Wakefield Throws a Gem Against the Jays at Soggy Fenway

I was "this close" to throwing Wakefield under the bus in my post describing the series earlier today. "This close" (just so you know, I'm putting about an inch worth of distance between my thumb and my index finger right now). Wake was coming off a terrible outing, but for some reason I couldn't do it, not to the veteran, not to the guy who has been left off post season rosters, not to the guy who "stays in the game" with just for men hair color...I just couldn't do it. Tonight he was "this close" to making ITM look real dumb, "this close".

Wakefield was dominate through 8 innings of work in a rain-soaked Fenway Park tonight. In a game that, under normal circumstances would not have even been played, Wakefield gave the Red Sox exactly what they needed, a deep, painless outing in route to an important win. The knuckleballer gave up only 3 hits, struck out four and retired the last 13 batters in a row to hold a hot Toronto lineup scoreless (the Jays were batting .315 in the month of September as a team coming into the game). Manny Delcarmen closed the door to a 7-0 victory with a 1-2-3 9th. It was the Red Sox 15th shutout of the year, the most in the Majors.

The Red Sox banged out 7 runs on 8 hits in what was a close game until a 5 run 8th inning. It was nice to see Jed Lowrie break out of his mini slump, going 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored and 2 rbi. I was beginning to get concerned that pitchers had begun to "figure him out" but he's bounced back well lately. David Ortiz hit a 2 run double to right and Kevin Cash hit a 3 run homer to round out the Red Sox scoring.

The story of the night however remains the pitching. Since the Red Sox have 3 more games to play in 36 hours, Wakefield's performance becomes that much more significant. Thanks Wake, I'm sorry for almost tossing you under the ITM bus. The thought will never even cross my mind again.....unless you get shelled in your next start....then maybe I'll give you 2 inches of clearance.


ITM notes:

- The Sox are now 2 games behind the Rays who were rained out in New York....which ends up helping the Sox since they themselves have a double header tomorrow.

- JD Drew received an injection into a sore spot in his back, but also got the bad news that his grandmother had passed. He has left the team to be with his family and will likely be back with the team for the Tampa series.

- Doubleheader tomorrow.....game on.