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Wakefield vs. the Rays

Melbourne, Fla., native Tim Wakefield gets to face his favorite opponent tonight when the Red Sox host the Devil Rays. In his career, Wake is 13-1 against Tampa Bay with a 2.96 E.R.A. Since 1998, when Tampa Bay entered the American League, Wakefield is 75-75 with a 4.50 E.R.A. against all other opponents. The Rays' starter tonight, 22-year-old Scott Kazmir, has also done a pretty good job against the Red Sox in his young career.

Last night's win, combined with the Mets' loss, gave the Red Sox the best record in the major leagues at 11-4. If they win tonight, it would be the ninth time in a row that they've beaten the Devil Rays at Fenway.

In case you missed some of last night's late action, there were two walk-off home runs in the majors, including one by that man Sox fans love to hate: Carl Everett.

The Associated Press today reports the sad news that Oscar Acosta, manager of the Yankees' Gulf Coast rookie league team, was killed along with team official Humberto Trejo in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Stern is Pawtucket-bound

Center fielder Adam Stern, who has probably faced more criticism for making a game-saving catch than any player in recent Red Sox history, has been sent down to AAA Pawtucket, according to a report on mlb.com. The Journal reported today that Stern told the media that he expected to join the PawSox this weekend, when the team returns home to play the Buffalo Bisons. Stern is expected to be replaced on the big-league club by outfielder Willie Harris, a member of last year's World Series champion Chicago White Sox team. (Harris scored the only run in Game 4 of Chicago's series sweep of the Houston Astros.)

Harris is hitting .161 (with a .277 on-base percentage) in 56 at-bats with the PawSox. He has one home run, seven runs scored and four RBIs.

Stern, who has seen increased playing time in center field the last two weeks in the absence of injured starter Coco Crisp, is hitting .150, with a .196 on-base percentage, in 20 at-bats with the Red Sox. He has no home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. His two-out, bases-loaded sliding grab of a ball hit by Damon Hollins in the ninth inning saved the Sox' 9-6 win on Tuesday, but manager Terry Francona and media commentators criticized Stern's decision to gamble, rather than letting the ball drop for a single. If Stern had missed the ball, Hollins would have had extra bases and Tampa Bay probably would have tied the game. Last night, Stern earned another spot on SportsCenter with a spectacular catch in which he crashed hard into the scoreboard in left-center field.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments 9