Wakefield took the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Chuck Knoblauch went down swinging to start. Rich Becker lined out to first but the strike three ball to Paul Molitor got away, allowing Paul to reach first on the passed ball. Molitor swiped second but Matt Lawton grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Shane Bowers in the bottom of the first inning as Nomar Garciaparra flied out to center to start. John Valentin popped up to short but Mo Vaughn was hit with a pitch. Reggie Jefferson doubled home Mo to put the Sox on top. Wil Cordero flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
The Twins fought right back in the top of the second as Scott Stahoviak was hit with a pitch to start. Ron Coomer got a base hit but Brent Brede popped up to short. Damien Miller hit a routine grounder back to the mound but Wakefield tripped on the ball and went head over heels for an error that scored Stahoviak. A passed ball moved Miller to second and Danny Hocking singled home both runners to give the Twins the lead. Knoblauch banged into a double play to end the inning but the Twins were up 3-1.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the second as Troy O'Leary grounded out to first to start. Bill Haselman singled to left but Darren Bragg flied out to center. Jeff Frye also flied out to center to end the inning.
Wakefield recovered in the top of the third as Becker grounded out to first to start. Molitor beat out an infield single and advanced to second on the fly out to deep center by Lawton. Stahoviak whiffed to end the inning. The Sox poured it on in the bottom of the third as Nomar walked to start. Valentin singled to center and Vaughn walked to load the bases with nobody out. Jefferson beat out a double play ball to score Nomar and Cordero cleared the bases with a triple to give the Sox the lead and chase Bowers. Rich Robertson came in and O'Leary popped up to third. Haselman doubled home Cordero to increase the lead before Bragg grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-3.
Wakefield got in trouble in the top of the fourth inning although Coomer grounded out to short to start. Brede whiffed but Miller and Hocking stroked back to back singles. Knoblauch popped up to second to end the inning. Frye singled to center to start the bottom of the fourth but was forced at second by Nomar. Valentin flied out to left but Nomar swiped second. Vaughn whiffed to end the inning.
The Twins got a run back in the top of the fifth although Becker and Molitor both flied out to right to begin. Lawton hit a routine grounder to Vaughn but he threw his glove at the ball and screamed at it for an error. Stahoviak walked and Coomer singled home Lawton for an unearned run. Brede flied out to left to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 5-4.
The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the fifth as Jefferson grounded out to first to start. Cordro flied out to right and O'Leary flied out to center to end the inning.
Wakefield returned briefly for the top of the sixth as Miller grounded out to short to start. Hocking and Knoblauch stroked back to back singles and that was it for Wakefield. He allowed 4 runs but only 1 earned in 5 1/3 innings of work. John Wasdin came in and got Becker to pop up to third and Molitor to fly out to center to end the inning.
Nothing happened in the bottom of the sixth as Haselman grounded out to short to start. Bragg whiffed but Frye singled to left. Nomar flied out to center to end the inning.
Wasdin returned for the top of the seventh and struck out Lawson swinging to start. Stahoviak popped up to short and Coomer grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the seventh with a huge rally. Valentin doubled off the Monster to start then Ritchie threw away a double play ball by Vaughn to keep things going. Vaughn moved to second on the grounder by Jefferson and Cordero was intentionally walked to load the bases but also set up the double play. O'Leary made the Twins pay with a double to center to score Valentin and Vaughn. Haselman flied out to left but Cordero scored and O'Leary moved to third. Bragg hit a routine grounder to first but that ball was booted to score O'Leary and chase Robertson. Todd Ritchie poured gas on the fire as Frye singled Bragg to third and a wild pitch scored Darren plus moved Jeff to second. Nomar doubled home Frye and Valentin single home Nomar. Vaughn walked to chase the incompetent Ritchie Eddie Guardado came in to get Jefferson to ground into a force to end the inning but the Sox scored 7 runs to put the game away.
With the game now well in hand, Joe Hudson came in for the top of the eighth inning. Brede greeted him with a base hit to left but Miller flied out to right. Hocking banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the eighth as Cordero flied out to center to start. O'Leary also flied out to center and Haselman flied out to right to end the inning.
Hudson returned to finish off the Twins in the top of the ninth as the Sox made some weird defensive moves. Reggie Jefferson left the DH spot to play first, replacing Vaughn. Mike Benjamin took over at short for Nomar and Jose Malave took over for Cordero in left. Knoblauch groundd out to second to start but Becker got a base hit to right. Molitor walked but Lawton banged into a double play to end the game. The Sox had won the game 12-4
Hero of The Night is a tough one with so much offense. I gotta go with Troy O'Leary. They walked Cordero to get to him and he responded with a big "screw you" with a 2 run double.
The Good:
Mo Vaughn walked twice, got hit with a pitch and scored two runs.
John Valentin was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Bill Haselman was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis.
Jeff Frye was 3 for 4 with a run scored.
John Wasdin tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Joe Hudson tossed 2 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Nomar Garciaparra was just 1 for 4 but walked, stole a base, drove in a run and scored twice.
Reggie Jefferson was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.
Wil Cordero was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in 2 runs and scored twice.
Darren Bragg was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Time Wakefield got the win by allowing 4 runs in 5 1/3 innings but only one run was earned.
Honorable Mention:
Mike Benjamin played shortstop in the top of the ninth.
Jose Malave played left field in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Don't look now but the Sox are inching closer to .500. Considering they have one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball, this should be classified as a miracle. If only Sox general manager Dan Duquette got an actual ace after letting Roger Clemens walk rather than Steve F'n Avery. Wakefield didn't really pitch well but was hampered by errors. I wish the Sox has this kind of offense next year if the Sox go get a few pitchers they desperately need. Nomar looks like he'll win Rookie of The Year if he keeps up this pace. The win improved the Sox to 61-63, nowhere near a playoff spot. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to make it 4 wins in a row and a sweep over the Twins when they sent Aaron Sele (11-9) to the mound up against Concord, NH native Bob Tewksbury at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
