BOSTON – On the morning of Sept. 11, the Red Sox held a four-game lead on the Yankees and had their boot firmly on the Bombers’ throat.
That day, you might say they half-stepped.
Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was phenomenal over eight innings, but he tossed a curveball that Jason Giambi deposited inside the right-field foul pole for a homer.
Meanwhile, Randy Johnson held the slugging Sox to virtually nothing, and neither team has been the same since the Yankees’ 1-0 victory.
“Even though [Wakefield] got the loss, it was an unbelievable game,” Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli said yesterday afternoon.
And this afternoon, the rematch promises to be tremendous, given that the teams have identical records and playoff berths are at stake.
Over the past three weeks, the Red Sox have seemed as erratic as Dave Chappelle, the popular TV comedian who flushed a $50-million contract when he disappeared from the continent.
Similarly, Boston’s division lead vanished. Beginning on the afternoon of the Big Unit’s big moment, the Sox have gone 11-8 entering today.
It seems counterintuitive to stake your mortgage on someone who tosses an unpredictable knuckler for a living, but the Red Sox wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Wakefield is a guy who you don’t really want to face right now,” David Ortiz said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to hit against him now.”
Wakefield (16-11, 3.96) doesn’t talk before his starts. But pitching coach Dave Wallace said this is as consistent as his knuckler has ever been.
Mirabelli, his personal catcher, said he’s been pitching great for a while. Wakefield is tied for fourth with Jonhson and the White Sox’ Mark Buehrle in the AL with 16 wins. But Wakefield ranks sixth in innings (2201/3) and batting average against (.243), both of which top Johnson’s numbers.
Today’s rematch will be different in one aspect: Ortiz will be in the starting lineup this time. He didn’t start against Johnson on Sept. 11 because his back was tight and the Sox wanted to get the banged-up Johnny Damon a game at DH.
“He won’t rest [today] – whether he’s stiff or not,” Boston manager Terry Francona said.
Ortiz is 2-for-14 lifetime with no homers off Johnson.
“It’s just another game,” Ortiz said. “You’re gonna get prepared, you know you’re gonna face a tough guy.
“I haven’t been very successful against Randy, but I’ve had some quality at-bats. Randy makes it tough on every left-handed hitter.
“Everybody knows that. That’s not news.”
BRAWL FOR IT ALL
Randy Johnson vs. Red Sox
Rec ERA G IP H R ER K BB HR Avg. A
2005 4-0 3.62 5 32.1 28 13 13 36 13 6 .230
Career 12-6 4.25 24 146.0 114 72 69 185 70 19 .213
Tim Wakefield vs. Yankees
Rec ERA G IP H R ER K BB HR Avg. A
2005 1-3 3.03 5 35.2 20 13 12 29 15 7 .157
Career 8-11 4.25 38 163.0 138 89 77 111 82 27 .230
Today
TV – Channel 5
Radio – WCBS 880 AM
Weather – Sunny, 69 degrees
Tomorrow
TV – YES Network
Radio – WCBS 880 AM
Weather – Mostly sunny, 75 degrees
