OIL CAN : With a Nickname Like That, the Red Sox Pitcher Would Figure to Be Slick; Actually, in Boston, He’s Like a Slick From French Lick, in Talent and Style

Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd was named the “Unsung Hero” of the Boston Red Sox by Boston sportswriters following the 1984 season, when he had a 12-12 record. He has been headed for fame ever since, but he is hardly finding it an easy road.

He pitched what he described as his best game of the season Thursday night at Anaheim Stadium, yet once more came up on the wrong end of a one-run score, losing to the Angels, 5-4.

His record dropped to 9-7. That’s respectable, but the 25-year old pitcher still takes such losses personally.

Boyd spent about 10 minutes following the game unwinding in his locker cubicle before talking to the media.

“When you win, you love it hard,” Boyd said, “and when you lose, you take it hard. It’s something to think about. I haven’t been as alive around the clubhouse lately. I’ve got to get that old fire back.”

Since being called up from Boston’s farm club at Bristol, Conn., late in the 1982 season, Boyd has earned a reputation as both a fierce and occasionally flamboyant competitor, strutting on the mound after a strikeout or a good fielding play.

Wrote Boston Globe columnist Michael Madden: “Oil Can Boyd is the most interesting blend of top talent and unique personality to come to Boston since Larry Bird.”

Like Bird, the Celtic basketball star from French Lick, Ind., Boyd is an accessible, wise-beyond-his-years character who comes from a rural area. His nickname is a reference to his beer-drinking, oil being what they call beer in his native Mississippi. The American League media guide even lists him on the Boston roster as Boyd, Oil Can .

Thursday night at Anaheim Stadium, Boyd showed flashes of both his flamboyance and potential stardom--despite the tough defeat.

Down, 2-0, in the sixth inning, Boyd was buoyed by a four-run inning, including a three-run homer by designated hitter Mike Easler that gave Boston its only lead of the game.

“I wanted it bad,” Boyd said. “Tears came to my eyes when Easler hit that home run.” And presumably, tears also came to the eyes of Angel starter Urbano Lugo, who left the game two batters later. Boyd went into the bottom of the sixth visibly keyed up. He got the first two batters before walking Juan Beniquez. The next batter, Reggie Jackson, sliced a ball to third base, but an excellent play by Wade Boggs got Boyd out of the inning. The play had Boyd exulting on the mound.

“Boggs made a great play, and it’s nothing new for them (his teammates) to know that I’m going to come over and give them five for it,” Boyd said.

Boyd’s joy lasted only until the next inning, however.

“We needed to win, and I wanted to win and this is the best I’ve thrown the ball in a long time,” he said. “I thought I had some pretty good stuff, but I made a mistake with men in scoring position.”

The mistake came in the seventh inning, with Bobby Grich and Doug DeCinces on base and the Red Sox leading, 4-2.

Jerry Narron knocked Boyd’s first pitch over the right-field fence and the game belonged to the Angels, 5-4.

“DeCinces and Grich are going to get their hits, but I can’t let the guys behind them beat me like that,” Boyd said. “I feel like I kind of let the team down. They went out and got me those runs, and I let it get away from me.”