On a beautiful July 4th matinée game at Fenway, it was Mike Lowell’s 2-run homer and some solid hitting from the bench players that led to a 7-5 win over the slumping Devil Rays. The loss was the D’Rays 10th consecutive. Wakefield went 6â…“ innings for his 9th win. Jonathan Papelbon worked the 9th inning for his 20th save. Lowell’s homerun was one of his 2 hits on the day to go along with 2 RBI.
The local nine waisted no time getting a run on the scoreboard. Coco Crisp led off with a triple down the right field line off of Rays starter Edwin Jackson. One of the aforementioned bench players or as they like to be known, “I-75 Crew”, Alex Cora, brought in Crisp with a perfectly executed safety squeeze. Big Papi continued his slumping ways with a strikeout. J.D. Drew, batting in the 4th spot with Manny off today, roped a double to deep center but Mike Lowell was unable to bring him in as he lined out to Carlos Peña at first.
After working out of a mini-jam in the 1st inning, Wakefield served up a gopher ball with 2 outs in the second. After getting Delmon Young and Ty Wigginton to fly out, Raul “I am not your ” Casanova took a Wakefield knuckler the opposite way into the Green Monster seats to tie the game at 1.
In the 3rd inning, Wakefield allowed a single to Carl Crawford, his first of three hits. Crawford would go to second on wild pitch from Wake but would go no further as Brendan Harris would foul out, Peña would walk and Greg Norton struck out swinging. He had an easier 4th inning as he set the D’Rays down in order.
Jackson had settled down and worked a perfect 2nd and 3rd innings. However in the 4th inning, he ran into a bit of trouble. Big Papi led off with a single. Drew proceeded to strikeout and Lowell followed that with a single, moving Papi to second base. Jackson would get Eric Hinske to strikeout bringing “the Kid”, Jacoby Ellsbury, to the plate. Ellsbury got his first career RBI when he hit a double to deep center bringing in Papi, making it 2-1 Sox. Lowell would go to third on the play. Wake’s personal catcher, Doug Mirabelli followed the “Kid’s” double with a 2-run single of his own, giving the Sox a 4-1 lead. Julio Lugo, 0-3 on the day, flew out ending the inning.
The Boys from Beantown got to Jackson for 3 more runs in the 5th inning. Coco led off with a fly out. Cora lined a double to rightfield for his second extra base hit of the game. Papi flew out for the second out. The Sox then had some fun with two outs. Cora moved to third on a Jackson wild pitch and came around to score when Drew smacked a double to left. Lowell put a Jackson offering into the Green Monster seats for a 2-run homer and a commanding 7-1 lead for the Red Sox.
Wake had a relatively easy 5th and 6th innings, allowing just a single to Crawford. However in the 7th inning, the seams came unglued. Wigginton and Casanova started the 7th off with singles. Wake would get Dustan Mohr to strikeout. Akinori Iwamura then hit a single loading up the bases for the D’Rays and chasing Wake from the game. Javier Lopez came into face the lefty Crawford and was rudely met with a double from Crawford. The double brought in Wigginton and Casanova, cutting the Sox lead to 7-3. Lopez got Harris to strikeout. C. Peña hit a 2-run single plating both Iwamura and Crawford, making it 7-5 Sox. 3 of the 4 runs scored were charged to Wakefield. Jonny Gomes came into pinch-hit for Greg Norton and Manny Delcarmen would relieve Lopez. Delcarmen got Gomes to strikeout looking on a fastball.
Wake went 6â…“ innings, allowing 7 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks. He struck out 2 on 90 pitches.
Neither team could muster up any offense the rest of the game as both bullpens remained strong. Delcarmen had a good 8th inning and looks like he’s on his way to being the righty setup man with his velocity and command. Papelbon worked a 1-2-3 9th inning for his 20th save in 21 chances.
The local nine will go for the sweep of the D’Rays tomorrow night as Josh Beckett takes the hill for a chance at his 12th win. Gametime is 7:05 PM and the game will be broadcast locally on NESN.
Notes and Musings:
Curt Schilling will not be in the rotation when the Sox return from the All-Star break. Josh Beckett will pitch first unless he throws in the All-Star game. If he does throw in the game, the rotation will be Wakefield, Julian Tavarez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Beckett, and Kason Gabbard.
Kevin Youkilis, Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek were not in the starting lineup. Varitek for obvious reasons with Wake on the mound. Manny just to get a day off and Youk to rest his sore quad.
The Sox have now beat the D’Rays at home 19 out of the last 22 times.
Wakefield’s 16 wins against Tampa Bay are the most he has against any team in his career.
Delmon Young was one of two Devil Rays to be named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. The other was Rocco Baldelli, who is on the 60-day DL.
Edwin Jackson is one of two German born players on a MLB roster. Will Ohman from the Cubs is the other. Jackson’s father was a cook in the Army stationed there.
RemDawg isn’t getting any love from Tina Cervasio either. She won’t be attending his All-Star Game party because she will be back in New York visiting her husband. At least RemDawg will have Wally there.
Someone had a sign that said they were from France so Orsillo wanted to know if “Gyro Ball” had hit France yet.
Tim Wakefield has a decision in all of 17 of his starts.
The Red Sox are now 20-6 in day games.
