Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
Closing Time: Tim Wakefield comes up short again in bid for win No. 200 08.20.11 at 10:04 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Tim Wakefield fell short in his fifth bid at becoming the latest major league pitcher to win 200 games. (AP)

KANSAS CITY — Tim Wakefield fell short of becoming the 108th major league pitcher to claim 200 wins, with the Sox unraveling in the sixth inning via the Royals ‘ eight-run frame. The result was a 9-4 win for KC, Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Wakefield carried a 4-1 lead into the sixth, but would be forced to give way to reliever Matt Albers with the Sox clinging to a one-run lead and the potential game-tying run at second. The Sox relief pitcher promptly walked Salvador Perez and then took the decision away from Wakefield by giving up an RBI single to Chris Getz.

After a Alcides Escobar ground out, Albers succumbed to back-to-back run-scoring hits from Alex Gordon and Melky Cabrera to had the Royals the lead for good.

WHAT WENT WRONG

- Albers continued his struggles of late, allowing five runs on three hits and walking two in just a third of an inning. The reliever saw his ERA jump from 2.84 to 3.71. He has now allowed runs in five of his last seven appearances, having entered the game with a 7.06 ERA for his six previous August appearances.

- On his 97th, and final pitch, of the night, Wakefield allowed an RBI double to Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, resulting in the knuckleballer leaving his appearance with the potential game-tying run on second base with one out in the sixth inning. It came one batter after Jeff Francoeur had doubled to score Eric Hosmer, cutting the Sox lead to two.

- Chris Getz ruined Wakefield’s bid at winning career game No. 200, singling in Moustakas with reliever Albers on the mound. The play at the plate was close, with Josh Reddick making a solid through to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. But the baserunner was just able to get under the catcher’s tag, closing out Wakefield’s line.

- Entering the game, the Red Sox bullpen had allowed just one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings through Wakefield’s previous four starts. Saturday it surrendered five runs in 2 2/3 innings.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

- Wakefield pitched a solid game, allowing four runs on nine hits over his 5 2/3 innings. During his current five-game winless streak he has totaled a 4.50 ERA (34 innings, 17 earned runs).

- Darnell McDonald continued to display his bunting prowess, laying down a perfect attempt with nobody out and Ryan Lavarnway at second base. It was just the Red Sox’ fourth bunt for a hit this season. McDonald notched 12 sacrifice bunts in 2010, the sixth most in the major leagues. The play paid off, with Lavarnway scoring on Marco Scutaro’s double play grounder.

- Carl Crawford claimed his third RBI of the month, plating Dustin Pedroia with a one-out single up the middle.

- McDonald drove in the Red Sox’ third run on a sacrifice fly, scoring Josh Reddick. The one-out fly ball to deep right field marked the fifth time in the last six games he has come up with a runner in scoring position that the outfielder has come away with an RBI. Coming into the game, since July 6 McDonald had gone 4-for-6 with seven RBI in such situations.

- Lavarnway picked up his first major league RBI, rifling a single into center field to score Saltalamacchia from second. The sixth-inning play — which gave the Sox a 4-1 lead — was also a product of Saltalamacchia’s speed, with the catcher narrowly beating Cabrera’s throw home.

Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Bob Allen

    This was a pathetic performance by the Red Sox. 1) Francona and the pitching coach fell asleep in the dugout and left Wakefield in too long. 2) They compound that lapse in attention by selecting first Albers, then Morales. Recently, neither has shown the ability to protect inherited runners from scoring. 3) To complete the embarassment, the offense mails in their at bats for the final three innings of the game. You would think that the Red Sox organization would do everything in their power to ensure Tim gets his 200th career victory and ultimately his 193rd in a Red Sox uniform. He doesn’t have that many starts left in his 45 year old right arm. He is the consumate professional athlete deserving the organization’s commitment. Wake up and get it done!

  • Bob Allen

    Gonzalez, 0 for 5. Power outage continues. Absence of run production continues. Something is wrong. THe Red Sox need to deal with it now as opposed to waiting until he joins Youk on the DL.

  • http://backtofoulke.wordpress.com Don

    On what planet is 9 hits over 5.2 innings “solid.” Albers gets an out and I will give you “passable” but once again, Bradford is out shoehorning laudatory compliments into a Wakefield narrative that seems dislocated from reality. Thank god I have a cross-country flight and will miss Wake’s next shot at 200, this time a beating in Texas.

  • Mark

    Enough is enough with this circus act. Theo, stop wasting time and find a starting picher that can “potentially” throw 7+ inning of 1-2 run ball. Wakefield is no longer that guy and every 5th day is a gimme. Wake has been terrific over the years but this is all getting out of hand.

  • http://carauctionsmelo.livejournal.com/ auctions melbourne

    What are laws about using company logos in websites?

  • http://antiquesfrederickmd.com/2011/01/10/antique-oak-original-finish-doctors-examing-table/?like=1&_wpnonce=444b96545e antiques

    I?ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to show that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I most without a doubt will make certain to don?t fail to remember this web site and provides it a look on a relentless basis.

  • http://www.grdc.com.au/linkdirect.cfm?targeturl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.pcinternetbanking.com%22%3EInternet+banking%3C%2fa%3E+is+a+great+way+to+do+business.++Banking+on+the+internet+has+become+a+way+of+life+ Berna Miu

    Nice very informative post ill defo be back to read and learn more keep up the good work thankyou hotfilebank.com

  • http://sigmakom.com/ Graig Humpries

    I think so. I think your article will give those people a good reminding. And they will express thanks to you later.

  • http://pennyauctionstrategy.info/tag/guest-bloggers/ how to win penny auctions

    Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in web explorer, could test this? IE nonetheless is the market leader and a huge part of other folks will pass over your excellent writing due to this problem.

  • http://www.directsoccer.org/ mercurial new

    You made some respectable factors there. I appeared on the internet for the difficulty and found most individuals will go along with with your website.

  • http://enalaprilsideeffects.com/beware-of-enalapril-side-effects/ Enalapril Side Effects

    My brother suggested I may like this website. He was once totally right. This publish actually made my day. You can not consider simply how so much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!

  • http://tips4pokerplayer.com online gambling

    I’ll right away grab your rss feed as I can’t to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  • http://comparepirces.com/%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85bosch-4100-black-friday-sale-black-friday-bosch-4100-deals-bosch-4100-black-friday-2011-black-friday-bosch-4100-offers/ Buy Scroll Saw

    I have got word of compound miter saws, chop saws, table saws, etc.. We have conclusion work to do from the walls out in cellar, attic, garage and room over garage and reparation and overhaul in the repose of the family. What shall we purchase rather than hire by the day or calendar week?

  • http://stylewweathervane.multiply.com/journal/item/1/Weathervane_Top_Of_The_Line weathervane

    Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

  • http://www.mayweathervsortizfight.com pacquiao vs marquez live streaming

    A formidable share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing slightly evaluation on this. And he in reality purchased me breakfast as a result of I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If potential, as you develop into experience, would you thoughts updating your blog with more details? It’s highly helpful for me. Huge thumb up for this weblog submit!

  • http://www.inflamedgums.info/go/oramd.php inflamed gums cure

    What i don’t realize is if truth be told how you are now not really a lot more smartly-favored than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You realize thus significantly in the case of this topic, produced me individually believe it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated until it?s something to do with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. At all times deal with it up!

  • http://www.comobajarpeso.info/tag/dieta/ quemar kilos

    Yo aun necesito buscar mas sobre este tema para poder elegir la opcion mas sensata para mi. En estos momentos busco informacion sobre lo que comentan de la “dieta dominguera”.

Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays - Fenway Park, Boston, MA
[find tickets]
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays - Fenway Park, Boston, MA
[find tickets]
Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays - Fenway Park, Boston, MA
[find tickets]

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify