1,071st Appearance Might Be Last

After 1,070 games, Dennis Eckersley still couldn’t wait to pitch Saturday. And the Boston reliever still can’t stand it when he makes a mistake.

Eckersley, a rookie starter with the Cleveland Indians in 1975, ran in from the bullpen to a standing ovation in the ninth inning at Boston, setting a major league record with his 1,071st pitching appearance. But he was disgusted with the home run ball he served to B.J. Surhoff.

“That ticks me off,” he said after the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Red Sox, 5-2.

Eckersley broke the record he shared with Hoyt Wilhelm and might not get a chance to add to it. He probably won’t pitch in today’s regular-season finale and is signed only through this season.