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September 11, 2007
By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- From implosion to explosion the Boston Red Sox did it all last night.
First, Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield was attempting to earn his 17th victory of the season, a mark that would have matched a career-high. It was the second time in as many starts the veteran knuckleballer was standing one win shy of the mark, and it was the second time in as many games he faltered.
Fortunately for Wakefield he quickly became an afterthought.
Boston erased a seven-run deficit en route to a dramatic and entertaining 16-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox received a plethora of production from everyone in the lineup for the come-from-behind win. In fact, Boston emptied the chamber in the middle innings to steamroll the lowly Devil Rays, who only the night before beat the Red Sox, 1-0.
It was the cast of usual suspects who helped Boston pummel its opponent last night, including solid performances from Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Coco Crisp, Julio Lugo, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis as the Sox banged out a season-high 16 runs to go along with their 20 hits. Again, rookie Jacoby Ellsbury continues to shine as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz and J.D. Drew all hit solo home runs, while Lowell went 4-for-5 in the clean-up spot. Youkilis provided a base-clearing triple and a double.
Performances like these are expected as the norm for the Red Sox.
Throw in a good night for the struggling Drew and backup catcher Kevin Cash then you know it was a good all-around performance.
Drew has been pelted with boos around these parts and Cash has quietly handled his role as Wakefield’s batterymate with care since Doug Mirabelli has been injured. Drew and Cash both contributed in a big way last night, maybe a good sign, especially for Drew.
He went 3-for-4 with a walk and his solo homer in the seventh inning was his first at Fenway Park since April 22nd against the Yankees.
Cash, an eight-year pro, signed with the Red Sox as a minor-league free agent in January with 114 games of major-league experience with Toronto and Tampa Bay. He was sent to Pawtucket as an insurance policy and the Red Sox cashed it in when Mirabelli was injured late last month.
Cash’s offensive numbers may not be earth shattering, but he’s proved that his defensive play, especially his ability to catch the knuckleball, gives Boston another option behind the plate.
Francona was recently asked how he thought Cash was handling the situation.
“About as well as you can,” said the manager. “I don’t think it’s any coincidence when he got in there it brought some of the personality of our team out. Not to be hokey it was kind of that ‘all for one’ When we were playing in Tampa everybody knew he potentially had his hands full [replacing Mirabelli]. We kind of banded together and a lot of good energy came out. It’s been good for us. This kid has done a fantastic job.”
With the regular season quickly coming to an end, an all-out team effort the Sox gave last night might just be the kind of jump start for the stretch run. For Drew, it might just be the game he’s desperately been searching for.
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