BoSox’s Wakefield earns AL-best 11th win
July 9, 2009
BOSTON (AP)—Tim Wakefield’s(notes) next trip to the mound may be in the All-Stargame. Look out, any AL catcher trying to handle his knuckleball.
Wakefield enhanced his status as a first-time All-Star by earning hisAL-leading 11th victory, and David Ortiz(notes) homered and drove in four runs to leadthe Boston Red Sox over the Oakland Athletics 5-4 Wednesday night.
“Unbelievable. I’m really happy for him, making the All-Star game,” Ortizsaid. “I’m going to park myself in front of the TV and I can’t wait until hegets in the game. It’s going to be fun. I want to see who’s going to have tocatch him.”
The 42-year-old Wakefield (11-3) is the second-oldest player to be selectedfor the game behind Satchel Paige, who was 46 in 1952. Wakefield will wait tosee what AL manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay plans for him.
“When I get to St. Louis I’ll see what he has for me,” Wakefield said.
Wakefield left to a standing ovation in the seventh inning in his finalscheduled start before the break. He improved to 9-0 in his last 11 starts atFenway Park.
Series at a Glance Oakland 6 Boston 0 Mon, Jul 6 – Final Oakland 2 Boston 5 Tue, Jul 7 – Final Oakland 4 Boston 5 Wed, Jul 8 – Final
“His knuckleball was kind of off and on,” Oakland manager Bob Geren said.“There were at-bats where guys came back and said they’d never seen it move asmuch as it was.”
Of the first 10 batters he faced, Wakefield struck out five and three hadhits.
“He got himself into a couple of binds,” Red Sox manager Terry Franconasaid. “He pitched through a lot of hits.”
J.D. Drew(notes) led off the Boston sixth with a home run that made it 1-all. Ortizconnected for a three-run shot later in the inning.
Wakefield gave up three earned runs despite allowing 10 hits, struck outeight and walked one.
“I was telling George (Red Sox catcher Kottaras) behind the plate, ‘How doyou even catch that ball?”’ Oakland shortstop Orlando Cabrera(notes) said. “He waslike, `I just close my eyes.’
“And I said, ‘OK, I’m going to try that one, I’m going to close my eyes andswing.’ And nothing.”
Boston Red Sox' Dustin Ped… AP – Jul 8, 10:27 pm EDT
Jonathan Papelbon(notes) allowed a run in the ninth, but got his 22nd save. JackCust(notes) had three hits, including an RBI single, but struck out with two runners onto end the game.
Kurt Suzuki(notes) had three hits and drove in two runs for Oakland.
Boston trailed 1-0 before scoring four times in the sixth against rookieTrevor Cahill(notes) (5-8). Drew homered into the Athletics’ bullpen and Ortiz homereddeep into the right-field seats.
Ortiz drove his fourth run with a grounder, making it 5-3 in the seventh.
Wakefield exited with two runners on and no outs in the seventh. RelieverManny Delcarmen(notes) nearly escaped without allowing a run, but a strange play keptthe inning going.
Boston shortstop Nick Green(notes) stepped wide of second base as he caught firstbaseman Mark Kotsay’s(notes) throw trying to double up Bobby Crosby(notes) on a shallow fly.The play was originally ruled an error, but changed after the game. Suzuki thensingled in two runs.
Boston Red Sox manager Terry F… AP – Jul 8, 10:24 pm EDT
Cust, just 9 for 45 with 21 strikeouts in his previous 13 games, gaveOakland a 1-0 lead with his single in the second.
The Athletics had runners on first and third with no outs after jumpingahead, but Wakefield retired the next three hitters easily, fanning the finaltwo—Mark Ellis(notes) and Crosby—swinging.
Wakefield also worked out of a jams the next two innings.
In the third, Matt Holliday(notes) fouled out and Suzuki grounded out with two on.
Wakefield gave up Cust’s leadoff double in the fourth, but Crosby lined intoan inning-ending double play.
NOTES: Oakland 1B Nomar Garciaparra(notes) got a standing ovation again when hepinch hit. He received a lengthy one Monday in first Fenway game since beingtraded in 2004. … The Red Sox activated SS Jed Lowrie(notes) from the 60-day disabledlist on Wednesday and optioned him to Single-A Lowell so he can continue to playafter left wrist surgery in April. To make room, OF Jonathan Van Every(notes) wasdesignated for assignment. … Athletics 1B/DH Jason Giambi(notes), in a 5-for-44slump, was benched against Wakefield. He’s hit .163 (15 for 92) againstWakefield with 21 strikeouts. … Cahill was Oakland’s second 21-year oldstarter in the series. LHP Brett Anderson(notes) threw a two-hitter to win the opener.… Boston avoided losing a second straight series at Fenway. The Red Soxearlier lost consecutive home series against the New York Mets and Texas Rangers— though they were nearly two weeks apart.
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