Tim Wakefield, Red Sox Eye Series Sweep Over Cole Hamels and Phillies

It'll be hard to top the drama we saw Saturday at Fenway Park. The Red Sox likely don't care — they simply want the sweep.

After a stirring and almost awkward 10-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, the Sox send Tim Wakefield to the mound to try to take three straight in the series.

Daniel Nava, signed out of the independent leagues three years ago and brought up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, hit a grand slam in his first major league at-bat to highlight the victory. It also included solid performances from five relievers who combined to cover for the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka.

In the minutes before the game was about to start, Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.   

WHEN AND WHERE

Phillies (31-29) at Red Sox (37-27)
Sunday, June 13, 1:35 p.m. (NESN)
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sox have won 18 of the last 23 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Cole Hamels (5-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP Tim Wakefield (2-4, 5.48 ERA)

Wakefield is coming off a quality outing in Cleveland five days ago, but it was his start in Philly last month that stands out.

The 43-year-old outdueled Phillies ace Roy Halladay by tossing eight shutout innings. He allowed only five hits in picking up his first victory since last July.

The gem boosted Wakefield to 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA in his career against Philadelphia.

Hamels also shined during that series. In the opener — a 5-1 win for the Phils — he allowed only a run on three hits in seven innings, striking out eight.

Since that start, the lefty is 0-3 with a 4.20 ERA.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston has compiled at least 10 runs on at least 16 hits in consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2004.
• Right fielder J.D. Drew fell a triple shy of the cycle Saturday and is now batting .326 (45-for-138) with 25 RBIs in his last 39 games.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis was hit by a pitch for the 65th time, passing Jim Rice and moving into second place on the franchise list. Mo Vaughn is first with 71.

Phillies

• The club has allowed double-digit runs in two straight games after holding opponents to nine runs or less in the first 58 games of the season.
• Philadelphia starters have given up nine earned runs in consecutive games for the first time since 1952.
• Reserve catcher Brian Schneider is 7-for-12 over his last four games.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a right forearm strain.
• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday after an MRI revealed five fractured ribs, the result of a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre one week earlier.
• An MRI conducted Wednesday revealed a new fracture in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's ribs. Ellsbury, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 28 for the second time this year, will head to the Athletes' Performance center in Arizona for at least two weeks of rest and recovery.
• Youkilis left Saturday's game after the hit-by-pitch. He has no structural damage and is day-to-day.
• Josh Beckett threw 30 times from 60 feet Saturday. He will step back to 90 feet soon and then to 120 feet after a day of rest.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie continues to try to work back from mononucleosis.

Phillies

• Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment June 14. He has been on the DL twice this year with a right calf strain.
• Lefty J.A. Happ is on a rehab assignment of his own as he tries to work his way back from left forearm soreness.
• Right-handed reliever Ryan Madson has begun to throw long toss. He went on the DL in late April with a broken right big toe.

OUTLOOK

The Phillies are in a tailspin and a pregame players' meeting Saturday did little to help things out. They have lost 14 of their last 19 and have been outscored 22-4 by the Red Sox in this series.

Boston has won four in a row over Philadelphia since Cole Hamels shut down the Red Sox back on May 21. Perhaps the Phils can hang their hats on that Sunday. Otherwise this will be an easy sweep for the Sox.