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Monday’s Red Sox-Twins matchups: Tim Wakefield vs. Scott Baker 08.08.11 at 1:22 pm ET
By Tyler Murray

Tim Wakefield

The Red Sox and Twins start up a three-game series Monday night at Target Field in a rematch of the May 6 pitching matchup between Tim Wakefied and Scott Baker. The Twins ace had the upper hand in that Fenway showdown, as the Red Sox managed just two runs over eight innings in a 9-2 loss.

Wakefield (6-4, 4.99 ERA) will look to register his third straight quality start, after holding the Indians and White Sox to three runs each over six-plus innings. The Red Sox have won five of Wakefield’s last six starts, but he’s needed a great deal of run support to pull off the victories. In the right-hander’s last six outings, the Sox have averaged over seven runs per game. The 45-year-old struggled against the Twins earlier this season, allowing eight runs on nine hits while recording just 13 outs.

Wakefield, who is one win away from career win No. 200, hasn’t pitched at Target Field since last season, when he struggled through 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits in a losing effort. Coupled with his loss against the Twins earlier this year, Wakefield has not beaten Minnesota since May of 2009.

As a team, the Twins are hitting .253 with eight home runs in 171 combined plate appearances against Wakefield. Jim Thome accounts for 70 of those matchups, but he’s only managed 11 hits, including three doubles and four home runs. Joe Mauer has handled the knuckleballer well, hitting .357 in 16 plate appearances to go along with a home run and three RBIs. Denard Span is 4-for-10 with three doubles and four RBIs.

Baker (8-6, 3.01 ERA) leads Minnesota’s struggling pitching staff in wins, ERA and strikeouts (115), although his last start was one of his worst of the season. On Wednesday against the Angels, Baker lasted just three innings while allowing four runs on five hits, including a home run. Still, the Twins managed an 11-4 victory, marking their fifth win in Baker’s last four starts.

Although he missed a good portion of July with a strained flexor muscle, Baker finished the month with a record of 2-1 and a 1.06 ERA. The right-hander has excelled at home, allowing just 10 earned runs in over 50 innings at Target Field. He’s 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA in Minnesota, and has held opponents to a .213 batting average.

The Red Sox have faced Baker a combined 99 times since he entered the league in 2005, and have hit .258 against the Twins starter. Carl Crawford has led the charge in 19 plate appearances, hitting a team-high .412 off Baker to go along with two doubles and a solo home run. Jacoby Ellsbury has had Baker’s number as well, hitting .417 in 12 career matchups. Dustin Pedroia, on the other hand, has struggled in 13 plate appearances, managing just two hits and striking out four times.

Red Sox vs. Baker

Carl Crawford (19 plate appearances): .417 BA/.474 OBP/.706 SLG, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (13): .167/.231/.167, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

Kevin Youkilis (13): .182/.308/.455, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Jacoby Ellsbury (12): .417/.417/.500, 1 double, 2 strikeouts

Mike Aviles (10): 2-for-10, 2 strikeouts

David Ortiz (9): 2-for-9, 1 home run, 2 RBIs

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (8): 1-for-8, 1 double, 6 strikeouts

Adrian Gonzalez (6): 1-for-6, 1 home run, 1 RBI

Jason Varitek (4): 1-for-4, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Darnell McDonald (3): 1-for-3

Marco Scutaro (2): 0-for-1, 1 walk

Twins vs. Wakefield

Jim Thome (70 plate appearances): .177 BA/.257 OBP/.419 SLG, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 9 RBI, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts

Michael Cuddyer (28): .269/.286/.423, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 RBIs, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

Delmon Young (19): .167/.211/.389, 1 double, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Joe Mauer (16): .357/.438/.571, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 1 walk

Jason Kubel (15): .231/.333/.462, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Denard Span (11): .400/.455/.700, 3 doubles, 4 RBIs

Trevor Plouffe (3): 2-for-2, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 walk

Danny Valencia (3): 2-for-3, 1 double, 2 RBIs

Drew Butera (2): 1-for-2

Ben Revere (2): 1-for-2

Matt Tolbert (2): 0-for-2

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  • Kate

    Is it funny that I am kind of wishing for two milestones tonight? A. That Wakefield gets his 200th win and B. That Thome hits two homeruns tonight (and those shall account for all of the Twins’ runs).

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