Red Sox Wakefield Goes For Win 200
BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Red Sox will battle the Oakland Athletics, and the elements, this weekend at Fenway Park.
The first-place Red Sox, fresh off taking three-of-four from the Rangers in Texas, open up a nine-game home stand with three games in two days with the A's in preparation for Hurricane Irene. Sunday afternoon's tilt was moved to Saturday at 5pm as part of a double-header.
For Tim Wakefield, he is hoping the sixth time is the charm in seeking his 200th career victory on Friday. The knuckleballer is 4-0 in his last six starts at Fenway. But since picking up career win number-199 on July 24, Wakefield is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. He carried a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning his last time out against the Royals, but he along with the bullpen let it slip away.
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Speaking of things slipping away, the Athletics owned a 7-1 lead over the Yankees on Thursday but gave up three grand slams en route to an embarrassing 22-9 loss. Oakland did take two-of-three in the Bronx, allowing the Sox to take a game lead in the AL East.
Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has rediscovered his power-stroke, blasting five home runs in the last three games. Between Wednesday and Thursday's wins, he hit three consecutive pitches out of the yard.
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Gonzalez leads baseball with a .348 average, 181 hits and 294 total bases. He is second with 102 RBI, trailing only the Yankees Curtis Granderson who has driven in 103.
Boston is 4-1 against Oakland this season.
Red Sox Pitching Matchups vs. The Athletics
- Friday 7:10 pm
Gio Gonzalez (10-11, 3.24 ERA) vs Tim Wakefield (6-5, 4.97 ERA)
- Saturday 12:00pm
Guillermo Moscoso (6-7, 3.28) vs Jon Lester (13-6, 3.16)
- Saturday 5:00pm
TBD vs Erik Bedard (4-9, 3.57)
