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.

What do you think?  Leave a comment.

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

Phillies Red Sox
Shane Victorino, CF
Placido Polanco, 3B
Chase Utley, 2B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Ben Francisco, DH
Juan Castro, SS
Carlos Ruiz, C
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, C
Adrien Beltre, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Lowell, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Darnell McDonald, CF
Daniel Nava, LF

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

Phillies

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

Phillies

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.