News
Red Sox out to rebound behind Wake
Boston (78-56) at Chicago (67-69), 4:05 p.m. ET
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
09/05/09 12:37 AM ET
CHICAGO -- Tim Wakefield woke up Friday feeling no worse for the wear from his side session a day earlier, and that was all Red Sox manager Terry Francona needed to officially line up the knuckleballer for a return to the rotation on Saturday afternoon against the White Sox."He threw the ball great [in the side session], which we all knew," Francona said. "We just wanted to see how he would bounce back. If he threw and came in this morning and said, 'Hey, you know what, this is not good,' we wouldn't do that. We know what we're dealing with."
Behind Wakefield, the Red Sox will try to bounce back from the 12-2 blowout the White Sox handed them on Friday night.
With 28 games left in their season, the Red Sox lead the Rangers by two games in the Wild Card standings and trail the Yankees by 7 1/2 games in the American League East.
The game will be nationally televised on FOX, with Kenny Albert and Tim McCarver calling the action.
As far as Wakefield is concerned, the Red Sox know that he won't be fully recovered from back woes until the root of the problem -- a loose fragment -- is surgically removed. The cortisone shot Wakefield had earlier this week has alleviated the pain enough that he thinks he can pitch.
When Wakefield initially returned from the disabled list and threw seven solid innings against the White Sox on Aug. 26, he had to miss his next start when his back locked up again a couple of days later.
"He might not be able to take the ball every five days or six. We know that," Francona said. "He knows that. But we'll just kind of see how he does."
When he's been healthy enough to pitch, Wakefield has been one of Boston's best this season. The right-hander is 11-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 18 starts.
Victor Martinez will catch Wakefield for the second time. Last time, everything was smooth.
"Obviously it was the first day," Martinez said. "I'm not going to talk too loud. It was a great outing by him. Obviously I did a decent job, so I'm really looking forward to having the same kind of confidence behind the plate tomorrow."
And the Red Sox look forward to getting Wakefield back on the hill.
"That's a guy you always want to be on the mound, a veteran guy who knows what he's doing out there," Martinez said. "That's a guy you really want on the mound."
Pitching matchupBOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.12 ERA)
With a cortisone shot alleviating the pain in his troublesome back, the knuckleballer will take the mound for the first time since Aug. 26, and just the second time since July 8. Before the injury, Wakefield was one of Boston's best pitchers this season, earning the first All-Star berth of his career. Wakefield's last start was also against the White Sox and it went well, as he gave up one run over seven innings, taking a no-decision in a game David Ortiz won with a walk-off home run. In eight road starts this season, Wakefield is 4-3 with a 4.78 ERA. CWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (10-9, 3.97 ERA)
Floyd basically made two really bad pitches over the course of six innings Monday night at the Metrodome. But with the White Sox offense just not producing at the time, the two pitches were two too many to prevent a loss. Floyd gave up third-inning home runs to Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel, sandwiched in between a Justin Morneau single, giving Minnesota all the run support it would need during a 4-1 victory. Floyd has a 2-0 career record against Boston and is 15-9 at home lifetime. Tidbits
Michael Bowden will be activated before the game, giving the Red Sox bullpen depth in case Wakefield has a setback in his return. It is Bowden's third stint with the team. ... The Red Sox are 33-35 on the road this season. ... Boston will have a well-rested bullpen in this one, as Daniel Bard, Hideki Okajima, Billy Wagner and Jonathan Papelbon didn't pitch Friday night. ... Mike Lowell is scheduled to start at third base. Tickets
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• WEEI 850, SBN 1150 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Red Sox (Jon Lester, 11-7, 3.58) at White Sox (John Danks, 12-8, 3.82), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 14-5, 3.87) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 11-7, 3.86), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 4-3, 4.40) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
