Righting the Ship

There is somewhat more equilibrium in the world today as a 41 year old knuckleballer righted the Red Sox ship Monday night at Fenway Park. In a must-win situation part of a must-win week, Tim Wakefield was almost un-hittable for 8 innings as the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-0. Taking a no-no into the 7th inning, Wakefield's line at the end of the evening was a sparkling: 8 innings, 2 hits, no runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. Jonathan Papelbon came in for the 9th inning and simply overpowered the Devil Rays, who also had a fine pitching performance from starter James Shields.

Earning his 28th save of the year for the second year in a row, Papelbon, who had not worked since the second game of the debacle in Baltimore this weekend, seemed to be pitching for the bullpen's honor when he struck out the first two Devil Rays he faced in the 9th inning, walked B.J. Upton on a 3-2 count and then coaxed—if throwing 97mph fastballs can be described as coaxing—former Red Sox Carlos Pena to ground out to second to end the game.

While many anxious Red Sox fans have been talked off of the ledge by Wakefield's performance, the Sox remain a precarious 4 games ahead of the continuously surging Yankees and have the AL West leading Angels coming to town for a 4 set when the Devil Rays leave at the end of the week.

Some interesting tidbits: Jonathan Papelbon has not been called on to convert a 4 out save since April 8th. Kason Gabbard (remember him, the guy who was sent to Texas as part of the Eric Gagne "trade at the deadline" package) left the game after only one pitch in the second inning of his start against Tampa Bay on Sunday because of “left forearm stiffness.” This has caused some in Texas to suspect that it is the Rangers who had gotten stiffed in the deal with the Red Sox although there are many in Red Sox Nation who would beg to differ as the Red Sox lead over the Yankees was 8 games when Gagne was acquired.