Al Nipper of the Boston Red Sox flirted with his first major league shutout for seven innings Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.
But, as in 78 previous starts in three-plus years with Boston, Nipper was unable to hang on, finally settling for a 4-1 victory which handed the Rangers their fifth consecutive loss.
"I was thinking shutout all the way when I went out there for the eighth inning, but it wasn't to be--again," Nipper said. "I can't worry about shutouts, though. Winning the game is most important."
Nipper retired Pete O'Brien to start the Texas eighth. Then Pete Incaviglia broke up the shutout bid, hitting a 3-2 pitch off the backwall at the flagpole in center for his third homer.
Nipper scattered nine hits, struck out five and walked two. He was given all the offensive support he needed on Don Baylor's three-run homer off Ed Correa in the first inning.
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