Games of Note: It's 1999, and the Red Sox are facing the Yankees in New York. Boston has won the first two contests: the series opened with Pedro Martinez's ridiculous 17-strikeout performance, in which he gave up one run and eventually had Yankee Stadium cheering him on. Game two went nearly four hours, with Boston winning 11-10 in a contest in which both clubs used six pitchers. Game three, played on September 12, is won by the Red Sox 4-1, giving them their first three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium since 1986.
Transactions: Back in 1977, the Sox signed free agent pitcher Keith MacWhorter. The right-hander was drafted in the 15th round of the 1976 draft, but the Dodgers cut him loose after just the one season. He didn't pitch in '77 at all, but spent 1978 through 1983 in Boston's system, pitching in the majors in 1980 only. MacWhorter briefly became property of the Seattle Mariners, who drafted the hurler away from the Red Sox in the December minor-league draft, before he was returned to them in April.
MacWhorter started two games in the bigs, appearing in a dozen others, compiling a 5.53 ERA over 42-1/3 innings. He would end up in Cleveland's system in 1984, but it was the last pro pitching he would do.
Birthdays: Kyle Weiland turns 26 today. The righty was drafted by the Red Sox back in 2008, in the third round out of Notre Dame. He pitched well enough to make it to the majors in 2011, but was awful in his limited time with the Red Sox. Boston traded him to Houston this past off-season in the Mark Melancon deal, and Weiland pitched in just three games before undergoing shoulder surgery. It's a shame for the normal reasons, but also because this one year in the NL represented an opportunity for him to face lesser lineups, and no designated hitters, in his first full season. By the time he's back, the Astros will be in the American League.