http://www.telegram.com/article/20100703/NEWS/7030353/1009/sports
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Wakefield at his best
Sox win on Drew’s 2 homers, Nava’s blooper
Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield delivers during the first inning against the Orioles. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
By Bill Ballou TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
wballou@telegram.com
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BOSTON — Their starting pitcher began the year as a reliever, their catcher began the year as an Astro and the guy who drove in the winning run began the year in Pawtucket.
What’s next for the Red Sox — an extra-inning grand slam by Carl Yastrzemski?
Boston’s improbable bid to take over first place in the American League East continued on its merry little way last night with a 3-2 victory over the Orioles. Tim Wakefield pitched his best game of the year, working to old friend Kevin Cash, and rookie Daniel Nava delivered again, this time via an RBI pinch single in the eighth. Nava’s hit snapped a 2-2 tie, with the first two runs coming via solo homers by J.D. Drew.
Nava’s single was the kind of hit that only happens to good teams. It carried about 160 feet down the right field line and landed about two feet fair. It scored Marco Scutaro, who had doubled with two out, from second.
“I was looking for something I could drive,” said Nava with a standard hitter’s answer, “which I didn’t do at all … I really thought it would die before it did.”
Nava may wind up back in Pawtucket some time, maybe even this season, but has already been an impact player with his first-pitch grand slam and last night’s hit.
“That was fun,” he said of the grand slam, “but I guess there was a lot more riding on this one in terms of what it meant to the team, in helping us win a game.”
Wakefield went eight innings before turning it over to Jonathan Papelbon, and it was a fairly easy eight. At one point, Wakefield threw 18 consecutive strikes, and twice he retired the side on eight pitches. And the 43-year-old could have kept going.
“I felt fresh,” he said. “I was ready to go out for the ninth, and the 10th, if possible.”
The start was Wakefield’s 201st at Fenway Park, the most of any pitcher in baseball history, one more than Roger Clemens made for Boston and as an opponent. It was, however, Wakefield’s first win at Fenway in 51 weeks, or since he beat Oakland on July 8, 2009.
In his second inning back, Cash did something few Sox catchers have done this season — throw out a base stealer. He was 0 for 3 at the plate, but handled Wakefield superbly.
“I’m really happy he’s back,” Wakefield said. “I can feel the familiarity he brings. There’s some added comfort to the game.”
Afterward, Wakefield was asked what have become standard questions about the team’s injury problems. And he gave standard answers, that they are beyond anyone’s control and all a player can do is go out and perform.
Things have sort of come full circle for him, though, in his 16th season with the Red Sox. He came to the team in May of 1995 because that Boston team had been devastated by injuries, in that case to its starting pitchers.
And that team went on to win the AL East title.
The Yankees lost to the Blue Jays yesterday, which mean that Boston has closed to within a half-game of first place. It’s the closest the Red Sox have been to first since the second game of the season, when they were a half-game behind the Rays.
After losing in New York, 11-9, on May 17, Boston was 8-1/2 games out of first. Since then, the Sox are 29-12 and have gained eight full games in the standings despite all the injuries.
And with Wakefield being dominant last night, there was a turn-back-the-clock feel to it, with 1995 being not a bad year at all for the Red Sox.
http://www.clevescene.com/images/blogimages/2010/06/17/1276790338-picture_557.png
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Wakefield at his best
Sox win on Drew’s 2 homers, Nava’s blooper
Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield delivers during the first inning against the Orioles. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
By Bill Ballou TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
wballou@telegram.com
Add a comment
BOSTON — Their starting pitcher began the year as a reliever, their catcher began the year as an Astro and the guy who drove in the winning run began the year in Pawtucket.
What’s next for the Red Sox — an extra-inning grand slam by Carl Yastrzemski?
Boston’s improbable bid to take over first place in the American League East continued on its merry little way last night with a 3-2 victory over the Orioles. Tim Wakefield pitched his best game of the year, working to old friend Kevin Cash, and rookie Daniel Nava delivered again, this time via an RBI pinch single in the eighth. Nava’s hit snapped a 2-2 tie, with the first two runs coming via solo homers by J.D. Drew.
Nava’s single was the kind of hit that only happens to good teams. It carried about 160 feet down the right field line and landed about two feet fair. It scored Marco Scutaro, who had doubled with two out, from second.
“I was looking for something I could drive,” said Nava with a standard hitter’s answer, “which I didn’t do at all … I really thought it would die before it did.”
Nava may wind up back in Pawtucket some time, maybe even this season, but has already been an impact player with his first-pitch grand slam and last night’s hit.
“That was fun,” he said of the grand slam, “but I guess there was a lot more riding on this one in terms of what it meant to the team, in helping us win a game.”
Wakefield went eight innings before turning it over to Jonathan Papelbon, and it was a fairly easy eight. At one point, Wakefield threw 18 consecutive strikes, and twice he retired the side on eight pitches. And the 43-year-old could have kept going.
“I felt fresh,” he said. “I was ready to go out for the ninth, and the 10th, if possible.”
The start was Wakefield’s 201st at Fenway Park, the most of any pitcher in baseball history, one more than Roger Clemens made for Boston and as an opponent. It was, however, Wakefield’s first win at Fenway in 51 weeks, or since he beat Oakland on July 8, 2009.
In his second inning back, Cash did something few Sox catchers have done this season — throw out a base stealer. He was 0 for 3 at the plate, but handled Wakefield superbly.
“I’m really happy he’s back,” Wakefield said. “I can feel the familiarity he brings. There’s some added comfort to the game.”
Afterward, Wakefield was asked what have become standard questions about the team’s injury problems. And he gave standard answers, that they are beyond anyone’s control and all a player can do is go out and perform.
Things have sort of come full circle for him, though, in his 16th season with the Red Sox. He came to the team in May of 1995 because that Boston team had been devastated by injuries, in that case to its starting pitchers.
And that team went on to win the AL East title.
The Yankees lost to the Blue Jays yesterday, which mean that Boston has closed to within a half-game of first place. It’s the closest the Red Sox have been to first since the second game of the season, when they were a half-game behind the Rays.
After losing in New York, 11-9, on May 17, Boston was 8-1/2 games out of first. Since then, the Sox are 29-12 and have gained eight full games in the standings despite all the injuries.
And with Wakefield being dominant last night, there was a turn-back-the-clock feel to it, with 1995 being not a bad year at all for the Red Sox.
http://www.clevescene.com/images/blogimages/2010/06/17/1276790338-picture_557.png
