Boston Red Sox
Tim Wakefield pitches a three-hit gem as Boston sweeps the Tigers, extends its winning streak to six games and closes within 4 1/2 games of the Yankees.
09:01 AM EDT on Monday, August 30, 2004
BOSTON -- Tim Wakefield has a selective memory.
It's a good thing, too, because the last time he faced the Detroit
Tigers, the Boston Red Sox' knuckleballer was tagged for six home runs,
tying a modern day record.
Yesterday, Wakefield served up one homer, and it was one of only three
hits he allowed in eight superlative innings in pitching the Red Sox
past Detroit, 6-1, for a sweep of the four-game series at Fenway Park.
Manny Ramirez, who missed the previous game because of a bruised left
knee, delivered the go-ahead hit, a two-out, two-run single in the fifth
that was followed by three more hits in what became a four-run uprising.
Mark Bellhorn's two-run homer in the seventh accounted for the other
runs.
The victory, which was Boston's sixth in a row and 18th in the last 22
games, pulled the Red Sox to within 4 1/2 games of the New York Yankees
in the American League East. They haven't been that close since June 23.
And it also ensured that Boston had a little cushion in the wild-card
chase, which is important because the Red Sox' next nine games will be
against A.L. West playoff contenders Anaheim, Texas and Oakland.
That stretch opens after today's day off, with the Angels and then the
Rangers visiting for three games apiece, beginning tomorrow night,
before Boston flies to the West Coast for three in Oakland, to be
followed by three in Seattle.
"We needed to peak at the right time," said Wakefield. "I just think
we're jelling together. Everything's clicking on all cylinders for us.
The defense is great, the offense is great and the starting pitching has
been very good for the last two weeks. When you have your motor running
on all cylinders, it's tough to beat us."
It has been tough to beat Wakefield lately, too, even when he does give
up six homers in five innings, as he did in spacious Comerica Park on
Aug. 8. The Red Sox won that game, 11-9. And Wakefield was the winning
pitcher.
"That never really crossed my mind," said Wakefield, referring to the
beating he absorbed that day. "It's just one of those things that
happened. We won anyway. So you try to erase that. I've always used the
philosophy that you're only as good as your next start."
Wakefield (11-7) now has won six of his last seven starts. He hasn't
always pitched well in winning those games, but yesterday he was
dominant, a term that is rarely applied to someone who throws a
knuckleball. He permitted only two hits to rookie Nook Logan (double in
the third, single in the eighth) and Craig Monroe's homer over the Green
Monster in left that provided Detroit with a 1-0 lead in the fifth.
"He just pounded the strike zone with not only his knuckleball, but he
threw a lot of breaking balls, too," said manager Terry Francona. "When
his ball is moving that much and he's throwing it for strikes, it's a
tough combo for the opposing team."
Wakefield just took it one pitch at a time.
"I knew leaving the bullpen I had pretty good stuff, but I can't use
that as a barometer sometimes," said Wakefield. "My concentration was a
lot better today. Doug [Mirabelli] did a great job behind the plate,
mixing things up. We mixed in my fastball and breaking ball more. I had
better command of my knuckleball today" than the last time against the
Tigers.
Of course, without some offensive support, Wakefield's gem might have
been wasted.
It took awhile for Boston to solve left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma, a Rule
5 pick by Detroit from the Red Sox organization prior to the 2003
season. But in the end, things worked out for the Sox, as they have been
for most of August, a month in which Boston has posted a 20-7 record.
Gabe Kapler drilled a two-out single to left in the fifth. A walk to
Johnny Damon, and infield single by Bellhorn and Ramirez's single gave
Boston a 2-1 advantage, and the Red Sox kept piling on from there.
"We battled," said Damon. "We tired him out. We made him work for
everything. Manny got the big hit, and then it seemed like everyone
relaxed."
Today can be a day of relaxation for the Red Sox. But then the Angels
come to town, and the playoff race intensity gets ratcheted up as the
season heads into the final month.
|
More top stories
Most Viewed Yesterday
In Warwick, a treacherous curve takes a young life
R.I.’s attorney general is well traveled
Family grieves shooting death of ‘a nice young man’
N. Kingstown police release report on worker who died at Electric Boat
Most active surveys
Should the R.I. Tea Party have been dumped from Bristol's Fourth of July parade?
What would you do about the two tent cities in Providence?
React to proposed toll changes on the Pell, Mount Hope bridges
Is Narragansett's policy of using 'orange stickers' to mark party houses unconstitutional?
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours
Reader Reaction










You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register Now!
You are logged in as screenname | Log Out
You are logged in, but do not have a "screen" name. Create a Screen Name