July 6th @ Tampa Bay

[MANNYHOF24]

07/06/2006 1:40 AM ET

Sox looking to avert history

Boston (50-32) at Tampa Bay (38-47), 7:15 p.m. ET

By Dawn Klemish / MLB.com

 

If anyone can save Boston from being swept by the Rays for the first time in history, it's Tim Wakefield. Boston's right-hander is 14-2 in 31 appearances against Tampa Bay and sports a 6-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 16 games at Tropicana Field.

Wakefield has been the picture of consistency this year, allowing three or fewer runs in 14 of his 17 starts, but he has been a victim of poor run support on several occasions.

 

The Rays will send James Shields to the mound on Thursday. Shields, a righty, went 4-0 in his first five starts, suffering his first loss June 26 after allowing seven runs in five innings at Florida. He earned a no-decision in his last outing, giving up three runs on seven hits in seven innings at Washington.

 

Shields has not faced the Red Sox in his career, but he is 2-0 at Tropicana Field this season with a 1.38 ERA.

 

Pitching matchup

BOS: RHP Tim Wakefield (6-8, 3.90 ERA)

The Rays are hitting .211 as a team lifetime against Wakefield.

 

TB: RHP James Shields (4-1, 4.39 ERA)

He owns a 1.38 ERA at Tropicana Field this season.

 

 

Player to watch

The Red Sox need to do a better job of containing Carl Crawford. In the Ray's 5-2 win on Wednesday, the speedy outfielder swiped three bases, including a straight swipe of home.

 

 

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio

• Gameday

• Official game notes

 

On television

• NESN

 

On radio

• WEEI 850 AM, WROL 950 AM (Espa?ol)

 

Up next

• Friday: Red Sox (LHP Jon Lester, 3-0, 3.08) at White Sox (LHP Mark Buerhle, 9-5, 3.86), 8:35 p.m. ET

• Saturday: Red Sox (RHP Josh Beckett, 10-4, 4.59) at White Sox (RHP Freddy Garcia, 10-5, 4.72) 1:25 p.m. ET

• Sunday: Red Sox (RHP Josh Beckett, 10-4, 4.59) at White Sox (RHP Freddy Garcia, 10-5, 4.72) 1:25 p.m. ET

 

Dawn Klemish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

 

Its time for a little Manny MoJo!!

[RedSoxRooter]

Player to watch

The Red Sox need to do a better job of containing Carl Crawford. In the Ray's 5-2 win on Wednesday, the speedy outfielder swiped three bases, including a straight swipe of home.

 

Great. Good thing we got the knuckleballer going tonight..

[jsinger121]

just win dammit

[Beckett95]

lets please not get swept by Tampa Bay

[DUSTINMOHR4LIFE]

we better win. I beg you Wake, keep Crawford off the bases!

[riverside sluggers]

I have trust in Wake. He's always had his success against Tampa Bay, especially at the Trop. Im most concerned is the offense facing a rookie pitcher, and the fact that a lot of this season has seem Wake get nill run support.

--------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------

James Shields (1st career appearance vs Boston---Career at Tropicana Field in 2 games, 2-0 record with a 1.38 ERA)

 

Tim Wakefield (21 games vs Tampa Bay, 14-2 record with a 2.77 ERA---Career at Tropicana Field in 16 games, 6-0 record with a 2.08 ERA)

Julio Lugo, 8 for 34 (.235 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 7 Walks, 8 Ks, 4 SBs

Carl Crawford, 19 for 58 (.328 avg) 4 Doubles, Triple, HR, 7 RBIs, 3 Ks, 7 SBs

Rocco Baldelli, 3 for 23 (.130 avg) 4 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks, SB

Aubrey Huff, 4 for 42 (.095 avg) 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, Walk, 7 Ks

Jorge Cantu, 6 for 18 (.333 avg) RBI, 4 Walks

Jonny Gomes, 4 for 14 (.286 avg) Double, HR, RBI, 3 Walks, 4 Ks

Travis Lee, 12 for 34 (.354 avg) 2 Doubles, 4 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 Walks, K, SB

Ty Wigginton, 0 for 6

Dioner Navarro --

///

Russell Branyan, 2 for 11 (.182 avg) 4 RBIs, 3 Ks

Damon Hollins, 0 for 6, K

Greg Norton, 1 for 8 (.125 avg) Double, 2 Walks, 3 Ks

Josh Paul, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double

Tomas Perez, 1 for 16 (.063 avg) Walk, 2 Ks

 

EDIT: Im surprised the D-rays have Huff in the lineup tonight, let alone hitting in the cleanup spot.

[Cocos Disciples]

we better win. I beg you Wake, keep Crawford off the bases!

 

Once he gets on, he's making it a triple. But not a homer!

[MC Hammer]

Once he gets on' date=' he's making it a triple. But not a homer![/quote']

If he left third the same time Wake let go off the ball theres a chance he may be able to beat it to the plate, so I wouldn't count that out.

[Cocos Disciples]

I doubt he would if Wake is in stretch. The big thing with Johnson was the looooooooooooooooooooong time he took to deliver it, I don't think 25 MPH would make a difference if the windup is so much faster.

[ORS]

Time to kill something.

 

http://www.markandmeg.com/mark/spear.jpg

[ORS]

I was just about to compliment this kid's changeup, but then he hung one to Manny. Can't do that.

[BoSox21]

FINALLY, some early run support

[RoyNHSox]

Manny hits a 2 run HR…the FIRST time in this whole series the Sox have had the lead.

[ORS]

He does have a silly changeup. Everything else he throws is crap though.

[NomahsHammSammich]

Keep hitting us you fuggin cack-sackers! Woo-hoo..What a BOMB!

[NomahsHammSammich]

Rocko's nose got in the way.

[ORS]

Wake's got that thing dialed up to full shimy-n-shake. That thing is fluttering.

[RedSoxRooter]

:stop: That's got to be Bob's wife. He's too damn cheap to hire actors. That's how he keeps the prices so low!

[ORS]

Wake up guys. Dude throws 100% changeups with 2-strikes. And, he's started everyone off with a FB. Make him pay for being so predictable. Manny did.

[NomahsHammSammich]

Randy Johnson is PERFECT through 4..

[Papelbon58]

did you post that in the no hitter thread?

we need to jinx it

[Teddyballgame10]

What the hell was he looking at?

[ORS]

This just came out of the Rays announcer's cock pocket: "Manny Ramirez is such a disciplined 2-strike hitter, he just grinds out at bats".....then, after the count goes 0-2, "He tends to be overly aggressive in these counts so Shields could get him to chase here."

 

Seriously, these two sentences came out of the same guy's mouth less than 20 seconds apart. This asshat is using up entirely too much valuable oxygen.

[yeszir]

This just came out of the Rays announcer's cock pocket: "Manny Ramirez is such a disciplined 2-strike hitter, he just grinds out at bats".....then, after the count goes 0-2, "He tends to be overly aggressive in these counts so Shields could get him to chase here."

 

Seriously, these two sentences came out of the same guy's mouth less than 20 seconds apart. This asshat is using up entirely too much valuable oxygen.

Cock pocket.

[ORS]

Doug Mirabelli is a stud who hits bombs.

[Matt]

Dougie's going deep tonight!

[ORS]

Suck on that, Dwayne. The curly-haired, knob-gobbler announcer for the Rays was just complaining that Shields hasn't gotten the majority of a lot of close calls from the ump.

 

Manny, pile on here.

[RedSoxRooter]

Doug Mirabelli is a stud who hits bombs.

 

This should be it's own thread like the Papelbon one.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Another solid inning by Craig Hansen....but question....

 

Does Jonathan Papelbon have more velocity than Craig Hansen?? I'm not sure if its just the radar guns in Tampa Bay but it seemed Hanen was throwing 93 mph??

[Cocos Disciples]

Slow game thread tonight...happy birthday me.