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June 29, 2007
Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield needs to roll a seven.
That may not sound too good, but if the knuckleballer can consistently work into the seventh inning there’s a very good chance the Red Sox will win. That was the case last night as Wakefield worked 6 2/3 innings to help Boston to a 2-1 margin of victory over the Texas Rangers as the Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park after their recent 10-day nine-game road trip.
When Wakefield reaches the seventh inning, no more than that, he’s 6-2 this season.
The work load may just be coincidence, but the Red Sox needed his solid outing in a big way last night. He improves to 8-8 after allowing just one run on seven hits, including four walks and four strikeouts.
“It was one of those nights where I didn’t have my best stuff,” said Wakefield. “I felt like I made the pitches when I needed to make them. I was very fortunate in that aspect.”
It wasn’t all Wakefield, however, who proved crucial for Boston as it snapped three-game losing skid.
With the veteran tiring in the seventh and the Red Sox holding a one-run lead, reliever Manny Delcarmen began to warm up in the bullpen. When Texas put two men on in the seventh via a two-out single by Kenny Lofton and a walk to Jerry Hairston, manager Terry Francona decided Wakefield was done for the night and signaled for the right-hander.
“I would rather it was 6-1,” said the manager, “but that’s a tough spot to be in (for Delcarmen). He threw the ball very well when obviously the game is in the balance.”
Delcarmen walked the first batter he faced – Michael Young – to load the bases with clean-up hitter Sammy Sosa stepping into the box.
This was a pivotal point for Delcarmen, who has spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Pawtucket, and he responded.
With the bases loaded and a 3-1 count on Sosa the 36,756 fans at Fenway Park stood, got really loud to back the young hard-throwing righty and Delcarmen delivered – big time.
He threw a high 96-MPH fastball that Sosa fouled back. Delcarmen challenged the slugger again, and again Sosa fouled a 95-MPH offering back to the screen. Delcarmen finally won the battle when he blew the next pitch, another 96-MPH fastball, past Sosa for the out to end the threat as Boston retained its one-run lead.
“I tend to overthrow sometimes,” said Delcarmen. “Mike Lowell came over when it was 2-0 and told me to relax and trust my best stuff. This is the toughest spot for a pitcher to be in. With a 2-1 game and trying to save Wakefield’s game, you try to stay under control. I’m just happy I got out of it. Against Sammy Sosa was pretty cool.”
Delcarmen, who needed an outing like this one, gave a fist pump as he hopped off the mound and was congratulated by his teammates when got to the dugout.
“Our bullpen has done a great job all year,” said Wakefield. “Manny coming in and picking me up in the seventh inning, getting a huge out with the bases loaded against a guy who has 600 homers.”
From there everything fell into place nicely for the Red Sox. Lefty reliever Hideki Okajima worked a perfect eighth inning and closer Jonathan Papelbon earned his 19th save – albeit entertaining – of the season.
“That’s how you like to script it and it worked out for us tonight,”
It was your typical Red Sox victory of the season with solid starting pitching, effective bullpen work and just enough offense to get the job done.
“Wake was great,” said Francona. “He got us to a point in the game where we could match up. He was terrific and he had to be.”
Basically, it wasn’t craps.
--JOE McDONALD
Posted by Corey Bourassa 
at 10:53 PM to McDonald
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