Pap begins by fanning Adam Jones (his second K this evening), gets Matt Wieters to pop up in foul ground after an extremely lengthy at-bat, then concludes the evening with a resounding strikeout of Josh Bell.
Congrats to the Red Sox, who earn their 500th win over Baltimore since 1954!
End 8th, 2-2: Once again, Daniel Nava plays hero, as he pinch-hits for Eric Patterson. He scores Marco Scutaro on a bloop single that falls just inside the first baseline as three Orioles scramble to get it.
The hit is allowed by Will Ohman, who houses a 0-0 record and a 2.96 ERA.
After 25 straight scoreless outings to begin the season, Ohman saw it come to an end on June 6 against Boston, when he blew a save. Bad luck against Boston, for sure.
Two outs, 8th inning, 2-2: Darnell McDonald leads off the frame with a strikeout, casting a bit of a flummoxed look at the plate before proceeding to the dugout. It's not the first time a Red Sox has had an unfavorable reaction to a strikeout call by the home-plate ump. In the sixth, Kevin Youkilis struck out to end the frame and argued vehemently.
After Brad Bergesen retires his ninth straight batter, he allows a two-out double to Marco Scutaro, and that's the end of his night.
Middle 8th, 2-2: The one-out curse has returned.
After Tim Wakefield retires Corey Patterson, Miguel Tejada singles, bringing up the dangerous Nick Markakis.
But Wakefield retires him on a flyout to right, and Eric Patterson makes a potentially game-saving catch on a sinking liner to left to help Wake out of the jam.
End 7th, 2-2: J.D. Drew gets a rousing ovation when he comes up to the plate with one out in the seventh, but it appears the magic has died. Drew fans for the second out of the frame, and by inning's end, Bergesen has retired six straight.
Success at Fenway is nothing new for Bergesen. In his only other start at Boston on July 24, 2009, he allowed three runs with five K's over six innings, but he still took the loss.
Middle 7th, 2-2: Both pitchers have been incredibly efficient tonight. Through six, Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen has thrown just 77 pitches, and Tim Wakefield has surpassed his effort.
Though he tallies his first walk in the seventh, he retires the side in order and notches his fourth strikeout of the night, finishing the seventh having thrown 83 pitches.
End 6th, 2-2: Aside from J.D. Drew, 24-year-old Bergesen has had no problem dealing with this Red Sox lineup. He retires the side and notches two strikeouts.
It's no wonder that Drew is the one he struggled with. Prior to Friday's game, lefties were hitting .351 against the right-handed hurler.
By the way, it appears that Kevin Youkilis is fine after coming down on the bag awkwardly in the fourth. He has just enough energy left in him to effusively argue a called strike three that ends the frame.
Middle 6th, 2-2: Tim Wakefield cruises through the sixth inning, and for the first time since the first, he doesn't allow a hit. He also tallies two strikeouts against the heart of Baltimore's order.
Wakefield has yet to walk a man tonight, and that's reflective of his entire season thus far. He ranks seventh in the AL with just 1.98 walks allowed per nine innings.
End 5th, 2-2: J.D. Drew comes through again, homering in his second straight at-bat to knot this one at 2.
He goes deep on a 1-1 offering from Brad Bergesen for his 10th of the year. It's his 17th career multi-home run game, and it's his second against Baltimore this season. The other came on April 30 at Camden Yards.
Guess that extra day off on Wednesday did him some good.
Middle 5th, Orioles 2-1: Trouble hits for Tim Wakefield in the fifth — and once again, it's caused by the curse of the one-out hit.
For the fourth straight frame, Wake allows a hit after retiring the leadoff man, and this time, Cesar Izturis' two-out single puts two on with two out. Corey Patterson's gapper gives Baltimore the lead.
End 4th, 1-1: Eric Patterson is one of many names on this roster that may not be familiar, due to the extensive injuries. The utilityman was acquired from Oakland on Saturday in exchange for lefty Fabian Williamson, and he collected his first hit as a Red Sox on Wednesday against Tampa.
He leads off this inning with a groundout to second, which Julio Lugo handles nicely, stabbing it and firing to first just in time.
Kevin Youkilis reaches with two outs on an error by Miguel Tejada, whose throw to first is high — and as if this injury situation could possibly get more devastating, he appears to wince as he comes down on the bag. We'll keep you updated.
Middle 4th, 1-1: After about a 10-second break for the bottom of the frame, Tim Wakefield trots back out for the fourth and allows a one-out hit for the third consecutive inning — and this one hurts, as it's a Nick Markakis dinger.
But Wake redeems himself by the end of the inning, earning his first K, courtesy of Adam Jones.
As usual, Markakis is having a stellar offensive season. He's tied for first in the AL in doubles (24) and is 16th in the league in average (.303 entering Friday).
End 3rd, Red Sox 1-0: Kevin Cash gets his first at-bat at Fenway since 2008, and his welcome from the Fenway Faithful is relatively understated.
The catcher sends a towering popup to right for the second out of the inning.
The whirlwind Cash has been through in the past few days has to feel good; he was DFA'd on June 22, after which he was optioned outright to Triple-A Round Rock the next day.
About a week later, he's in the starting lineup for the Red Sox. Good times.
Middle 3rd, Red Sox 1-0: Newbie Josh Bell leads off the third. He made his major league debut on Thursday against Oakland, picking up his first hit.
He doesn't fare so well against the knuckleballer, however, grounding out to second and bringing up old friend Julio Lugo, who is welcomed with a steady chorus of boos.
Lugo singles over the leap of his replacement, Marco Scutaro.
Once again, Wake works around the one-out single.
End 2nd, Red Sox 1-0: Kevin Youkilis nails a leadoff single off the wall in left, perpetuating a streak in which he has reached base in 64 of 74 games.
Unfortunately, he's erased when Adrian Beltre grounds into a double play — and when J.D. Drew hits a two-out homer, that double-play ball becomes a bit more frustrating.
It's Drew's ninth homer of the year, his first since June 18 against the Dodgers.
Middle 2nd: Tim Wakefield isn't the only one sealing himself into the record books tonight; manager Terry Francona is on pace to earn his 898th career win. Two more after tonight and he'll be one of nine active managers to reach 900.
Tim Wakefield works around a one-out single by Adam Jones to get out of the inning, and Kevin Cash gets off to a good start, throwing out Jones for the final out as he tries to steal second.
End 1st: Not that we're looking ahead or anything, but a win against the Orioles tonight would be Boston's 500th since the club moved to Baltimore in 1954. That's Boston's most ever against one team over that span.
Adam Jones robs Eric Patterson of a one-out double, making a running, leaping catch at the 379-marker in center to help Brad Bergesen get a quick inning.
An update on the Mike Cameron situation: He was scratched due to abdominal soreness.
Middle 1st: A collision out in left-center is very narrowly avoided, as Eric Patterson and Darnell McDonald are both going for the Corey Patterson offering Fortunately, Cameron makes the grab for the first out in a breezy 1-2-3 inning for Tim Wakefield.
Mike Cameron was a late scratch in this one and was replaced by McDonald. We'll keep you updated on any developments in that situation. The Red Sox could really use another injury right now.
6:07 p.m.: More news on Manny Delcarmen's somewhat unexpected stint on the DL.
"He's been fighting us for about a week, and actually, I think this happens a bit more than people probably know," Terry Francona said. "But when it gets in the way of guys being productive, then we have to do something about it. He was obviously having a tough time."
Replacing Delcarmen on the roster is Pawtucket right-hander Robert Manuel, who was named an International League All Star on Wednesday.
Francona said Delcarmen underwent an MRI on Friday as a precautionary measure, and that the medical staff believes the injury is only a strained muscle. Better safe than sorry.
5:47 p.m.: Amidst the abundance of unfortunate injury news the Red Sox have had to offer in the past week, manager Terry Francona revealed a couple bits of good news on Friday.
Josh Beckett is blazing down the comeback trail and will accompany the team for next week's road trip to Tampa Bay.
"He will go with us on this trip, and on Tuesday, he'll run over to Sarasota and pitch in the Gulf Coast game. I think it starts at noon," Fracona said, adding that the goal is for Beckett to throw three innings or about 55 pitches.
Francona also shared a positive report concerning Clay Buchholz, who is in line to start on Monday at Tampa Bay.
"He threw some pitches off the mound after Beckett [on Thursday] and did fine," Francona said. "I think we're cautiously optimistic that he'll be OK."
5:22 p.m.: Lineups are in at Fenway Park, and new arrival Kevin Cash is hitting ninth and will be behind the plate for Tim Wakefield.
Wakefield will be making his 201st career start at Fenway, passing Roger Clemens for the most starts ever at the Fens. Additionally, those 200 starts are the most ever of any active pitcher at one park (the next pitchers on that list are Andy Pettitte, who has pitched 167 games at the old Yankee Stadium, and Mark Buehrle, who has pitched 167 times at U.S. Cellular Field).
Red Sox
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Eric Patterson, LF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Bill Hall, 2B
8. Mike Cameron, CF
9. Kevin Cash, C
Orioles
1. Corey Patterson, LF
2. Miguel Tejada, 3B
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Ty Wigginton, 1B
5. Adam Jones, CF
6. Matt Wieters, C
7. Josh Bell, DH
8. Julio Lugo, 2B
9. Cesar Izturis, SS
8 a.m.: Never have the Red Sox been happier to welcome the Orioles to town.
Just when it seemed that the injury situation couldn’t get any worse with Victor Martinez and Dustin Pedroia both on the disabled list, catcher Jason Varitek went down after foul-tipping a pitch off his foot during Wednesday’s loss to the Rays.
As a result, the team acquired old friend Kevin Cash from Houston on Thursday to help salvage what has become a very tricky catching situation throughout the organization, made worse by the fact that both of the Red Sox’ top pitching prospects in the minors are also on the DL with hand injuries.
Hopefully, after swallowing a 9-4 loss to end what was a promising June, Boston will be able to right the ship against its favorite AL East opponent.
When the Red Sox faced Baltimore earlier this month, they went 2-1, outscoring the Birds 22-6 at Camden Yards. With Tim Wakefield on the mound facing Brad Bergesen, Boston will attempt to get things rolling in the right direction in July.
