Game 39: Wakefield proves to be ace of staff

by Randy Booth on May 20, 2009 12:10 AM EDT in Game Stories

FINAL SCORE: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tim Wakefield (W, 8IP, 5H, 1R, 2BB, 3SO)

Josh Beckett? No. Jon Lester? Nah. Daisuke Matsuzaka? Not even close.

Who's the ace of the Red Sox staff this year? None other than Tim Wakefield.

Wakefield got the Sox back on the right track tonight by going eight innings and allowing just five hits, one run, two walks and striking out three. Wakefield personally stopped the losing streak by shutting down the very good Blue Jays offense.

The Red Sox scored all their runs in the second. Jeff Bailey singled to score Mike Lowell and George Kottaras hit a sacrifice fly that scored J.D. Drew. After that, the bats went silent but it was all Wakefield would need.

Wakefield's only run surrendered came on a solo shot to old friend Kevin Millar in the fifth inning.

Jonathan Papelbon earned the save after a 12 pitch 9th inning.

This is obviously a good win because the more Ls you can put on the first place team, the better. The Blue Jays probably aren't going to sit back and die this season, so the head to head matchups are key. The Red Sox could swing the East around if they can sweep the Jays this series.

Brad Penny takes on Brett Cecil at 7 on Wednesday night in game two.

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unbelievable what wake has done for us so far this season.

by spinz on May 20, 2009 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

Thank you Wake!

In recent years, Wake’s been excellent the first couple of months (April-May). Hopefully this time, this will last until the end of the season.

by EL Tigre on May 20, 2009 7:44 AM EDT reply actions

No word from NG yet?

I’m getting a bit worried. Perhaps we should send someone around to check and make sure he’s OK.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on May 20, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions

I'm sure...deep down...He's happy Wake is doing well

Like all Sox fans, he’ll probably take a win even if it means Julio Lugo hitting the cycle.

Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.

by sox-inda-south on May 20, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Wake is an outlier on my crystal ball.

If he can keep this up, I (1) will be happy for him, the team, and even myself, and (2) will take my medicine as agreed to!

by NG on May 20, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see you're OK, NG

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on May 20, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Wake is the man

I’m glad he’s still pitching at this level, I was worried a couple of years ago that he might have a shitty season eventually, so I wanted him to retire. Thank God it has not come, and thank God he didn’t retire.

"Hey we got a lot in common here... I'm gonna rape you"

by MerryGoByeBye on May 20, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

Wake gets very little respect

Sure, he’ll get smacked around from time-to-time, But, where else will you get a consistent 180+ innings of reliably league average or better pitching for $4 million a year? Wake is—and always has been—a very valuable pitcher.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on May 20, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely. I think especially because when his knuckle isn’t dancing he gets blown out of the water makes his ERA deceptive, and he’s actually more valuable then some think. Last year he had 18 quality starts, which is 60% of his starts, which was higher then Sheets (who had a 3.09 ERA, but only 58% of his starts were quality starts), Zambrano (3.91 ERA, 57% QS%), Kazmir (3.49 ERA, but 48%), and the Yanks new #2 man Burnett (56%). And all those pitcher many would argue are more valuable pitchers, yet Wake gave the sox’s offense a fair chance to win more times then any of them last year

by Realistic on May 20, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions