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A SEASON IN THE DRINK
September 13, 2011 ... The Sox returned to Fenway Park having lost five straight, an ill-timed skid that allowed the Tampa Bay Rays back into the wild-card race. The collapse became the talk of baseball. Perhaps that was why, when the Sox finished off an 18-6 victory against the Blue Jays, every player followed Wakefield out of the clubhouse and back onto the field to celebrate. It was nothing too wild, just a little champagne and a lot of smiles. With the Rays losing in Baltimore, the Sox have a four-game lead with 15 to play. Tampa Bay arrives for a four-game series tomorrow. Wakefield (7-6) allowed five runs in the first three innings, twice giving up the lead. But he shut the Blue Jays down for the next three innings, giving the offense a chance to go to work. The Sox scored their most runs since an 18-10 victory against Baltimore on Aug. 2, 2009. Of their 18 hits, nine were for extra bases. The top two hitters in the lineup, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, were 8 for 10 with eight runs, three doubles, three home runs, and eight RBIs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had two hits and four RBIs and Marco Scutaro two hits and two RBIs as the Sox battered Brandon Morrow and five relievers. Trailing, 5-4, after three innings, the Sox scored twice in the fourth, four in the sixth, one in the seventh, and seven in the eighth. Pedroia's three-run homer in the sixth was the hit that allowed everybody to finally relax. Ahead, 10-5, the Sox had quelled the panic, at least for a night. Wakefield is 200-178 over 19 seasons and 625 games. He is the 108th pitcher to win 200 games, the 89th since 1900. At 45 years old, Wakefield is the oldest pitcher to record his 200th win since 44-year-old Jack Quinn in 1927. Jose Iglesias, who was called up from the minors before the game and scored a run, was 16 months old when Wakefield won his first game for the Pirates in 1992. Iglesias was at shortstop when the game ended and hugged Wakefield afterward. Wakefield gave up five runs on six hits. The Sox took the lead back for him in the fourth inning as Ellsbury and Pedroia hit back-to-back home runs, both clearing the wall in left. The lead grew to 10-5 in the sixth. Carl Crawford led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Scutaro. Saltalamacchia came through with an RBI single to left. Ellsbury also singled, then everybody jogged home when Pedroia sent a fastball from Luis Perez rattling around the base of the light tower in left field. Morrow (9-11) allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He has started against the Red Sox three times this season and given up 26 earned runs over 19 innings. The Sox padded their lead in the seventh. Crawford singled with two outs and scored from first on a double by Scutaro. The shortstop has 15 RBIs in his last nine games and is 16 of 34 (.471). He is up to .290 on the season. The Sox sent 11 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored seven runs on five hits. Toronto manager John Farrell used three pitchers. As the game came to a close, those remaining in the crowd of 38,020 started chanting Wakefield's name. They stayed until he emerged from the dugout and tipped his cap. The Wake Watch is over. Maybe now the Sox can get back to focusing on the playoff preparation instead of the collapse. |
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