NewsHistory, All-Star nod on Wake's mind
Seattle (40-38) at Boston (48-30), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com
07/03/09 12:48 AM ET
BALTIMORE -- Tim Wakefield will open the Red Sox's series against the Mariners on Friday, which will also be the 383rd start of his career with Boston, passing Roger Clemens and making him the all-time leader in franchise history.And the 42-year-old knuckleballer will also continue to make a case for his first selection to the American League All-Star team.
Wakefield is off to one of his best starts, posting a 10-3 record with a 4.18 ERA through his first 15 games. His last outing was a 1-0 victory over the Braves in Atlanta on Saturday. Wakefield has already tied the number of wins from last season -- Wakefield went 10-11 -- and has grown into one of the AL's most effective starters. But picking pitchers for the All-Star Game is a tough task, and nothing's written in stone. The question is if there'll be room for Wakefield. It's something manager Terry Francona knows well, having run the AL team twice after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and '07. "Knowing the voting and how it works, I know that it's tough," Francona said. "But if there's ever a year he deserves it, it's now." Pitching matchupBOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (10-3, 4.18 ERA)
Wakefield has been a rock for the Red Sox all season. His last start was one of his best. He threw six shutout innings, allowing three hits. Wakefield has 10 quality starts and has held opponents to a .255 average. Wakefield has been strong at Fenway Park this season, going 6-0 with a 3.55 ERA in seven starts. This is his first start of the season against Seattle. Lifetime against the Mariners, Wakefield is 4-9 with a 4.06 ERA. SEA: RHP Felix Hernandez (8-3, 2.54 ERA)
Hernandez returns to the scene of one of his best career starts -- a one-hitter against the Red Sox at Fenway Park three years ago -- on a big-time roll. The ace right-hander has surrendered five earned runs in his past 53 innings, striking out 51 over that span. His two-seam fastball has been his bread-and-butter pitch, and rookie catcher Rob Johnson has not been shy about calling for it. Tidbits
J.D. Drew was again effective in the leadoff spot for the second time in the Baltimore series. He got two hits in the 6-5 victory on Wednesday and finished with five hits overall. ... Jeff Bailey is making a quick impression since being called up earlier this week. He's 3-for-5 with four runs scored. In addition, his flyout to right moved the winning run into scoring position in the 11th inning of Wednesday's win over Baltimore. Tickets
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• Saturday: Mariners (Garrett Olson, 3-2, 4.81) at Red Sox (Brad Penny, 6-3, 4.79), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Mariners (Brandon Morrow, 0-3, 5.14) at Red Sox (Jon Lester, 7-6, 4.35), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Athletics (Gio Gonzalez, 0-2, 7.27) at Red Sox (TBD), 7:10 p.m. ET
Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
