Wakefield stands alone by Jared Carrabis
Wake passes Rocket for Sox all-time innings leader in Boston victory


While you were drooling over Stephen Strasburg and his 14 strikeouts during his major league debut, the Red Sox actually had a game on Tuesday night!

I can sum up this entire game in just two words: unearned runs.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Shin-Soo Choo hit a liner out to center that outfielder Mike Cameron dove full extension for, but came up short. What would have been a harmless single if he had played it on a hop, was now a one-out triple.

Two batters later, Jhonny Peralta sent a grounder to Adrian Beltre, who bobbled the ball, allowing Peralta to reach and Choo to score the game's first run. It was error number 11 on the season for Beltre, and his third in the last two games.

In the top of the fourth inning, Victor Martinez hit what should have been the third out to conclude a 1-2-3 inning. Indians' center fielder Trevor Crowe played the fly ball nonchalantly, and the ball tipped off his glove, allowing Martinez to cruise into second base.

The next batter, Kevin Youkilis, knocked a fastball offering off the top of the scoreboard in left field for an RBI two-base hit.

With the score tied at one, David Ortiz rifled a base hit through the right side to beat the shift, bringing Youkilis around to score Boston's second run. The hit for Ortiz broke an 0-for-18 drought, while giving the Red Sox a lead that they would not relinquish.

After a single by Beltre, who was 2-for-4, Bill Hall rocked an RBI double to left field, as Crowe's E8 resulted in the third run of the inning for Boston.

Wakefield struck out Peralta for the first out of the seventh, and induced a pop fly to retire Russell Branyan for the second out. In doing so, Wakefield moved into sole possession of first place in Red Sox history for innings pitched.

"Now that I know what's going on, it's very special," Wakefield said after the game. "I had no idea. Victor asked me to throw the ball back. I had no idea that I had surpassed Roger Clemens' all-time for innings, but more importantly, we got a win tonight, and hopefully we can keep the momentum going into the next two games."

Wakefield would allow a homer to the very next batter in Shelley Duncan, but would finish the night having thrown 7 and-a-third innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on six hits, while striking out six and walking none.

Wakefield now sits atop the Red Sox record books with 2,777 innings and 397 starts. At 177 wins with the Boston Red Sox, just 15 victories stand between the knuckleballer and the all-time wins record, which is held by Roger Clemens and Cy Young.

Daniel Bard was called upon in the ninth inning, having allowed a run just twice in his last 17 appearances. Bard walked one, but struck out two to record his second save of the season, securing the win for Wakefield.

Final score: Red Sox 3, Indians 2
WP: Tim Wakefield (2-4)
LP: David Huff (2-7)
SV: Daniel Bard (2)

Game notes: In the last 10 road games for the Red Sox, their starters are 9-0 with a lights out ERA of 0.75. Kevin Youkilis was 3-for-4 on the night to raise his average to .324, good for ninth best in the major leagues. Adrian Beltre (2-for-4) has the fifth best batting average in baseball, as the top seven in average all hail from the American League.

Strasburg thoughts: So, when I was watching Strasburg do his thing tonight for the Nationals, the only word that I can use here is "wow." If you watch the video of his 14 strikeouts, it would be hard to disagree that this kid is something special. He reminds of Pedro Martinez in the '99 All Star Game, the way that he is almost toying with these batters. Interestingly enough, Pudge Rodriguez caught the '99 All Star Game as well.

-Jared Carrabis

To order Jared's debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, click HERE!





Published on June 09, 2010

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