New York Swats closer Satchel Paige blew a 3-2 lead in the 9th, as Cal Ripken Jr. hit a 3-run walk-off homer to give the Boston Splinters a 5-3 win. Wade Boggs and Jim Rice hit solo shots in the 1st off Boston starter Lefty Gomez, but Ripken responded in the next inning with a 2-run blast of his own to tie the score. Boggs hit an RBI double in the 5th to put the Swats back on top. That’s where things stood until the 9th. Paige allowed a leadoff double to Frank Thomas. Lou Gehrig hit a sharp grounder to Alan Trammell, who couldn’t come up with it, putting runners on the corners with no outs. That’s when Ripken hit one deep to left to win it for Boston. Ripken was 3 for 4 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. It’s the 2nd straight start that Johnson has failed to get the win despite allowing just 2 runs in each. Ted Williams was 0 for 4, failing to reach base for the first time in a month, and just the 2nd time this season. The loss dropped New York to 18-23, while Boston improved to 22-18.