The cold and wet conditions were perhaps the worst thing Tim Wakefield and his ailing body could have asked for Monday night, but despite the ugly weather, the old knuckler did all he could to put his team in position to win.
Wakefield left the outing with the lead after five innings — that’s all the Sox staff and fans could have asked for. Although he exited with the lead, Wake’s numbers weren’t exactly jaw-dropping, especially having issued seven free passes.
“A lot of walks. In saying that, the knuckleball that Jacobs hit came down into his swing path for the three-run homer, that was a big majority of the runs,” manager Terry Francona told NESN’s Heidi Watney. “So he competed. It was an ugly night weather wise, it was hard for him. But saying that, when he left, we still had a three-run lead and we tacked on for a four-run lead and we couldn’t hold it.”
The 43-year-old was also able to field his position when necessary, including a come-backer in the first inning.
“You’re going to see him limp when he has to cover home or cover first,” Francona added. “That’s not going to go away.”
