On October 1, 1978, the Boston Red Sox win their eighth consecutive game to force a playoff game that will decide the American League East.
Luis Tiant turned in one of the greatest clutch pitching performances in Red Sox history — shutting out Toronto, 5-0, on the final day of the regular season. The Yankees lost to Cleveland 9-2, leaving Boston and New York tied atop the AL East at 99-63.
“If we lose today, it will be over my dead body,” El Tiante had said before the game. “They’ll have to leave me face down on the mound.”
After 142 pitches, Tiant — and the Red Sox — were very much alive.
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