Just What The Skipper Ordered by Jared Carrabis
Wakefield tosses a complete game, Sox bats wake up


If you were to ask for any two things to happen prior to Wednesday's game, what would they be? How about a complete game effort from Tim Wakefield to save the tired bullpen, and how about scoring more than five runs in a game for the first time in 2009? Well, your wish was Boston's command in the Red Sox final game against Oakland this series.

Thanks to a one inning "start", if you can even call it that, by Daisuke Matsuzaka on Tuesday, the Red Sox bullpen was forced to slave over rubber for 11 grueling innings. In the final game of this three-game set, the longest tenured member of the Boston Red Sox to work, not only to save his team's bullpen, but most importantly to point the Red Sox in the winning direction.

As Wakefield's knuckleball began to flutter, Mike Lowell went to work in the top of the second to provide his veteran teammate with some run support. With Jason Bay standing on first base with a single, Lowell stroked his second home run of the season over the wall in left to put Boston out in front by a 2-0 score.

Each time that Wakefield took the mound, the Athletics became more and more frustrated with their inability to make solid contact with the zig-zagging, dipping and diving knuckleballs coming out of the hand of the right-hander. Backed by stellar defense and incredibly efficient pitching, Wakefield carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning. A sixth inning error by Mike Lowell was the only thing standing in the way of a perfect game due to Wakefield's spot-on control resulting in no walks leading up to the eighth.

Before Wakefield could even take the mound in the eighth, the Red Sox were going to work on the Oakland bullpen. The six-run frame didn't get itself going until the first two outs were recorded right off the bat. The inning began with David Ortiz's first extra base hit of the season, as the left-handed hitter rattled a double into the right field corner. After an intentional pass to Kevin Youkilis, JD Drew crushed a three-run shot into the seats in right field to extend Boston's lead to 5-0.

An RBI single by Nick Green made it 6-0, and a two-out walk to George Kottaras loaded the bases for Jacoby Ellsbury, as the Red Sox batted around. Ellsbury roped a base hit back up the middle to plate two more runs in Mike Lowell and Nick Green to bring Boston's run total to eight. The inning ended on a Dustin Pedroia (0-for-5) strikeout, as the MVP of a year ago recorded two outs in one inning for the Red Sox. Despite Pedroia's slow start (.179 AVG), Kevin Youkilis (.472 AVG) and Jason Bay (.345 AVG) continue to pick up the slack until Pedroia gets in a groove.

Prior to this eight-run attack put on by Boston, some fans wanted to point the finger at David Ortiz and his lack of power so far this season. However, Ortiz does not deserve to shoulder all of the blame. On Wednesday, every starter except for the 1-3 hitters (Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz) had a walk. Even if Ortiz were hitting the cover off the ball, the "table setters" in Ellsbury and Pedroia are not getting on base. The 1-3 hitters were a combined 2-for-15 on Wednesday; that's not going to get the job done.

Ellsbury has not been putting up leadoff-type numbers just yet. Though he has four steals already, he could have more if he were getting on base more often. His .256 OBP can be explained by looking at his mere three walks in 39 plate appearances. His .194 average (7-for-36) is hurting the Red Sox offense, because when you're not walking and you're not getting hits, you can't score runs. Ellsbury has just two runs scored through the Red Sox' first nine games. This will all need to change if the Red Sox are going to be seeing any more eight-runs or better games any time soon. All of this can be said for both Pedroia and Ortiz as well. Take your walks, be a disciplined hitter.

Although Wakefield's no-hit bid was broken up after 7.1 innings pitched, the knuckleballer continued to pitch exceedingly well to lead the Red Sox to their third victory of the 2009 season. It had been three years since Wakefield had thrown a complete game, but the 42-years-young pitcher battled for 111 pitches, scattering four hits, giving up two earned runs and striking out four in his complete game victory. His victory on Wednesday was his first complete game victory in the past four games in which Wake went the distance (the last three complete games he tossed resulted in a loss).

The much-needed win for Boston was all attributed to the brilliant pitching by Tim Wakefield. A tip of the cap to George Kottaras who did a fantastic job catching Wakefield, especially on a day where his knuck was knuckin'. The Red Sox now head home to Boston for an off-day on Thursday before beginning a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles as a part of a nine-game home stand in which the O's, Twins and Yankees will be in town.

Brad Penny will get the ball on Friday night, making his Fenway Park debut in a Red Sox uniform. Penny had a positive debut for the Red Sox on the road against the Angels, a game in which the right-hander hurled six solid innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Penny's Friday night start will be his first time pitching at Fenway Park since he took the mound as a member of the eventual World Series Champion Florida Marlins.

On a side note, prior to Wednesday's game against Oakland, the Red Sox announced that Daisuke Matsuzaka has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with "arm fatigue." Matsuzaka will be examined in Boston on Friday and with all hopes of the Red Sox and their fans, the two weeks off will help the right-hander return to 2008 form.

One more injury update, Jed Lowrie will not require surgery on his injured left wrist that landed him on the disabled list as well. "It confirmed the original diagnosis, which is good, so they injected the area at both locations of the discomfort," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He's going to be placed in a splint for about five days before he begins his strengthening."

-Jared Carrabis

Final Score: Red Sox 8, Athletics 2

Published on April 16, 2009

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