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Revision as of 07:43, 20 April 2005 by 128.135.62.64 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966 in Melbourne, Florida) is a Major League Baseball knuckleballer right-handed pitcher who plays with the Boston Red Sox (1995-present).
Wakefield started his major league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, and signed as a free agent with Boston in 1995. He won 16 games in his first year with the Red Sox and helped them win a division title. His longevity and consistency have helped him quietly become one of the top pitchers in Red Sox history.
Over his career, Wakefield has been used as not only a starter, but a relief pitcher coming out of the bullpen.
In the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield was one of the most formidable pitchers to the Yankees, allowing only three runs in 13 innings pitched starting Games 1 and 4 of the series, with the Red Sox winning both. He also was called in to pitch the extra innings of Game 7 after Boston took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the 8th before the Yankees tied it up. After retiring the side in order in the 10th, Wakefield gave up a home run to Aaron Boone on the first pitch that sealed the game for the Yankees and sent them to the World Series. Wakefield apologized after the game to fans.
In 2004, Wakefield helped the Red Sox exact revenge by winning the ALCS against the Yankees, in a best of 7 game series to advance to the World Series. He pitched the Game 1 of the series and ended without a decision. Boston defeated the Cardinals 11 to 9 after a two-run home run from Mark Bellhorn in the eighth inning.
In a 12-year career, Wakefield has compiled a career 128-111 record with 1438 strikeouts and a 4.28 ERA in 2066.2 innings.
Facts
- Wakefield is one of ten Red Sox pitchers with 100 or more wins (113). Cy Young (193), Roger Clemens (192), Mel Parnell (123), Luis Tiant (122), Pedro Martinez (117), Smokey Joe Wood (116), Bob Stanley (115), Joe Dobson (106), and Lefty Grove (105), are the others.
- On August 8, 2004, Wakefield gave up six home runs to the Detroit Tigers, becoming the first pitcher to do so since 1947. The Red Sox still managed to win the game, though, 11-9, and Wakefield got the win.
External links
- Tim Wakefield at: