Bosox Knuckle Down To Hold Off Chicago
American League
The Boston Red wouldn’t be where they are without Tim Wakefield.
And where they are is atop the A.L. East with a five-game lead after Wakefield won his ninth game in 10 decisions while lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.66.
Wakefield allowed one run and five hits over 7-2/3 innings Wednesday night \in a 5-3 victory over the White Sox in Chicago. The knuckeballer has given up just 17 earned runs in 92 innings.
“For me to be successful is to try to throw a lot of strikes, and I was able to do that,” Wakefield said. “It was good to throw a lot of strikes early in the game to get them swinging. My defense did a tremendous job by keeping them from getting some big innings.”
Boston manager Kevin Kennedy is, obviously, quite pleased with Wakefield.
“He’s been consistent since we signed him (to a minor-league contract in April). Ever since his first game (a 12-1 win over California, where he pitched seven innings on May 27), he’s given us a lot of quality innings,” Kennedy said. “Without him, we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in.”
The Red Sox spoiled the major-league debut of Mike Sirotka (0-1) who went 6-2/3 innings, allowing three runs and 11 hits, while walking three.
He was a last-minute replacement for Jason Bere, who had tenderness in the upper right bicep.
“He did a pretty good job for his first outing,” White Sox manager Terry Bevington said. “He’s got the ability to pitch. If he keeps working hard and making progress, he’s definitely a major-league pitcher.
John Valentin’s two-run homer in the ninth off Roberto Hernandez gave the Red Sox a 5-1 lead.
Mike Devereaux’s leadoff homer and Johnson’s sacrifice fly made it 5-3.
Boston’s Mark Whiten led off the second with a single and scored after a walk and two outs on Luis Alcea’s single.
Willie McGee, who went 4 for 5, followed with a single to right, which scored Mike Macfarlane.
Macfarlane’s 11th homer gave Boston a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
Indians 14, Rangers 5
Arlington, Texas
Rookie Herbert Perry drove in four runs on four hits, both career highs, leading a 19-hit attack by Cleveland that buried Texas.
Twins 5, Orioles 3
Minneapolis
Rookie Brad Radke won his fourth straight game and Pedro Munoz homered and drove in three runs as Minnesota beat Baltimore, just the Twins’ sixth win in their last 26 games at the Metrodome.
Angels 10, Blue Jays 2
Toronto
Russ Springer won for the first time in more than year and California batted around and scored six times in the second inning, snapping Toronto’s season-high three-game winning streak.
Yankees 5, Royals 2
New York
Tony Fernandez triggered a four-run third inning with a home run, and left-hander Sterling Hitchcock (4-6) won his second game since May 21 as New York beat Kansas City.
Athletics 2, Tigers 1
Oakland, Calif.
Recent Cuban defector Ariel Prieto, drafted No. 5 overall last month, allowed five hits over 8-1/3 innings for his first major-league victory and rookie Jason Giambi hit a tie-breaking homer in the seventh as Oakland defeated Detroit.
Clearing the bases
Yankees pitchers have allowed 97 home runs, including at least one home run in 53 of their 75 games. … The Red Sox are the only team in the league not to be shut out this season. … Boston catcher Mike Macfarlane leads the league by being hit with a pitch 10 times. … Cleveland is 33-2 when scoring six or more runs. … Toronto’s Joe Carter has three hits in his last 37 at-bats.