Bats Come Alive For Wakefield, BoSox Top Rays

Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – Marco Scutaro accounted for two of the team’s five home runs, as the Boston Red Sox crushed the Tampa Bay Rays 11-5 Wednesday in the rubber match of a three-game at Fenway Park.

Scutaro went 4-for-5 with three RBI, while Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz and Victor Martinez also went deep for the Red Sox, who totaled 17 hits.

It provided more than ample support for right-hander Tim Wakefield (4-10), who at 44-years-old, became the oldest pitcher in Red Sox history to record a win.

The veteran knuckleballer, who got the call on short notice, allowed six hits and four earned runs over five innings for the win that helped him set the age record, surpassing Dennis Eckersley.

Wakefield entered Wednesday night’s tilt with a 20-6 lifetime record vs. the Rays with a 3.60 ERA in 43 games, but lost the last time he faced Tampa Bay on July 7.

For the second straight night, B.J. Upton had a three-run homer in the second frame, but it was not enough to help improve the Rays’ postseason bid.

Tampa Bay fell 2 1-2 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, who rallied to edge Baltimore 3-2 earlier Wednesday.

Matt Garza (14-8) was saddled with the loss after getting tagged for nine hits and six runs in 4 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox are 6 1-2 games behind the AL wild card-leading Rays.

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