 || Clemens (9–3) || John (4–2) || Smith (8) || 42,804 || 27–27 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 10 || @ Blue Jays || 0–3 || Stieb (8–3) || Sellers (0–6) || Henke (11) || 35,201 || 27–28 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 11 || @ Blue Jays || 3–4 (10) || Ward (3–0) || Lamp (1–2) || || 40,461 || 27–29 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 12 || @ Blue Jays || 8–2 || Boyd (6–5) || Cerutti (3–3) || || 40,123 || 28–29 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 58 || June 13 || Yankees || 6–12 || Dotson (7–1) || Clemens (9–4) || Guante (7) || 34,288 || 28–30 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 14 || Yankees || 7–3 || Smithson (2–2) || Allen (2–2) || Smith (9) || 33,367 || 29–30 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 15 || Yankees || 8–3 || Hurst (8–3) || Leiter (4–3) || || 33,870 || 30–30 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 61 || June 16 || @ Orioles || 4–8 || Ballard (3–3) || Trautwein (0–1) || Williamson (1) || 24,499 || 30–31 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 62 || June 17 || @ Orioles || 2–3 (11) || Schmidt (3–2) || Lamp (1–3) || || 34,340 || 30–32 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 63 || June 18 || @ Orioles || 5–0 || Clemens (10–4) || Bautista (2–6) || || 32,175 || 31–32 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 64 || June 19 || @ Orioles || 15–7 || Gardner (1–1) || Noles (0–2) || || 31,046 || 32–32 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 65 || June 20 || @ Indians || 14–7 || Hurst (9–3) || Swindell (10–5) || || 19,870 || 33–32 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 66 || June 21 || @ Indians || 10–6 || Stanley (2–0) || Rodriguez (0–1) || Smith (10) || 26,681 || 34–32 || W4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || June 22 || @ Indians || 1–3 || Farrell (8–4) || Boyd (6–6) || Jones (17) || 18,843 || 34–33 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 68 || June 24 || Orioles || 2–6 || Bautista (3–6) || Clemens (10–5) || || 35,333 || 34–34 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 69 || June 25 || Orioles || 10–3 || Stanley (3–0) || Williamson (1–5) || || 34,573 || 35–34 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 70 || June 26 || Orioles || 10–1 || Smithson (3–2) || Peraza (1–3) || || 34,374 || 36–34 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 71 || June 27 || Indians || 9–5 || Lamp (2–3) || Farrell (8–5) || || 33,318 || 37–34 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 72 || June 28 || Indians || 6–1 || Gardner (2–1) || Bailes (6–7) || || 34,661 || 38–34 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 73 || June 29 || Indians || 5–1 || Clemens (11–5) || Candiotti (7–7) || Smith (11) || 35,035 || 39–34 || W5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 74 || July 1 || @ Royals || 7–8 || Montgomery (1–1) || Ellsworth (1–6) || Farr (6) || 25,970 || 39–35 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 75 || July 2 || @ Royals || 1–3 || Leibrandt (4–10) || Boyd (6–7) || Farr (7) || 37,098 || 39–36 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 76 || July 3 || @ Royals || 2–3 || Montgomery (2–1) || Smith (2–3) || Farr (8) || 36,220 || 39–37 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 77 || July 4 || @ Royals || 9–2 || Clemens (12–5) || Power (4–2) || || 40,804 || 40–37 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 78 || July 5 || @ Twins || 4–6 || Berenguer (8–3) || Smith (2–4) || Reardon (23) || 44,091 || 40–38 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 79 || July 6 || @ Twins || 1–8 || Viola (14–2) || Hurst (9–4) || || 41,027 || 40–39 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 80 || July 7 || @ Twins || 4–3 || Boyd (7–7) || Lea (5–4) || Stanley (1) || 32,724 || 41–39 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 81 || July 8 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || John Davis (2–2) || Smithson (3–3) || Thigpen (16) || – || 41–40 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 82 || July 8 || @ White Sox || 10–7 || Lamp (3–3) || Long (3–4) || || 18,963 || 42–40 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 83 || July 9 || @ White Sox || 7–8 || Pérez (8–5) || Bolton (0–1) || Thigpen (17) || – || 42–41 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 84 || July 9 || @ White Sox || 8–2 (10) || Smith (3–4) || Horton (4–7) || || 23,699 || 43–41 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 85 || July 10 || @ White Sox || 1–4 || LaPoint (7–9) || Curry (0–1) || Thigpen (18) || 15,163 || 43–42 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bbcaff | ASG || July 12 || AL @ NL || 2–1 || Viola (1–0) || Gooden (0–1) || Eckersley (1) || 39,071 || — || N/A |-bgcolor=#bbb | — || July 14 || Royals || colspan=7| Postponed (Rain); Makeup: July 15 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 86 || July 15 || Royals || 3–1 || Clemens (13–5) || Saberhagen (10–8) || || – || 44–42 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 87 || July 15 || Royals || 7–4 || Smithson (4–3) || Leibrandt (5–11) || Smith (12) || 35,412 || 45–42 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 88 || July 16 || Royals || 7–6 || Smith (4–4) || Farr (2–2) || || 34,466 || 46–42 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 89 || July 17 || Royals || 10–8 || Gardner (3–1) || Power (4–4) || || 34,181 || 47–42 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 90 || July 18 || Twins || 6–5 || Lamp (4–3) || Blyleven (7–9) || Smith (13) || 33,397 || 48–42 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 91 || July 19 || Twins || 5–0 || Smithson (5–3) || Anderson (6–7) || || 32,036 || 49–42 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 92 || July 20 || Twins || 9–7 (10) || Bolton (1–1) || Atherton (5–5) || || 35,313 || 50–42 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 93 || July 21 || White Sox || 6–1 || Boyd (8–7) || McDowell (4–8) || Stanley (2) || 32,049 || 51–42 || W7 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 94 || July 22 || White Sox || 4–3 || Gardner (4–1) || John Davis (2–3) || Smith (14) || 33,477 || 52–42 || W8 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 95 || July 23 || White Sox || 11–5 || Smithson (6–3) || LaPoint (7–11) || || 35,129 || 53–42 || W9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 96 || July 24 || White Sox || 3–2 || Hurst (10–4) || Long (4–5) || Smith (15) || 33,394 || 54–42 || W10 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 97 || July 25 || @ Rangers || 2–0 || Clemens (14–5) || Hough (9–11) || || 34,175 || 55–42 || W11 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 98 || July 26 || @ Rangers || 8–9 || McMurtry (2–0) || Bolton (1–2) || Williams (14) || 20,456 || 55–43 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 99 || July 27 || @ Rangers || 10–7 || Stanley (4–0) || Williams (1–4) || Smith (16) || 17,639 || 56–43 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 100 || July 29 || Brewers || 6–4 || Hurst (11–4) || Wegman (10–8) || Smith (17) || – || 57–43 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 101 || July 29 || Brewers || 5–4 || Lamp (5–3) || Bosio (6–13) || Stanley (3) || 35,169 || 58–43 || W3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 102 || July 30 || Brewers || 3–2 || Clemens (15–5) || Higuera (7–7) || || 33,964 || 59–43 || W4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 103 || July 31 || Brewers || 5–0 || Boddicker (7–12) || August (5–5) || || 33,527 || 60–43 || W5 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 104 || August 2 || Rangers || 7–2 || Gardner (5–1) || Russell (8–4) || || 35,462 || 61–43 || W6 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 105 || August 3 || Rangers || 5–4 || Lamp (6–3) || Witt (3–7) || Smith (18) || 34,380 || 62–43 || W7 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 106 || August 4 || @ Tigers || 6–11 || Terrell (6–8) || Clemens (15–6) || || 40,980 || 62–44 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 107 || August 5 || @ Tigers || 1–3 || Morris (9–11) || Stanley (4–1) || Henneman (17) || – || 62–45 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 108 || August 5 || @ Tigers || 2–3 || King (2–1) || Boddicker (7–13) || Henneman (18) || 44,334 || 62–46 || L3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 109 || August 6 || @ Tigers || 2–4 || Alexander (11–6) || Gardner (5–2) || || 44,838 || 62–47 || L4 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 110 || August 7 || @ Tigers || 3–0 (10) || Hurst (12–4) || Robinson (13–5) || || 41,623 || 63–47 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 111 || August 9 || @ Brewers || 2–3 || Crim (5–5) || Clemens (15–7) || || – || 63–48 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 112 || August 9 || @ Brewers || 5–1 || Boddicker (8–13) || Wegman (10–9) || Stanley (4) || 20,816 || 64–48 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 113 || August 10 || @ Brewers || 3–8 || Higuera (8–8) || Smithson (6–4) || || 19.739 || 64–49 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 114 || August 11 || @ Brewers || 0–4 || August (7–5) || Gardner (5–3) || || 32,351 || 64–50 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 115 || August 12 || Tigers || 9–4 || Hurst (13–4) || Alexander (11–7) || Stanley (5) || 34,732 || 65–50 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 116 || August 13 || Tigers || 16–4 || Boddicker (9–13) || Robinson (13–6) || Bolton (1) || 33,601 || 66–50 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 117 || August 14 || Tigers || 6–18 || King (3–1) || Clemens (15–8) || || 33,757 || 66–51 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 118 || August 16 || Mariners || 0–7 || Bankhead (6–7) || Gardner (5–4) || || 33,924 || 66–52 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 119 || August 17 || Mariners || 7–2 || Hurst (14–4) || Swift (6–10) || || 31,548 || 67–52 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 120 || August 18 || Mariners || 1–6 || Langston (9–10) || Boddicker (9–14) || || 33,944 || 67–53 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 121 || August 19 || Athletics || 7–6 || Stanley (5–1) || Stewart (15–11) || || 33,993 || 68–53 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 122 || August 20 || Athletics || 7–5 || Sellers (1–6) || Burns (5–1) || Smith (19) || 34,372 || 69–53 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 123 || August 21 || Athletics || 4–5 || Honeycutt (3–2) || Stanley (5–2) || Eckersley (35) || 33,282 || 69–54 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 124 || August 22 || Angels || 6–2 || Hurst (15–4) || Clark (5–2) || || 33,828 || 70–54 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 125 || August 23 || Angels || 10–2 || Boddicker (10–14) || Finley (7–12) || || 34,313 || 71–54 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 126 || August 24 || Angels || 3–4 || Witt (10–12) || Clemens (15–9) || Harvey (13) || 32,522 || 71–55 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 127 || August 26 || @ Mariners || 5–3 || Boyd (9–7) || Bankhead (7–8) || Smith (20) || 16,109 || 72–55 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 128 || August 27 || @ Mariners || 6–8 || Wilkinson (2–2) || Bolton (1–3) || Schooler (10) || 19,706 || 72–56 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 129 || August 28 || @ Mariners || 7–2 || Hurst (16–4) || Moore (7–14) || || 17,047 || 73–56 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 130 || August 29 || @ Athletics || 1–3 || Welch (15–7) || Boddicker (10–15) || Eckersley (36) || 40,423 || 73–57 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 131 || August 30 || @ Athletics || 0–1 || Stewart (16–11) || Clemens (15–10) || || 35,220 || 73–58 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 132 || August 31 || @ Athletics || 2–7 || Davis (14–4) || Smithson (6–5) || || 37,151 || 73–59 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 133 || September 1 || @ Angels || 4–2 || Gardner (6–4) || Clark (6–3) || Smith (21) || 27,771 || 74–59 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 134 || September 2 || @ Angels || 2–3 || Finley (9–12) || Hurst (16–5) || Harvey (14) || 29,325 || 74–60 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 135 || September 3 || @ Angels || 1–2 || Witt (12–12) || Lamp (6–4) || || 33,376 || 74–61 || L2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 136 || September 4 || @ Angels || 6–5 (10) || Stanley (6–2) || Harvey (6–5) || Smith (22) || 30,224 || 75–61 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 137 || September 5 || @ Orioles || 4–1 || Smithson (7–5) || Schmidt (7–4) || Smith (23) || 19,614 || 76–61 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 138 || September 6 || @ Orioles || 6–1 || Gardner (7–4) || Tibbs (4–13) || || 19,124 || 77–61 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 139 || September 7 || @ Orioles || 3–4 || Thurmond (1–6) || Stanley (6–3) || || 35,569 || 77–62 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 140 || September 9 || Indians || 7–4 || Boddicker (11–15) || Yett (8–5) || Smith (24) || 33,349 || 78–62 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 141 || September 10 || Indians || 6–0 || Clemens (16–10) || Black (4–4) || || 34,099 || 79–62 || W2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 142 || September 11 || Indians || 2–4 || Candiotti (12–8) || Stanley (6–4) || Jones (32) || 33,154 || 79–63 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 143 || September 12 || Orioles || 6–1 || Hurst (17–5) || Schilling (0–1) || || 32,619 || 80–63 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 144 || September 13 || Orioles || 6–4 || Smithson (8–5) || Harnisch (0–1) || Smith (25) || 32,842 || 81–63 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 145 || September 14 || Orioles || 4–3 || Boddicker (12–15) || Bautista (6–14) || Smith (26) || 32,745 || 82–63 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 146 || September 15 || Yankees || 3–5 || Rhoden (11–10) || Clemens (16–11) || Righetti (22) || 35,320 || 82–64 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 147 || September 16 || Yankees || 7–4 || Gardner (8–4) || Shields (4–5) || Smith (27) || 35,226 || 83–64 || W1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 148 || September 17 || Yankees || 3–1 || Hurst (18–5) || Hudson (6–6) || || 35,051 || 84–64 || W2 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 149 || September 18 || Yankees || 9–4 || Smithson (9–5) || Guidry (1–3) || Smith (28) || 35,146 || 85–64 || W3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 150 || September 19 || @ Blue Jays || 4–5 || Clancy (10–13) || Lamp (6–5) || Ward (14) || 28,455 || 85–65 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 151 || September 20 || @ Blue Jays || 13–2 || Clemens (17–11) || Musselman (6–5) || || 30,352 || 86–65 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 152 || September 21 || @ Blue Jays || 0–1 || Flanagan (12–13) || Gardner (8–5) || Ward (15) || 30,344 || 86–66 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 153 || September 23 || @ Yankees || 10–9 || Lamp (7–5) || Mohorcic (4–8) || Smith (29) || 51,511 || 87–66 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 154 || September 24 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Guetterman (1–1) || Smith (4–5) || || 51,392 || 87–67 || L1 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 155 || September 25 || @ Yankees || 6–0 || Clemens (18–11) || Rhoden (12–11) || || 54,774 || 88–67 || W1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 156 || September 26 || Blue Jays || 1–11 || Musselman (7–5) || Gardner (8–6) || || 33,953 || 88–68 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 157 || September 27 || Blue Jays || 9–15 || Flanagan (13–13) || Smithson (9–6) || || 34,442 || 88–69 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 158 || September 28 || Blue Jays || 0–1 || Key (12–5) || Hurst (18–6) || || 34,873 || 88–70 || L3 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 159 || September 29 || @ Indians || 12–0 || Boddicker (13–15) || Nichols (1–7) || || 5,879 || 89–70 || W1 |-bgcolor=#039 | 160 || September 30 || @ Indians || 2–4 || Yett (9–6) || Clemens (18–12) || Jones (36) || 15,497 || 89–71 || L1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 161 || October 1 || @ Indians || 0–1 || Farrell (14–10) || Sellers (1–7) || Jones (37) || 14,972 || 89–72 || L2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 162 || October 2 || @ Indians || 5–6 || Candiotti (14–8) || Lamp (7–6) || Black (1) || 10,456 || 89–73 || L3

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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

Other batters

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

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

ALCS

Main article: 1988 American League Championship Series

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Awards and honors

;Awards

• Wade Boggs, Silver Slugger Award (3B)
• Roger Clemens, AL Pitcher of the Month (July)
• Mike Greenwell, Silver Slugger Award (OF), AL Player of the Month (June)
• Bruce Hurst, AL Pitcher of the Month (September)

;Accomplishments

• Wade Boggs, American League Batting Champion, (.366)
• Wade Boggs, American League Leader, Runs (128)
• Wade Boggs, American League Leader, Doubles (45)
• Wade Boggs, American League Leader, Walks (125)
• Wade Boggs, Major League Baseball Leader, On-base percentage (.476)
• Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Complete Games (14)
• Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Shutouts (8)

All-Star Game

• Wade Boggs, third base, starter
• Roger Clemens, pitcher, reserve
• Mike Greenwell, outfield, reserve

Farm system

The Lynchburg Red Sox replaced the Greensboro Hornets as a Class A affiliate. The Arizona League Red Sox/Mariners (a cooperative team) were added as a Rookie League affiliate.

Arizona League team affiliation shared with the Seattle Mariners Source:

Notes

References

References

1. (2020). "Club Executives". Boston Red Sox.
2. Cafardo, Nick. (April 24, 2016). "Baseball notes". [[The Boston Globe]].
3. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithle02.shtml Lee Smith Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lampde01.shtml Dennis Lamp Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com]
5. "The 1988 Boston Red Sox".
6. "Events of Saturday, April 30, 1988".
7. "Events of Tuesday, May 31, 1988".
8. "Events of Thursday, June 30, 1988".
9. "Events of Sunday, July 31, 1988".
10. "Events of Wednesday, August 31, 1988".
11. "Events of Friday, September 30, 1988".
12. "Events of Sunday, October 2, 1988".
13. "Standings At Close of Play of July 10, 1988".
14. (July 15, 1988). "John McNamara's short season". [[Hartford Courant]].
15. "Standings At Close of Play of September 13, 1988".
16. "The 1988 Boston Red Sox Regular Season Game Log".
17. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/ceronri01.shtml Rick Cerone Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
18. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderbr01.shtml Brady Anderson Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
19. (April 4, 1988). "Detroit Tigers 5, Boston Red Sox 3".
20. Sudyk, Bob. (May 15, 1988). "Old-Timers game a '48 reminder". [[Hartford Courant]].
21. [[Associated Press]]. (1988-10-01). "Red Sox Back Into AL East Championship". [[Los Angeles Times]].
22. "1988 AZL Red Sox/Mariners".
23. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
24. (1988). "Boston Red Sox Media Guide".