 Despite giving up a game @-@ winning home run in his 1988 opening day Fenway Park debut , Smith posted his best ERA in five years . The Red Sox had the good fortune of being in the American League 's Eastern division ; in September , they caught the Detroit Tigers and held off every other team to clinch Smith 's second and last trip to the postseason . In Game 2 of the 1988 ALCS against the Oakland Athletics , Smith gave up three singles , including Walt Weiss ' game @-@ winning RBI single , in the ninth inning of a tied game . Boston had a 0 – 2 series deficit going to Oakland . After Boston lost Game 3 , Smith surrendered two insurance runs after entering Game 4 with the score 2 – 1 to complete the four @-@ game sweep . 
