Revisit
Game 145: September 13, 2006
Red Sox (77-68), 0
Orioles (63-82), 4
L: Tim Wakefield (7-9)
W: Erik Bedard (14-9)
Tim Wakefield returned to action after two months away from the game. He would be one of the pivotal chapters in the book on the disappointments of the 2006 season. A trite song from the 80s said, “Don’t know what you got until it’s gone/And I found out a little too late.”
Although the understated knuckleballer’s contributions are often overlooked, this season showed just how essential he is. He lasted only five innings and gave up ten hits with three earned runs, including a homer to designated hitter Kevin Millar in the fifth. It was not his typical seven or eight innings of perplexing pitches, following the season’s pattern where there was no innings-eater in to be had.
Millar would also score when Doug Mirabelli attempted to pick him off of third in the third. The ball hit Millar and meandered into left field, allowing him to score. I guess Mirabelli envied his former teammate’s speed.
Eventually, Red Sox killers will have their comeuppance. Whatever spell Rodrigo Lopez had over Boston has finally dissipated; the same will eventually happen with Erik Bedard, Scott Kazmir, and their ilk. Until then, we’ll watch every game, inuring ourselves to two-hit games like this one.
Such a hard habit to break.
