The happiest player this night was Orioles starter Rich Hill, who, besides being a hometown boy (Milton, Massachusetts) got roughed for 10 runs early by his lifelong hometown team. This likely wasn’t how Hill dreamed up his first outing against the Red Sox, and though he would like to forget about it, his offense mounted a historic comeback that Orioles fans (and Hill) won’t soon forget.
Lost in all this was John Smoltz’s one run over four innings to start the game before the rain clouds came. Who knows how much different the outcome would’ve been if not for the hour-plus rain delay, which prevented Smoltz from continuing this promising outing. “Blame it on the rain,” as those famous frauds Milli Vanilli once sang.
The Red Sox would get its revenge the next day, July 1 by mounting a late comeback of its own, scoring four runs in the ninth and one more in the eleventh (courtesy of Julio Lugo) to beat the O’s 6-5. Papelbon easily sealed the deal in the bottom of the 11th for the 133rd save of his career, passing Bob Stanley’s 132 saves to became the Sox all-time leader in saves.
But Friday, July 3 turned out to be Ramon Ramirez’s turn to have an off-night, as he gave up 2 runs, 2 hits, and eventually a 2-run double to Rob Johnson (of all people) in the Red Sox’s 11-inning lost to Seattle last Friday at Fenway Park.
Saturday turned out to be an old-fashioned pitchers duel between Boston’s steady fifth starter Brad Penny and Seattle’s Garrett Olson. But again, the Boston bullpen was the difference, as Saito walked the bases loaded in the ninth, then gave up the game-winning blooper to Chris Woodward.
On the bright side, Masterson and Okajima recovered on Saturday (in relief of Penny) and Sunday (in relief of a red hot Jon Lester) to combine for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of work. Saito and Ramirez however, have control issues to work through if they are going to be effective again in the near future.
Article comments
1 - Tony
It is a total joke that Wakefield is an all star. Record aside, a 4.30 ERA, 1.354 WHIP and 103 hits in 102 innings. There is not one single stat besides his record that even close to qualifies him.
AJ Burnett has a 3.83 ERA, 1.356 WHIP, and has only given up 88 hits in 101 innings and he doesn't even deserve to be an all star. If your era is over 4 you should be automatically excluded.
2 - Charlie
Obviously Tony, much of the rest of the baseball world disagrees with you. From the MLB Network to Fox and ESPN, you won't find much quarreling with Wakefield being an All-Star.
You are looking at this from a Yankees perspective, of course, and I'm not saying that's wrong but you have to look beyond that perspective and stats to understand why Wakefield is an All-Star. Besides, the only really un-All-star like stat is his ERA, and it's a respectable 4.14 now going into the All-Star break, to go with an AL league-leading 11 wins (to go with only 3 losses).
But as you know from reading my first column, Wakefield was the only consistent starter for the Sox, carrying the starting staff for the first 2 months of the season and stopping losing streaks. And people around here (in Boston), thus were talking about him being an All-Star even then.
But if you really want to go deep into the numbers/stats, Wakefield hasn't lost a single game (going 5-0 in 7 starts; 2 no decisions) since May 29. Why? Because he keeps his team in nearly every game (especially at Fenway where he's undefeated at 7-0 this season). When he pitches, the usually Sox win. THAT'S All-Star stuff.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Wakefield has never been an All-Star before, but he's been a staple of the Red Sox staff since the 90s. No, the numbers aren't great, but they're not laughable.
Joe Maddon even said part of this pick is a tip of the cap to Wakefield's entire oeuvre. He may very well retire with 200 wins. C'mon, he's gotta also be an All-Star too.
4 - Tony
There are 25 pitchers in the AL that have a better ERA than Wakefield. I'm not looking at it from a Yankee perspective, you're sucked in by Red Sox nostalgia. I shouldn't have used AJ as an example (even though I said he wasn't an all star either even thoug his stats are the same but the era is lower).
Forget this crap about he's old so he deserves to be on the team. Nick Blackburn, Dallas Braden, Jered Weaver, Garza, Sabathia, there are so many pitchers that deserve to be in it over him. I'll compare him to some non-Yankees
Wakefield: 4.32 era, 1.354 WHIP
Blackburn: 2.94, 1.272
Braden: 3.13, 1.260
Weaver: 3.15, 1.128
Garza: 3.70, 1.207
Sabathia: 3.70, 1.118
Ok I used one Yankee. I had to. But there are five pitchers who have far better stats than Wakefield but they don't get to be All Stars because we feel bad for an old knuckleballer on one of the better offensive teams in baseball. Please. The winner of the All Star game gets homefield now. I don't want my Yankees getting screwed out of home field because some old Charlie Hough wannabe blew the All Star game Aaron Boone-stye.
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
I won't argue those stats, but Tony, is it really that big a deal? If the All-Star game is this sacrosanct event, why do they mandate a player comes from each team? Then we get Lance Carter and Mike Williams and Cesar Izturis as All-Stars. The neighborhood with Tim Wakefield in it isn't shot to hell; everybody else was already there.
THEN we can talk about Wakefield. I mean, his stats aren't great, but remember that Cal Ripken made it in 2001 when he shouldn't've, then ripped the game-winning home run.
And if you're really worried about it "counting," consider: the AL won last year's game. Who on the NL blew the save? None other than World Series champion Brad Lidge.
6 - Tony
You're absolutely right, the All Star game shouldn't be that important. But as long as the MLB attaches home field advatage to it, it is a big deal. And you're right, they should get rid of the whole every team has a guy in it, with the current rules. Or even better, ditch the home field advantage thing.
I know teams beat homefield advantage but in baseball it is a bigger factor than in any other sport.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Since 2003, the AL has won every All-Star game, affecting six World Series locations. The winners by league? AL 3, NL 3.
8 - Tony
That may be so but its coincidence. Teams are many times built to the ball park they plan in. Having the World Series home field advantage in a place like Fenway is an advantage. It isn't the end-all factor as to if a team will win or lose but if there is even such a thing as home field advantage it applies to baseball the most.
9 - charlie
Tony, I know you're angry about this, but there's no need for the "Charlie Hough wannabe" cheap shot. Wakefield's an All-Star. Burnett and Sabathia aren't. Time to move on.
Remember, whatever you think of Wakefield's numbers (and he does lead the AL in wins), just think back a few years ago when Mark Redman of the Royals was selected as an All-Star with an ERA well over 5. I think all of us are in agreement that the every team gets an All-Star rule should be canned so REALLY bad selections like that don't happen ever again.
10 - Tony
I'm not at all angry about Sabathia or Burnett not making the team. I even specifically said Burnett didn't belong. I did name four other non-Yankees that deserve it over Wakefield so take that for what you will.
As I said, lose the homefield advantage rule and I'm fine with Wakefield getting ceremonial nod but with the rules as is its just not right, and no pass mistakes justify it. I believe Redman made the team because they had to have a Royal, which is another stupid rule if the came "counts."