For the second time on Friday night, J.D. Drew swung at the first pitch he saw from Felix Hernandez. This time, batting with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, he crushed a 96 mph fastball to center for a homer. Drew is now hitting .308 with three homers in the 27 plate appearances in which he’s put the first pitch in play this year.

The homer brought the Sox to within 4-3. Tim Wakefield remained in the game for the top of the eighth, with the Sox seemingly hoping to leave their starter in position to claim one last victory before the All-Star rosters are announced. The move backfired, as Jose Lopez led off the eighth by launching a homer into the Monster Seats to put Seattle back ahead by two runs, 5-3. Wakefield worked around a double to get out of the inning, having thrown 112 pitches, tied for his most this year.

Wakefield is now almost surely done for the night. The Sox will have to rally for three runs against the Mariners bullpen in the bottom of the eighth to position the knuckleballer for a win. Sean White is on in place of Felix Hernandez, who threw seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks.

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