Tim Wakefield shines as Boston Red Sox defeat Chicago Cubs 5-1 – MLB Update
Tim Wakefield pitched six innings to outplay Chicago Cubs’ offence to give the Boston Red Sox a 5-1 victory at Fenway Park, Boston on Sunday, May 22.
The first win of Wakefield in this season, and 180th of his career resulted in the Cubs’s 2-1 defeat in the series. "Boy, he was really good," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "I guess it shouldn't amaze me because he's been doing that for
such a long time."
Wakefield started the game with his virtually unhittable pitches in the first inning. None of the Cubs’ hitters, Kosuke Fukudome, Darwin Barney or Starlin Castro, was able to play him. While he kept the Cubs’ offence under pressure, Boston’s hitters laid
the foundation of a winning game in the fourth inning.
Wakefield’s rival, James Russell of the Cubs, was taken to task by Jed Lowrie and Mike Cameron. The two had one hit each that earned those singles individually. Lowrie hit a sacrifice fly to centre, allowing Gonzalez to score the first run for Boston. Cameron
also had his sacrifice fly hit to centre, giving the second run to Boston.
Russell gave up three hits in the fifth inning that allowed Jarrod Saltalamacchia to homer to left and triple Boston’s lead, compounding the already cornered Cubs’ woes.
Wakefield gave up a couple of hits in the seventh inning that allowed Jeff Baker to score the only run for Chicago. Baker doubled to deep left centre to score the first run and bring the lead down to 3-1.
John Grabow who had replaced Russell to pitch for the Cubs gave up three hits in the seventh inning. Kevin Youkilis capitalised on one of Grabow’s vulnerable pitching and hit to deep centre that brought him two runs, bringing the team to a safe position.
Trailing by 5-1, the lead was difficult for the Cubs to reverse.
Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon pitched effective 8th and 9th innings to seal the comfortable 5-1 victory for the Red Sox.
It will be interesting to see how Boston carries their winning momentum in the next games that they play. Chicago is going to have to work hard to improve their performance on the field.
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