Wakefield v. Harden (Game 51)

Not a good game for Wakefield. He made it through five innings and then some on ninety-nine pitches but he allowed seven runs to score and left with no outs and runners on second and third. The problem seemed to be a somewhat undynamic knuckleball coming in that picked up quite a bit of pep when sent back in the other direction. At least the misery didn't last too long, it was over in less than two and half hours (Like a band-aid: right off!) Wakefield walked four and struck out four. He allowed eight runs on eight hits, most of the damage coming off the two homeruns he allowed-one to Frank Thomas for three runs and one to Mark Ellis for three more runs.

Aardsma came in to pitch the sixth inning after Wakefield couldn't get it done. Wakefield started off the inning by walking the first batter and giving up a double to the second. Aardsma got the third batter to ground out to first and prevented the runners from advancing. The next batter, though, hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Wakefield's eighth run. There was a good throw home by Ellsbury to try and turn the double play and it was very close but no dice. Aardsma struck out the last batter to end the inning.

Mike Timlin was the third Boston pitcher of the night and it was a really good outing for him (must be because he shaved off the silly moustache.) Timlin went two innings, faced six batters, and got two strike outs.

As to the offense, it was just a case of: Given the pitching they were facing, they simply got themselves into too deep of a hole to be able to dig themselves out of it. But it didn't stop them from trying, which is something positive to be taken from the game.

Pedroia hit a homerun in the fourth for one. In the fifth, Drew legged out a double. Lugo struck out. Cash struck out. Ellsbury got a single and Drew legged out a run for two. In the seventh, Lugo got a single and then took second on a throwing error. Cash grounded out. Ellsbury got a single and Lugo came home for three. But those were the only runs in the cards tonight.

Other interesting tidbits: Ellsbury got caught stealing for the second time. There really wasn't much of a contest on the throw to second but Ellsbury's hand came off the bag on the slide and he was out. Also, hitting coach Dave Magadan got himself kicked out of the game somehow (it was speculated on Don and Remy's part that he was continuing some complaining for Youkilis-doesn't really make sense though, he didn't seem to have anything to complain about.)