The Boston Red Sox needed Tim Wakefield to go out and throw as many innings as he could plus keep the Red Sox in the game. Wake did that and more as he was able to throw a complete game and the offense woke up just in time to give him some run support in the 8-2 win over the Oakland A’s.
“We needed exactly what he gave us. He poked his head in my office earlier today, in one of the moments when the door wasn’t shut, and kind of just said in passing, ‘I understand my responsibilities’, and he didn’t say it flippantly. I think after five innings he was at 39 (pitches). That’s some kind of attacking the strike zone and getting results. I’m stating the obvious by saying we desperately needed that outing from him. It was welcome. He did a great job.”
Hopefully Wakefield’s good start will be contagious with the rest of the starting staff. Plus with the offense waking up a little and heading home to the friendly confines of Fenway Park, this team can put together a nice string of wins against the Baltimore Orioles this weekend.
Reaction From Wakefield’s Near No-No [Full Count]
Wakefield a complete success [Boston Globe]
Bid at no-hitter just part of Tim Wakefield’s story [Boston Herald]
Wakefield for MVP [Hit and Run With Dan Roche]
Wakefield’s complete game helps Red Sox break slide [Providence Journal]
Hunter Jones’ Excellent Adventure [Full Count]
A strain for staff: Matsuzaka goes on DL [Boston Globe]
Souvenir ’W’: Tim Wakefield gem ends rough Sox trip [Boston Herald]
A sore leg keeps Baldelli in the dugout [Providence Journal]
Lowell spared a moment of defensive infamy [Full Count]
Flights of fancy for Jones [Boston Globe]
Shoulder puts Dice-K on DL [Boston Herald]
Jones gets call from PawSox, but walks into park as Sox are walking out [Providence Journal]
Lowrie’s doctor “cautiously optimistic” surgery can be avoided [Full Count]
Green shifted into overdrive [Boston Globe]
Hunter Jones off-target [Boston Herald]
Lowrie won’t need surgery on injured wrist [Providence Journal]
John Smoltz to start rehab for Red Sox [Boston Globe]
Sox place Matsuzaka on DL with shoulder strain [Providence Journal]
Start of something big? [Tony Mazz]
Russell puts aside decades-long grudge against Red Sox [Providence Journal]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you want to see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times websites.
