When you went to bed last night, the Boston Red Sox had beaten the Detroit Tigers 6-3 and just a bit later, the Boston Bruins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 to advance to the Stanley Cup. What was lost in all of that is the fact that with the win, the Red Sox were a ½ game ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East, pending the outcome of the Yanks game against the Seattle Mariners.
So when you woke up this morning, you may or may have not noticed that the Red Sox stood all alone in first place for the first time since July of 2009 thanks to the Mariners comeback win over the Yankees. And considering the Red Sox started the season 2-10, I certainly didn’t think it would happen so quickly. I knew it would happen eventually but just not in May.
But thanks to wins in 12 of their last 14 games, the Red Sox have climbed from the basement to first place. They are 18-7 in the month of May and scoring runs like they were falling out of the sky. The Red Sox have been putting up big innings early in the game forcing the opposing teams to get to their bullpens earlier than they may have wanted.
On Wednesday against the Indians, it was a seven-run first inning. On Thursday against the Tigers, it was a five-run second inning. And on Friday night against the Tigers, it was five-run third inning.
Jacoby Ellsbury got the third started with a solo home run off of Rick Porcello to knot the game at 2. Dustin Pedroia then walked and Adrian Gonzalez moved him over to second. They both came around to score on a Kevin Youkilis double. After David Ortiz flew out, the white-hot Carl Crawford brought in Youk with a 2-run homer to make it 6-2.
And that’s all they would need as Tim Wakefield put together another great start after settling down after allowing single runs in the first and second innings. When his knuckleball is on, it’s on and there’s really no stopping him.
After allowing three hits in the first two innings, he scattered two hits and two walks over the next five innings. He was never in any trouble either.
In picking up the win, Wake now has 195 career wins and 181 of those have come in a Red Sox uniform. Those 181 wins with the Red Sox puts him 11 wins behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens for the most all-time in Red Sox history.
With the uncertainty of Daisuke Matsuzaka returning to the rotation this season, Wake has certainly stated his case. In his two starts since Dice-K went on the DL, Wake is 2-0 and has allowed just three runs in on nine hits and two walks in 13.2 innings. And his “competition”, Alfredo Aceves, is doing great too.
In the four starts since Dice-K and John Lackey went on the DL, the Red Sox are 3-1 in the game started by Wake and Aceves. And if the Matt Albers meltdown doesn’t happen, they could have been 4-0 with both guys being 2-0.
It will be interesting to see what Terry Francona decides to do. But if you want to read into things, Aceves could head back to the pen or even Triple-A because Lackey is penciled in to return to the Red Sox rotation when Aceves is scheduled to pitch in early June.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Best leading man? Jacoby Ellsbury makes his case [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Wakefield spot-on again [Boston Globe]
Plate collisions don’t leave them rattled [Boston Globe]
Spinning it positively [Boston Globe]
Wake comes of age [Boston Herald]
Plate collisions an unavoidable danger [Boston Herald]
Jacoby Ellsbury’s tools all on display [Boston Herald]
Loving the six hole [Boston Herald]
For Tim Wakefield, it all started while pitching for Jim Leyland [Clubhouse Insider]
Sox beat Tigers, 6-3, take A.L. East lead [CSNNE.com]
Wakefield delievers when called upon [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Ellsbury downplays success [CSNNE.com]
Matt Albers, web gem? Believe it [ESPN Boston]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3 [ESPN Boston]
Sox happy with Jenks’ outing [ESPN Boston]
Yes, Tim Wakefield has still got it [ESPN Boston]
Sixth sense: Crawford may have found a new lineup home [Full Count]
Closing Time: Red Sox keep rolling over Tigers [Full Count]
Dennis Eckerlsey Says Teams Take Major Risk by Putting Franchise Players at Catcher [NESN.com]
Red Sox Getting Contributions From Up and Down Lineup in Recent Offensive Outburst [NESN.com]
Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford Starting to Thrive in Respective Spots in Red Sox Batting Order [NESN.com]
Which Red Sox Single-Season Offensive Record Will Never Be Broken? [NESN.com]
Red Sox Clinch Another Pennant in 1916, Odd Fellows Host Religious Service at Fenway Park [NESN.com]
Offense backs another solid outing by Wakefield [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Lackey to rehab in Pawtucket on Tuesday [Providence Journal]
Drew on the mend, hopes for Saturday return [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to Ann Arbor News, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brothers, Detroit4lyfe and The Tigers Den.
Photo credit: AP Photo
