Boston’s 10-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels means one thing: The New York Yankee’s pounding at the door is a lot louder now.
Having the lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning everything crumbled for Boston (68-45) and Tim Wakefield picking up his 10th loss of the season and the New York Yankees are only five games back with their 9-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Up 4-2 to start the inning Chone Figgins walked leading off and followed with a theft of second base. Orlando Cabrera drove him home on a double and Vladmir Guerrero walked putting runners on first and second. Garrett Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice, but everyone was safe as Julio Lugo committed an error throwing to second base. Gary Matthews, Jr. drove in two runs on a single and drove Wakefield out of the game.
Wakefield’s line was 4 innings pitched, on seven hits, seven runs, six earned, three walks, and two strikeouts. Wakefield only threw 80 pitches in the start.
Manny Delcarmen came in to relieve Wakefield and Maicer Izturiz brought home a run on a fielder’s choice and a bunt single by Jeff Mathis made it 7-4.
Chris Bootcheck secured the win for Angels starter Joe Saunders getting his first hold of the season going 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs and only one hit.
Saunders earned his sixth win of the season (6-0) pitching for 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, walking one, striking out two, and giving up one homerun in the win.
Boston had the lead early as Manny Ramirez grounded into a fielder’s choice in the first inning making it 1-0 and retook the lead in the fifth inning on a Doug Mirabelli two run homerun and an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis, but Wakefield did not hold onto it.
The rest of the bullpen added insult to injury as Julian Tavarez allowed two runs in the sixth and Kyle Snyder let one come across in the eighth inning.
Delcarmen did allow two runs to score but was not charged with them as they were inherited runners from Wakefield.
Matthews, Jr. drove in four runs in the game and also robbed Coco Crisp of a homerun to end the fourth inning.
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