Red Sox Notebook: Wakefield Cashes In

A year ago, Tim Wakefield endured an unwanted lesson in the difficulty of catching his knuckleball. With Doug Mirabelli traded to San Diego prior to the 2006 season, the Red Sox ran an open audition to claim the role of Boston's backup catcher.

The tryout was a flop. Catcher John Flaherty retired in spring training rather than trying to chase Wakefield's butterfly. Josh Bard won the role by default, but lasted just five games, in which he committed 10 passed balls leading to five unearned runs. Wakefield went 1-4 and the Sox panicked as gave up Bard and pitching prospect Cla Meredith to reacquire Mirabelli from the Padres.

"I was ticked [Mirabelli] wasn't coming back two years ago, and this year, he was a free agent," Wakefield told The Boston Globe last week. "Nothing against [Bard], he did a good job, but he's not Doug.”

On Monday, however, necessity dictated that Wakefield would have to operate without his customary catcher. After Mirabelli landed on the disabled list on Friday due to a calf strain, Wakefield partnered with Triple-A call-up Kevin Cash.

Cash, who caught some of Wakefield's side sessions in spring training and worked with a pair of knuckleballers in Pawtucket, proved up to the task. Though Cash committed one passed ball, Wakefield threw seven shutout innings of four-hit ball in claiming a 6-0 win over the Devil Rays. The outing suggested that Wakefield's success need not be tethered to the identity of his backup catcher.

"I wasn't anxious about [Cash] being back there. He has experience catching knuckleballers in Pawtucket. I didn't think there would be a problem," Wakefield said. "I'm very pleased with the job that he did.”


RED SOX 6, DEVIL RAYS 0: Tim Wakefield entered Monday with more wins against the Devil Rays than any other pitcher Tampa's history, while Scott Kazmir arrived in the contest in possession of the lowest ERA of any pitcher in the last 35 years against the Red Sox. Yet Boston broke through against Kazmir, led by a two-run double in the first by Mike Lowell. That proved to be all Wakefield needed, as the knuckleballer tossed seven shutout innings while improving his career record to 19-2 against the Devil Rays.


NOTES, QUOTES
—RHP Tim Wakefield (15-10) is now tied for the major-league lead with 15 wins after throwing seven shutout innings. Yet his excellent outing came with a concern, as he was forced to leave after just 77 pitches due to back stiffness.

—OF Manny Ramirez ripped a two-run single in the second inning, and now has 39 RBI in 38 games since the All-Star break. With 84 RBI this year and 37 games remaining, Ramirez appears likely to record his tenth straight season of 100 RBIs or more.

—3B Mike Lowell went 2-for-2 with a double and homer and is now hitting .357 in 19 August contests. With his average now at .314, Lowell stands a good chance of recording his first-ever .300 season. His previous career high average of .293 came in 2004.

—RHP Matt Clement threw a 50-pitch bullpen session, and reported that his surgically repaired right shoulder feels strong. He told reporters that he is scheduled to face live hitters in the first week of September. At that point, however, the minor-league season will be over, meaning that if Clement is to get any game activity before the end of the season, he would either have to pitch in an instructional league or head straight to the majors.

—DH David Ortiz had a day off on Monday, as Red Sox manager Terry Francona has been trying to find a game for all of his lineup regulars to rest after Friday's doubleheader. Ortiz is on pace to play in 146 games this year, which would be his fewest since 2003.