Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in four runs, Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer and the Boston Red Sox extended the Seattle Mariners’ franchise-worst losing streak to 15 games with a 12-8 win on Sunday.

Tim Wakefield (6-3) joined Roger Clemens as the only pitchers to strike out 2,000 batters with Boston and moved one win away from his 200th victory. But the 44-year-old knuckleballer left after giving up Brendan Ryan’s grand slam that cut the lead to 11-7 with one out in the seventh.

Boston’s powerhouse lineup had 17 hits with Saltalamacchia, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford getting three each.

Michael Pineda (8-7) allowed five runs in the first after Seattle took a 2-0 lead and gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox kept their three-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, who beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5.

Baseball’s best hitting team scored at least 11 runs for the fourth time in Wakefield’s last eight starts. The Red Sox swept the three-game series with their 17th win in 20 games.

The loss broke Seattle’s record for its longest losing streak, set in 1992. It is the longest in the majors since Kansas City lost 19 in a row in 2005.

Wakefield struggled in the first, giving up a two-run homer to Miguel Olivo, his 14th of the season. But the Red Sox took the lead after sending just four batters to the plate.

Jacoby Ellsbury started the first with a walk and scored on a single by Gonzalez before Youkilis hit his 14th homer for a 3-2 lead. David Ortiz then singled and Crawford doubled, putting runners at second and third. Saltalamacchia then lined a two-run single to right.

Wakefield allowed just one hit through the next three innings. But in the fifth Ryan doubled home Ichiro Suzuki, who had singled. Again, the Red Sox responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning.

They loaded the bases on a single by Gonzalez, a walk to Youkilis and an infield single by Ortiz. Crawford followed with a hard, two-run single just inside the third-base line, Josh Reddick doubled in a run and Saltalamacchia singled in two more.

Wakefield ended the sixth with his 2,000th strikeout, getting Mike Carp on a foul tip that Saltalamacchia held on to. The catcher then trotted to meet Wakefield at the first-base line and hand him the ball. Wakefield received a standing ovation and tipped his cap before entering the dugout.

But he retired just one more batter before giving up four straight hits – singles by Jack Cust, Franklin Gutierrez and Suzuki and Ryan’s second career grand slam and second homer of the year.

Boston’s last two runs scored on RBI singles by Gonzalez in the sixth and Ellsbury in the seventh.

Notes: Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a double in the sixth. He has reached base in a career-high 33 straight games. … Pineda has allowed five runs or more in four of his last five starts. … Mariners manager Eric Wedge shaved off his long, drooping mustache before the game. “Everybody needs to relax and we need to smile in the clubhouse,” he said. “I was thinking about it for two days and before I went to bed (Saturday) night I did it. My wife approved.” … Boston is 24-8 in day games, second best in the majors behind the Yankees.

 

Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in four runs, Kevin Youkilis [stats] hit a two-run homer and the Boston Red Sox [team stats] extended the Seattle Mariners’ franchise-worst losing streak to 15 games with a 12-8 win on Sunday.

Tim Wakefield (6-3) joined Roger Clemens as the only pitchers to strike out 2,000 batters with Boston and moved one win away from his 200th victory. But the 44-year-old knuckleballer left after giving up Brendan Ryan’s grand slam that cut the lead to 11-7 with one out in the seventh.

Boston’s powerhouse lineup had 17 hits with Saltalamacchia, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford getting three each.

Michael Pineda (8-7) allowed five runs in the first after Seattle took a 2-0 lead and gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox kept their three-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees, who beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5.

Baseball’s best hitting team scored at least 11 runs for the fourth time in Wakefield’s last eight starts. The Red Sox swept the three-game series with their 17th win in 20 games.

The loss broke Seattle’s record for its longest losing streak, set in 1992. It is the longest in the majors since Kansas City lost 19 in a row in 2005.

Wakefield struggled in the first, giving up a two-run homer to Miguel Olivo, his 14th of the season. But the Red Sox took the lead after sending just four batters to the plate.

Jacoby Ellsbury started the first with a walk and scored on a single by Gonzalez before Youkilis hit his 14th homer for a 3-2 lead. David Ortiz [stats] then singled and Crawford doubled, putting runners at second and third. Saltalamacchia then lined a two-run single to right.

Wakefield allowed just one hit through the next three innings. But in the fifth Ryan doubled home Ichiro Suzuki, who had singled. Again, the Red Sox responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning.

They loaded the bases on a single by Gonzalez, a walk to Youkilis and an infield single by Ortiz. Crawford followed with a hard, two-run single just inside the third-base line, Josh Reddick doubled in a run and Saltalamacchia singled in two more.

Wakefield ended the sixth with his 2,000th strikeout, getting Mike Carp on a foul tip that Saltalamacchia held on to. The catcher then trotted to meet Wakefield at the first-base line and hand him the ball. Wakefield received a standing ovation and tipped his cap before entering the dugout.

But he retired just one more batter before giving up four straight hits – singles by Jack Cust, Franklin Gutierrez and Suzuki and Ryan’s second career grand slam and second homer of the year.

Boston’s last two runs scored on RBI singles by Gonzalez in the sixth and Ellsbury in the seventh.

Notes: Dustin Pedroia [stats] extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a double in the sixth. He has reached base in a career-high 33 straight games. … Pineda has allowed five runs or more in four of his last five starts. … Mariners manager Eric Wedge shaved off his long, drooping mustache before the game. “Everybody needs to relax and we need to smile in the clubhouse,” he said. “I was thinking about it for two days and before I went to bed (Saturday) night I did it. My wife approved.” … Boston is 24-8 in day games, second best in the majors behind the Yankees.

CBSSports.com wire reports
July 18, 2011

BALTIMORE — The Boston Red Sox were coming off an exhausting night. They were missing their leading home run hitter and operating with a thin bullpen.

The Red Sox casually brushed aside those obstacles and cruised to another lopsided victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Dustin Pedroia doubled in two runs to spark an eight-run eighth inning, and the Red Sox got home runs from Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Josh Reddick in a 15-10 rout Monday night.

Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Darnell McDonald had three RBI apiece for the Red Sox, who have won 13 of 15. The run includes a 16-inning victory at Tampa Bay on Sunday night in which Boston mustered only five hits.

Showing very little signs of fatigue, the Red Sox banged out 16 hits in rolling to their seventh straight victory over Baltimore. Boston has outscored the Orioles 61-32 during that span.

The Red Sox checked into their Baltimore hotel around 6 in the morning, grabbed some sleep and put a whipping on the last-place Orioles.

“You guys are putting more into that than we are. If had lost tonight, I wouldn’t have used that as an excuse,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “Everybody is a little tired tonight, but you do what you’re supposed to do.”

It was the first meeting between the teams since the Red Sox recorded a heated four-game sweep at Fenway Park immediately before the All-Star break.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz and Orioles closer Kevin Gregg began serving three-game suspensions for their part in a bench-clearing incident during that series. Both players were initially suspended for four games before appealing the punishment.

The Red Sox didn’t miss a beat. Boston fell one run short of matching its season high and had six players with at least two hits, including Pedroia, whose 16-game hitting streak is one short of his career high.

“After getting a lot of guys on base and not being able to get the job done [Sunday], it felt good to come out tonight and score some runs,” Reddick said.

After the Red Sox loaded the bases against Mike Gonzalez (1-2) in the eighth, Pedroia hit a tiebreaking two-run double off Jason Berken to make it 9-7. Youkilis added a two-run single, Carl Crawford singled in a run and McDonald capped the uprising with a three-run double.

Asked if it was difficult to play after such a quick turnaround, McDonald said: “It’s not tough at all. This is what we get paid to do – to play baseball. It was nice to come out and get a win after having such a long night.”

Baltimore scored three runs in the eighth, but that just meant the Orioles lost when reaching double figures for the first time since Aug. 2, 2009. That was an 18-10 defeat against Boston.

J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who have lost 10 of 12.

“A couple guys on, we might have taken a roll at them in the ninth,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “But they pitched a little bit better than we did tonight.”

Dan Wheeler (2-1) got the win with 2 1-3 innings of no-hit relief for starter Tim Wakefield. His performance was particularly noteworthy because Matt Albers, Alfredo Aceves, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon pitched Sunday night.

“We didn’t have Albers, didn’t have Aceves, didn’t have Bard,” Francona said. “[Wheeler] comes in and shuts them down for a while. That’s what gave us a chance. He threw the ball really well.”

Wakefield gave up seven runs, three earned, and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He was undone by a particularly wicked knuckleball that produced a strikeout but resulted in a passed ball that fueled a five-run fifth inning that gave Baltimore a 7-6 lead.

Felix Pie opened the fifth by striking out, but he reached when the pitch eluded Saltalamacchia and went to the screen. Hardy, who signed a new three-year contract earlier in the day, hit a two-run homer and Jones drove a knuckleball an estimated 434 feet into the left-field stands.

Later in the inning, Nolan Reimold chased Wakefield with a two-run double.

Youkilis’ RBI single tied it at 7 in the seventh.

After Derrek Lee hit a two-run triple for Baltimore in the first inning, Boston took the lead against Brad Bergesen with a three-run third that began with Saltalamacchia’s seventh homer.

Boston made it 5-2 in the fourth, scoring two unearned runs after Lee let a grounder to first base go through his legs. The miscue ended a run of six straight errorless games by Baltimore.

Reddick homered off the foul pole in the fifth for a 6-2 lead.

Notes

• Crawford (back strain) was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game and went 2 for 5.
• Lee’s triple was his first since Aug. 17, 2009.
• RHP Mark Worrell, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, became the 900th player to wear an Orioles uniform. He was charged with three runs without getting an out in the eighth.
• Wakefield’s three strikeouts gave him 1,996 with Boston. Roger Clemens is the only player to have 2,000 strikeouts with the Red Sox.

CBSSports.com wire reports
July 6, 2011

BOSTON — Another Red Sox pitcher goes on the disabled list, and Tim Wakefield just keeps trotting out to the mound.

The oldest active player in the majors — he’ll be 45 in less than a month — Wakefield earned his 198th career victory on Wednesday night, scattering nine hits over seven innings to lead Boston to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“He was pitching the best I’ve seen him so far,” said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who chased three of Wakefield’s knucklers to the backstop for passed balls. “He’s definitely a guy that deserves to be in the rotation.”

Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis had three extra-base hits apiece as the Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games. Wakefield (5-3) allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one, providing the team a boost as it tries to cobble together a rotation without Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

“He stepped in and pitched professionally,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s sure nice to have a guy like that.”

The longest-tenured member of the Red Sox, Wakefield started the season without a spot in the rotation but has made 20 appearances, including 11 starts, because of injuries to other Boston starters. The latest was Lester, who went on the DL before Wednesday’s game, a day after leaving after four innings with a strained muscle in his back.

The day before that, John Lackey lasted just 2 1/3 innings.

“I know I had to go deep in the game tonight because the bullpen had been taxed lately,” Wakefield said. “As a starting pitcher, it’s something you take a lot of pride in.”

The Red Sox said after the game that Lester had an MRI that confirmed a strained latissimus muscle; he will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. Doctors also confirmed Buchholz’s strained lower back can be treated with rehabilitation.

Francona said the news on both was good.

“Yeah,” he said. “Really good.”

Ricky Romero (7-8) gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings for Toronto. He surrendered leadoff homers in the first two innings, to Ellsbury and Youkilis, and allowed five straight hits — three of them doubles — as Boston scored four times in the fourth inning.

The game was delayed by rain with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Boston leading 6-3 and Aaron Hill coming to bat. After a 40-minute delay, Dan Wheeler struck Hill out, then Jonathan Papelbon gave up one run in the ninth but earned his 19th save.

Yunel Escobar had four hits, including an RBI single in the ninth, for Toronto, which went homerless for the first time in 14 games. Jose Bautista and Travis Snider had two hits apiece.

Romero had allowed just 17 runs in his previous 75 2/3 innings, but he has struggled against the Red Sox. In 11 career starts vs. Boston, he is 2-6 with an 8.08 ERA — his worst numbers against any team.

“This is not the way I wanted to end the first half, like this,” Romero said. “I know I’m good enough to pitch against any team. … I’m looking forward to facing them next time and hopefully I’m successful.”

The solo homers gave Boston a 2-1 lead before the Blue Jays made it 3-2 in the third on a sacrifice fly by Bautista and Adam Lind’s RBI single. But with two out in the fourth, J.D. Drew doubled, then Darnell McDonald and Saltalamacchia singled and Yamaico Navarro and Ellsbury doubled to give Boston a 6-3 lead.

Youkilis left Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and rested Tuesday night. He returned to the lineup on Wednesday and started at first base for the first time this season, filling in for Adrian Gonzalez, who got his first day off of the season because of a stiff neck.

Notes

• RHP Scott Atchison was called up to replace Lester on the roster; he’ll work out of the bullpen.
• Bautista’s 28 home runs before the All-Star break is one short of the Blue Jays’ record set by George Bell in 1987.
• Toronto fell to 29-30 on the road this season.
• Papelbon hit J.P. Arencibia with a pitch in the ninth. He was replaced by pinch-runner Mike McCoy.

Toronto’s Travis Snider shows how not to slide into second base as he’s out on a steal attempt in the second inning of the Blue Jays’ loss to Boston on Wednesday night. (Steven Senne/Associated Press)

Another Red Sox pitcher goes on the disabled list, and Tim Wakefield just keeps trotting out to the mound.

The oldest active player in the majors — he’ll be 45 in less than a month — Wakefield earned his 198th career victory on Wednesday night, scattering nine hits over seven innings to lead Boston to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“He was pitching the best I’ve seen him so far,” said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who chased three of Wakefield’s knucklers to the backstop for passed balls. “He’s definitely a guy that deserves to be in the rotation.”

Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis had three extra-base hits apiece as the Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games. Wakefield (5-3) allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one, providing the team a boost as it tries to cobble together a rotation without Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

“He stepped in and pitched professionally,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s sure nice to have a guy like that.”

The longest-tenured member of the Red Sox, Wakefield started the season without a spot in the rotation but has made 20 appearances, including 11 starts, because of injuries to other Boston starters. The latest was Lester, who went on the DL before Wednesday’s game, a day after leaving after four innings with a strained muscle in his back.

The day before that, John Lackey lasted just 2 1/3 innings.

“I know I had to go deep in the game tonight because the bullpen had been taxed lately,” Wakefield said. “As a starting pitcher, it’s something you take a lot of pride in.”

The Red Sox said after the game that Lester had an MRI that confirmed a strained latissimus muscle; he will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. Doctors also confirmed Buchholz’s strained lower back can be treated with rehabilitation.

Francona said the news on both was good.

“Yeah,” he said. “Really good.”

Ricky Romero (7-8) gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings for Toronto. He surrendered leadoff homers in the first two innings, to Ellsbury and Youkilis, and allowed five straight hits — three of them doubles — as Boston scored four times in the fourth inning.

The game was delayed by rain with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Boston leading 6-3 and Aaron Hill coming to bat. After a 40-minute delay, Dan Wheeler struck Hill out, then Jonathan Papelbon gave up one run in the ninth but earned his 19th save.

Yunel Escobar had four hits, including an RBI single in the ninth, for Toronto, which went homerless for the first time in 14 games. Jose Bautista and Travis Snider had two hits apiece.

Romero had allowed just 17 runs in his previous 75 2/3 innings, but he has struggled against the Red Sox. In 11 career starts vs. Boston, he is 2-6 with an 8.08 ERA — his worst numbers against any team.

“This is not the way I wanted to end the first half, like this,” Romero said. “I know I’m good enough to pitch against any team. … I’m looking forward to facing them next time and hopefully I’m successful.”

The solo homers gave Boston a 2-1 lead before the Blue Jays made it 3-2 in the third on a sacrifice fly by Bautista and Adam Lind’s RBI single. But with two out in the fourth, J.D. Drew doubled, then Darnell McDonald and Saltalamacchia singled and Yamaico Navarro and Ellsbury doubled to give Boston a 6-3 lead.

Youkilis left Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and rested Tuesday night. He returned to the lineup on Wednesday and started at first base for the first time this season, filling in for Adrian Gonzalez, who got his first day off of the season because of a stiff neck.

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is headed back to Boston on Thursday to have his sore right knee examined, and his status is uncertain.

It was the latest piece of bad news for the Red Sox on a painful day. Boston reliever Bobby Jenks was placed on the 15-day disabled list again Wednesday with tightness in his back and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was sent to the hospital because he was feeling sick.

Jenks left Tuesday night’s game against the New York Yankees after throwing only four pitches in the seventh inning and said it was a flare-up of an injury he had early in his career, though he didn’t think he would be sidelined long.

The right-hander had an MRI exam Wednesday and Boston put him on the DL before the 7:05 p.m. game.

Jenks was on the disabled list from May 2-30, missing 27 games with a strained right biceps. Since being activated, he had put together four scoreless outings.

The former White Sox closer has struggled in his first season with Boston, going 2-2 with a 6.57 ERA in 15 appearances. He has 11 walks and 14 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings, and opponents are batting .340 against him.

Jenks signed a two-year, $12 million contract in the offseason to be Jonathan Papelbon’s setup man.

Boston recalled catcher Luis Exposito from Triple-A Pawtucket to provide insurance behind the plate. Saltalamacchia began feeling ill Wednesday and was sent to the hospital to make sure he has nothing more than the flu, manager Terry Francona said.

“They ruled out anything besides intestinal turmoil, which is good news,” Francona said after his team’s 11-6 victory over the Yankees. “He might have had food poisoning. He was just good, old-fashioned sick.”

Jason Varitek started behind the plate, teamed with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield for the first time since 2005. Varitek has caught Wakefield in relief outings during that span, but the Red Sox captain had not started a game with Wakefield on the mound in six years.

Boston shortstop Jed Lowrie also had an MRI on his sore left shoulder. Francona said he hopes Lowrie can play Thursday night against CC Sabathia.

“We’ve got a lot going on right now,” the manager said before the game. “We’re kind of scrambling here a little bit.”

Marco Scutaro started at shortstop Wednesday for the second consecutive game. Scutaro was activated from the disabled list Tuesday after missing 26 games with a strained muscle on his left side.

Francona also said left-hander Franklin Morales “did really well” in a 35-pitch side session Monday and was slated to throw again Wednesday. He could start a minor league rehab assignment soon.

Morales, acquired last month from Colorado, is on the DL with a strained left forearm.

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