Tim Wakefield joined Jason Marquis of the Colorado Rockies as the only 11-game winners as the Boston Red Sox held on to beat the Oakland A’s 5-4 in front of 37,981 at Fenway Park.
The win for the Red Sox give them a record of 51-33 and helps maintain their 1-game lead over the Yankees, who won tonight in Minnesota. The A’s fall to 35-48.
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon made it interesting with a 5-3 lead in the 9th after throwing a 3 strikeout save last night.
He started the inning with a walk to Adam Kennedy and then allowed a single to Orlando Cabrera as Kennedy stopped at third. Scott Hairston then crushed a fastball from Papelbon that probably would have been gone out of the ballpark had it not been for a stiff wind blowing in. It ended up being a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 5-4.
Papelbon struck out Matt Holliday for the second out and Kurt Suzuki followed with a single. Papelbon struck out Jack Cust to end the game and pick up his 22nd save of the season.
Wakefield gave up a lot of hits tonight but was able to get out trouble when he needed to. He went 6+ innings, allowing 3 runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out 8. His knuckleball was nasty for most of the night and even pulled out a 60 MPH curveball to strikeout Holliday at one point in the game.
Manny Delcarmen gave up a hit and a walk in 2/3 of an inning out of the Red Sox bullpen. Hideki Okajima bailed him out with a perfect 1 1/3 innings.
Trevor Cahill was outstanding for the A’s through the first four innings, allowing just a hit. Then he came unglued in the 5th and eventually gave up 4 runs in the 6th. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing the 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2.
Dustin Pedroia continues to rake at the plate as he had three hits. David Ortiz had a big RBI night as he drove in 4. Three of those four runs came on a 3-run homer. J.D. Drew had a solo blast before Big Papi’s for his only hit of the night.
The Red Sox will now host the Kansas City Royals for four games before the All-Star break. They’ll luck out as they won’t have to face Royals ace Zack Greinke. Luke Hochevar starts for the Royals and he’ll be opposed by Brad Penny.
