By Sean McAdam, The Providence Journal
KANSAS CITY — Quality starts and pats on the back are nice, but Tim Wakefield is like anyone else — he’d like a win for his troubles once in a while.
For much of the year, they’ve been tough to come by. Wakefield went into last night with a more-than-respectable ERA (3.77), 15 quality starts and the fourth-lowest batting average against in the American League.
What he didn’t have much of were victories — just six in 22 outings — a number that in no way reflected how well he’s pitched this year. So it was fitting, finally, that the Sox erupted for eight runs in the span of three innings to give Wakefield an 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals and a relatively fret-free night.
“He’s pitched so well,” said Terry Francona in praising his veteran knuckleballer. “But you’re human — the guy’s been giving everything he has. I think everybody in the dugout was happy” when they got runs for him.
Even that took a while, however. While Wakefield was limiting the Royals to one hit over the first four innings and retiring 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced, the Sox weren’t doing much against Royals starter Luke Hochevar.
Boston loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Mike Lowell lined into an inning-ending double play and Sox then mustered just one hit over the next three innings.
But in the fifth, they broke through. With Alex Cora (single) and J.D. Drew aboard, Jed Lowrie drilled a booming double over the head of center fielder Mitch Maier to score two runs and a sharp single up the middle by David Ortiz then scored Lowrie.
In the sixth, the Sox loaded the bases off Hochever, who was removed in favor of lefty Ron Mahay. Drew foiled the strategy by lining a single to right, scoring two.
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