clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Rays 7, Red Sox 3: Boston Can't Overcome Tim Wakefield's Meltdown

The Red Sox dropped their second game of Friday to the Rays 7-3 as Tim Wakefield allowed four home runs in three innings.

Unfortunately for Wakefield, this performance could not have come at a worse time.

On a day which saw the security of Wake's roster spot come into question, he really didn't do much to help himself. Maybe it was just one of those days for the knuckleball, but for whatever reason it was just home run after home run.

The torrent started with two outs in the second inning with Kelly Shoppach's 2-run homer, and continued two batters later with another 2-run bomb, this time from Ben Zobrist. The two runs that came in the third came on two solo shots, hit back-to-back by Evan Longoria and Manny Ramirez. While Wakefield would escape the inning, the damage had very much been done.

The Red Sox offense was not at all up to the task of mounting a comeback, either. When all was said and done, the Red Sox had managed only five hits, and largely failed to take advantage of the Six walks offered up by Tampa Bay pitching. 

Offensively, it was about the same story as in the game against Detroit. The Sox put together one decent inning in the fifth thanks to two singles, two walks, a hit batter, and a wild pitch, but were otherwise held in check.

For more on Friday's game, and to follow the Red Sox throughout the year, visit Over The Monster.