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.