Wakefield Outpitched As Red Sox Lose 3-1
CHICAGO (AP) - Gavin Floyd outpitched Tim Wakefield, A.J. Pierzynski hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Friday night.
Chicago's seventh straight victory over Boston and 14th in the last 16 games between the teams denied the 44-year-old knuckleballing Wakefield his 200th career win. Floyd (9-9) won his third straight start. He gave up a run and three hits in seven innings, including a homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and ran his career record against the Red Sox to 6-0.
Wakefield (6-4) also allowed three hits in seven innings. But his wild pitch in the sixth helped set up the tying run on Paul Konerko's sacrifice fly. And he walked Carlos Quentin to start the bottom of the seventh before Pierzynski drove his fifth homer of the season into the right-center field seats to give the White Sox a two-run lead.
Matt Thornton pitched the eighth and Sergio Santos the ninth for his 22nd save in 25 games. The Red Sox played without major league RBIs and batting average leader Adrian Gonzalez, a late lineup scratch with a stiff neck.
Dustin Pedroia went 0 for 4 and his 25-game hitting streak was snapped.
Saltalamacchia worked a 3-2 count off Floyd before hitting his ninth homer to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the third.
The Red Sox threatened in the sixth, loading the bases as Marco Scutaro beat out an infield single and Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz walked before Floyd threw a called third strike past Kevin Youklis.
Wakefield held the White Sox hitless through 3 2-3 innings before Adam Dunn singled in the fourth, and Chicago didn't get another hit until Juan Pierre had a bunt single to start the bottom of the sixth.
Switch-hitting Omar Vizquel, batting right-handed against the right-handed Wakefield, sacrificed before Pierre made third on a wild pitch. Konerko then delivered his sacrifice fly to left.
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