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.^[16] 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,^[17] 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,^[18] leaving the teams tied with identical 86–56 records at the end of play on September 10.^[19] The series became known as the "Boston Massacre",^[20] 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.^[21] 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.^[22]

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.^[23][24]

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• May 20, 1978: Bob Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.^[25]

Opening Day lineup

Source:^[26]

Roster

Game log

Batting

Pitching