Wakefield: It's his decision
This time it goes in veteran's favor
There is no middle ground for Tim Wakefield when he pitches. Eighteen times he has started this season; 18 times he has gone home with either a win or a loss. No other pitcher in baseball has had as many decisions as Wakefield, who is now 10-8 after beating the Toronto Blue Jays last night, 7-4.
Is there a clause in his contract that stipulates every Wakefield start must have a decision attached to it? Wakefield laughed.
‘‘Seems that way,’’ the Red Sox knuckleballer said. ‘‘I wish I did. When I talked to John [Farrell] and Tito [Terry Francona] before the season, I asked them what they wanted out of me, and they said innings and decisions. I’ve been able to accommodate both of those so far this year. As long as there are W’s on there, I don’t mind getting decisions, that’s for sure.’’
Wakefield was touched for a run in the top of the first inning when Vernon Wells led off with a single and came around on an infield out, a base hit by Alex Rios, and a sacrifice fly by Frank Thomas. Dustin Pedroia’s defense spared Wakefield further trouble, the rookie second baseman making a diving backhanded stop and springing up quickly to throw out Troy Glaus.
"He saved us a run there," Wakefield said. "It was a huge play at that point in the game. After that, our offense went ahead and scored four off [Roy] Halladay early, and gave me a huge cushion that made my job easier.’’
The Blue Jays scored again in the fifth on a single by Aaron Hill, a wild pitch, an infield out, and John McDonald’s sacrifice fly, then cut the lead to 5-4 in the sixth when Matt Stairs and Rios hit back-to-back home runs.
"Matt Stairs hit the first pitch and hit a fly ball to right," Wakefield said. "Dougie [Mirabelli, the catcher] and I talked about it afterward, and when he hit it, I thought it was an out. But, unfortunately, sometimes the prevailing wind is blowing out, and it carried into the bullpen.
"Rios, I got ahead of him and thought I made a good pitch — Dougie said it was the best knuckleball I threw all night — but, unfortunately, it went right into his swing path.’’
Flat-out caught
Wakefield also got an unexpected defensive contribution from left fielder Manny Ramírez, who in his typical flatfooted style threw out the tortoiselike Thomas when he tried for a double to start the fourth. ‘‘It’s actually kind of humorous, but it works out well for him,’’ said right fielder J.D. Drew. ‘‘I told him he lobbed a grenade to second and it landed perfect. I don’t even know if he knew where he was throwing it, but it worked out great. The thing he does that I think is key as an outfielder and I’ve always tried to do is get rid of the ball as fast as you can and get it back to your infielders and let them deal with it.’’ ... X-rays were negative on Scott Downs’s right foot after the Jays pitcher was struck by a Pedroia line drive in the eighth inning. He has a bruise, just above his ankle. ‘‘It’ll probably be sore tomorrow, I imagine, pretty good,’’ said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who in the seventh inning was ejected after arguing a safe call when Julio Lugo reached on an error.Schilling stepping it up
Curt Schilling played catch yesterday and is supposed to throw a 30- to 35-pitch side session today.‘‘Kind of excited to see him get up on the mound,’’ Francona said. ‘‘That’s the next big step.’’
Last night was the 17th game Schilling missed since going on the disabled list with what the club is calling tendinitis in his right shoulder. Before leaving for the All-Star break Sunday night, Schilling expressed satisfaction in the progress he has made in strengthening his shoulder and learning some additional maintenance techniques that should allow him to be an effective starter in the last two months of the season. Assuming there are no setbacks, Schilling should be back by the end of the month.
Piñeiro ready
Reliever Joel Piñeiro threw 13 pitches, 11 for strikes, in a rehab assignment Wednesday in Lowell and is expected to be activated tonight, which probably means first baseman Jeff Bailey will return to Pawtucket. Brendan Donnelly’s turn in Lowell comes tonight; Francona said the Sox will then discuss Donnelly’s next step, which suggests another rehab appearance may be in the offing ... Schilling’s blog is called 38pitches, but former Sox pitcher Rudy Seanez recently made his own claim to the number. On July 2, Seanez, who wears 38 for the Dodgers, turned 38. At that point in the season, according to Bill Arnold of the SportsFeatures Group, he had thrown 38 innings, and struck out 38 batters ... As the Sox prepare to monitor Clay Buchholz’s Triple A debut Monday night in Pawtucket, it’s worth noting Buchholz was drafted by the Sox with the 2005 sandwich draft pick (42d pick overall) they were awarded for the Mets’ signing of Pedro Martínez following the 2004 season. Martínez is rehabbing and hoping to return later this season. Buchholz could be promoted, a la Jonathan Papelbon, before the end of the season ... Here’s one reason the Sox are not dismissive about Daisuke Matsuzaka’s concern for privacy. General manager Theo Epstein’s car has been vandalized and obscenities were spray-painted on his condo, along with an admonition not to trade Ramírez ... The PawSox, who have been promoting Jim Rice’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame, have a giveaway July 20 honoring Rice’s Triple Crown season in 1974 for Pawtucket. The first 4,000 kids 14 and under entering the park will be given a commemorative plaque.Christopher L. Gasper of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Daniel Malloy contributed to this report. 