Athletics vs Red Sox recap
Athletics vs Red Sox boxscore
SportsCenter had a crazy idea today: should Tim Wakefield start the All-Star game for the American League?
Yeah, it's crazy, because there are other pitchers more likely to do that, but one thing Wake has over all those guys is wins. Wakefield earned his AL-leading 11th win in a Red Sox 5-4 victory over the A's to win the series.
Wake was pretty good. He worked six innings, allowed 10 hits, three runs, walked one and struck out eight. The knuckleball was dancing for sure.
Offensively, David Ortiz was a monster in Wednesday's game. Ortiz hit a three-run home run in the sixth and then notched another RBI in the 7th. Dustin Pedroia was the team's only multiple-hitter, as he went 3 for 4 to raise his batting average to .296. That's a nice sign for Pedey.
Manny Delcarmen (0.2 IP) and Hideki Okajima (1.1 IP) combined for two scoreless innings of relief. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 22nd save of the season, but it wasn't an easy one. He gave up a run, two hits and a walk, but still came away with the save.
Sox start a series with the Royals Thursday night. Brad Penny will be on the hill while the Royals will send out Luke Hochevar.