GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (43-44) at BOSTON (53-34)

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Wolfe relieved S Downs.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
BOSTON 7 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR BOSTON: D Ortiz (.320, 3-FOR-4, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 4 11 1
BOSTON 4 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 11 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - BRIAN WOLFE
BOS - HIDEKI OKAJIMA

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.269, 2-FOR-3)
G ZAUN (.234, 0-FOR-3)
J MCDONALD (.285, 0-FOR-2, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS BOSTON (7) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .256
M Stairs lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .288
a-R Johnson ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
A Rios rf 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .299
F Thomas dh 3 0 1 1 0 1 3 .252
T Glaus 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .276
L Overbay 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .256
A Hill 2b 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 .269
G Zaun c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .234
J McDonald ss 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .285

Totals 31 4 11 4 0 4 9

a-grounded to second for M Stairs in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - A Rios (23, H Okajima). HR - M Stairs (14, 6th inning off T
Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out), A Rios (18, 6th inning off T Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out). SF
- F Thomas , J McDonald. RBI - F Thomas (44), J McDonald (13), M Stairs (36), A
Rios (54). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Overbay 1, T Glaus 1, J
McDonald 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - J McDonald (4, throw).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Drew rf 4 2 1 0 1 0 2 .258
D Pedroia 2b 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 .317
D Ortiz dh 5 2 3 2 0 1 0 .319
M Ramirez lf 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 .287
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 .325
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 4 .300
C Crisp cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265
D Mirabelli c 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .182
J Lugo ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .201

Totals 34 7 11 7 5 4 10

BATTING: 2B - M Ramirez (21, R Halladay); D Ortiz (30, B Tallet). SF - M
Ramirez. RBI - D Ortiz 2 (54), M Ramirez 3 (48), K Youkilis (45), M Lowell
(64). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz, M Ramirez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
M Lowell 2. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Ramirez (F Thomas at 2nd base). DP: 1 (K
Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 100 012 00 -- 4
BOSTON - 410 002 00 -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
R Halladay 5 8 5 5 4 2 0 4.66
B Tallet 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 3.15
C Janssen 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.35
S Downs 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.36
B Wolfe 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.27

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield 6 9 4 4 0 2 2 4.47
M Delcarmen 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.54
H Okajima 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.81

WP - T Wakefield 2. Pitches-strikes: R Halladay 112-73; B Tallet 21-15; C
Janssen 23-12; S Downs 5-4; B Wolfe 6-5; T Wakefield 89-64; M Delcarmen 12-9; H
Okajima 25-18. Ground balls-fly balls: R Halladay 5-7; B Tallet 1-1; C Janssen
0-2; S Downs 2-0; B Wolfe 1-0; T Wakefield 8-6; M Delcarmen 2-0; H Okajima 1-1.
Batters faced: R Halladay 26; B Tallet 4; C Janssen 6; S Downs 2; B Wolfe 2; T
Wakefield 25; M Delcarmen 3; H Okajima 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.
EJECTIONS: TORONTO's Gibbons by Hirschbeck (8th).
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
BOS: JONATHAN PAPELBON (0-2, 1.93) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4, BOSTON 7

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.269, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
BOSTON 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A Hill (.269, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL TORONTO AT BOSTON
NOTE: TORONTO PITCHER SCOTT DOWNS LEFT THE GAME IN THE
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING AFTER BEING HIT ON THE RIGHT FOOT BY A
LINE DRIVE.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL AT BOSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Clark hit for J McDonald.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, G ZAUN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
BOSTON 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: H Clark (.250, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 12 1
BOSTON 4 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 7 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - ROY HALLADAY, BRIAN TALLET (6TH), CASEY JANSSEN (6TH), SCOTT
DOWNS (7TH), BRIAN WOLFE (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), HIDEKI
OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH) AND DOUG MIRABELLI

HOME RUNS: TOR - MATT STAIRS (14) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
ALEX RIOS (18) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

BOS - NONE</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 4 12 1
BOSTON 4 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 x 7 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - ROY HALLADAY, BRIAN TALLET (6TH), CASEY JANSSEN (6TH), SCOTT
DOWNS (7TH), BRIAN WOLFE (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, MANNY DELCARMEN (7TH), HIDEKI
OKAJIMA (8TH), JONATHAN PAPELBON (9TH) AND DOUG MIRABELLI


WP - TIM WAKEFIELD (10-8)
LP - ROY HALLADAY (10-4)
SAVE - JONATHAN PAPELBON (21)

HOME RUNS: TOR - MATT STAIRS (14) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
ALEX RIOS (18) OFF TIM WAKEFIELD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

BOS - NONE


TIME: 3:05 ATT: 36,887

PROBABLES: TOR - SHAUN MARCUM (4-3, 3.62)
BOS - JULIAN TAVAREZ (5-7, 4.97)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS BOSTON (7) - FINAL

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 5 1 2 0 0 0 1 .255
M Stairs lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .288
a-R Johnson ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
A Rios rf 4 1 3 1 0 1 0 .299
F Thomas dh 3 0 1 1 0 1 3 .252
T Glaus 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .276
L Overbay 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .256
A Hill 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .268
G Zaun c 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .240
J McDonald ss 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 .285
b-H Clark ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .244

Totals 35 4 12 4 0 6 11

a-grounded to second for M Stairs in the 8th; b-struck out swinging for J
Mcdonald in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Rios (23, H Okajima); G Zaun (8, J Papelbon). HR - M Stairs
(14, 6th inning off T Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out), A Rios (18, 6th inning off T
Wakefield 0 on, 0 Out). SF - F Thomas , J McDonald. RBI - F Thomas (44), J
McDonald (13), M Stairs (36), A Rios (54). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - L Overbay 1, T Glaus 1, V Wells 1, J McDonald 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - J McDonald (4, throw).


BOSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Drew rf 4 2 1 0 1 0 2 .258
D Pedroia 2b 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 .317
D Ortiz dh 5 2 3 2 0 1 0 .319
M Ramirez lf 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 .287
K Youkilis 1b 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 .325
M Lowell 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 4 .300
C Crisp cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265
D Mirabelli c 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .182
J Lugo ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .201

Totals 34 7 11 7 5 4 10

BATTING: 2B - M Ramirez (21, R Halladay); D Ortiz (30, B Tallet). SF - M
Ramirez. RBI - D Ortiz 2 (54), M Ramirez 3 (48), K Youkilis (45), M Lowell
(64). 2-out RBI - D Ortiz, M Ramirez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
M Lowell 2. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Ramirez (F Thomas at 2nd base). DP: 1 (K
Youkilis).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 100 012 000 -- 4
BOSTON - 410 002 00x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
R Halladay (L, 10-4) 5 8 5 5 4 2 0 4.66
B Tallet 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 3.15
C Janssen 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.35
S Downs 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.36
B Wolfe 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.27

BOSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
T Wakefield (W, 10-8) 6 9 4 4 0 2 2 4.47
M Delcarmen (H, 5) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.54
H Okajima (H, 14) 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.81
J Papelbon (S, 21) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.87

WP - T Wakefield 2. Pitches-strikes: R Halladay 112-73; B Tallet 21-15; C
Janssen 23-12; S Downs 5-4; B Wolfe 6-5; T Wakefield 89-64; M Delcarmen 12-9; H
Okajima 25-18; J Papelbon 18-14. Ground balls-fly balls: R Halladay 5-7; B
Tallet 1-1; C Janssen 0-2; S Downs 2-0; B Wolfe 1-0; T Wakefield 8-6; M
Delcarmen 2-0; H Okajima 1-1; J Papelbon 0-1. Batters faced: R Halladay 26; B
Tallet 4; C Janssen 6; S Downs 2; B Wolfe 2; T Wakefield 25; M Delcarmen 3; H
Okajima 5; J Papelbon 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.
EJECTIONS: TORONTO's Gibbons by Hirschbeck (8th).
T--3:05. Att--36,887.
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 12 mph, left
to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 4
BOSTON 7 FINAL</div>

 

Wakefield, Red Sox cruise past Blue Jays

<h3>BOSTON 7, TORONTO 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox looked to Tim Wakefieldto get off to a good second-half start.


Wakefield pitched six effective innings and Manny Ramirez drovein three runs as the Red Sox topped the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-4,on Thursday.


David Ortiz had three hits and drove in two runs and J.D. Drewscored twice for Boston. The victory followed a three-game skidprior to the All-Star break for the Red Sox, who at 54-34 ownthe best record in the major leagues.


Wakefield (10-8) allowed four runs and nine hits en route to histhird straight win. The knuckleballer, who struck out two,also has won five straight home games for the first time sinceAugust 2-September 6, 2005.


The 40-year-old righthander is 3-1 in four starts againstToronto this season and 15-9 lifetime vs. the Blue Jays, winningeight of his last 10 decisions against the club.


Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima each tosseda scoreless inning before closer Jonathan Papelbon workedaround a hit in the ninth for his 21st save in 22 opportunities.

After Toronto took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on asacrifice fly by Frank Thomas, Boston gave Wakefield breathingroom in the bottom of the frame.


With runners on first and second and none out, Ortiz singled toright field to tie the game. Ramirez added with a run-scoringdouble, followed by an RBI groundout by Kevin Youkilis that madeit 3-1.


Mike Lowell completed the four-run burst with a run-scoringsingle to left field.


All four runs came off Blue Jays starter Roy Halladay (10-4),who also surrendered a sacrifice fly by Ramirez in the secondinning that put his team behind, 5-1. The 2003 American LeagueCy Young Award winner allowed five runs, eight hits and aseason-high four walks in five innings.


Halladay, who was tagged for five runs for the second straightstart, is 9-9 lifetime against the Red Sox.


The Blue Jays cut the deficit to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly by JohnMcDonald in the fifth and climbed within a run an inning later.After Matt Stairs led off by hitting the first pitch he sawfrom Wakefield into the bullpen in right field for his 14thhomer, All-Star Alex Rios smashed a 1-2 offering over the "GreenMonster" to reduce Boston's lead to 5-4.


However, the Red Sox answered in the bottom half, as Ortizsmacked an RBI double off the center field wall and Ramirezfollowed with a run-scoring single up the middle.


Rios, Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill each had two hits for the BlueJays, who have lost six of their nine meetings with Boston thisseason.

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (4) AT BOSTON (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TORONTO 1ST: V Wells singled to center. M Stairs grounded out to first,
V Wells to second. A Rios singled to shallow left, V Wells to third. A Rios to
second on wild pitch by T Wakefield. F Thomas hit sacrifice fly to center,
V Wells scored, A Rios to third. T Glaus grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: J Drew singled to right. D Pedroia walked, J Drew to second.
D Ortiz singled to right, J Drew scored, D Pedroia to third. M Ramirez doubled
to left, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to third. K Youkilis grounded out to
second, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third. M Lowell singled to left,
M Ramirez scored. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Lowell out
at second. D Mirabelli walked, C Crisp to second. J Lugo reached on infield
single to shortstop, D Mirabelli to second, C Crisp out at home. (4 Runs,
5 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 4.

BOSTON 2ND: J Drew walked. D Pedroia flied out to center. D Ortiz singled
to right, J Drew to third. M Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to right, J Drew
scored. K Youkilis walked, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell flied out to right.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 5TH: A Hill singled to left. A Hill to second on wild pitch by
T Wakefield. G Zaun grounded out to shortstop, A Hill to third. J McDonald hit
sacrifice fly to center, A Hill scored. V Wells grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 6TH: M Stairs homered to right. A Rios homered to left. F Thomas
grounded out to third. T Glaus flied out to center. L Overbay singled to
right. A Hill grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Overbay out at
second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 6TH: B Tallet relieved R Halladay. J Lugo flied out to left. J Drew
grounded out to first. D Pedroia reached on infield single to second. D Ortiz
doubled to deep center, D Pedroia scored. C Janssen relieved B Tallet.
M Ramirez singled to center, D Ortiz scored. K Youkilis walked, M Ramirez to
second. M Lowell popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4,
BOSTON 7.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at BOSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (4) AT BOSTON (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Starting Lineups -- V Wells CF, M Stairs LF, A Rios RF, F Thomas DH,
T Glaus 3B, L Overbay 1B, A Hill 2B, G Zaun C, J McDonald SS, R Halladay RHP.

Boston Starting Lineups -- J Drew RF, D Pedroia 2B, D Ortiz DH, M Ramirez LF,
K Youkilis 1B, M Lowell 3B, C Crisp CF, D Mirabelli C, J Lugo SS, T Wakefield RHP.

Umpires -- Laz Diaz (HP), John Hirschbeck (1B), Wally Bell (2B), Bill Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 12 mph.


TORONTO 1ST: V Wells singled to center. M Stairs grounded out to first,
V Wells to second. A Rios singled to shallow left, V Wells to third. A Rios to
second on wild pitch by T Wakefield. F Thomas hit sacrifice fly to center,
V Wells scored, A Rios to third. T Glaus grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: J Drew singled to right. D Pedroia walked, J Drew to second.
D Ortiz singled to right, J Drew scored, D Pedroia to third. M Ramirez doubled
to left, D Pedroia scored, D Ortiz to third. K Youkilis grounded out to
second, D Ortiz scored, M Ramirez to third. M Lowell singled to left,
M Ramirez scored. C Crisp grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Lowell out
at second. D Mirabelli walked, C Crisp to second. J Lugo reached on infield
single to shortstop, D Mirabelli to second, C Crisp out at home. (4 Runs,
5 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 4.

TORONTO 2ND: L Overbay struck out swinging. A Hill reached on infield
single to shortstop. G Zaun grounded out to shortstop, A Hill to second.
J McDonald flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 4.

BOSTON 2ND: J Drew walked. D Pedroia flied out to center. D Ortiz singled
to right, J Drew to third. M Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to right, J Drew
scored. K Youkilis walked, D Ortiz to second. M Lowell flied out to right.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 3RD: V Wells singled to center. M Stairs lined into double play,
to first, V Wells doubled off first. A Rios struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 3RD: C Crisp struck out looking. D Mirabelli fouled out to first.
J Lugo singled to center. J Drew flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 1, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 4TH: F Thomas singled to left, F Thomas out stretching at second.
T Glaus fouled out to third. L Overbay grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TORONTO 1, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 4TH: D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher. D Ortiz lined out to
shortstop. M Ramirez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 1,
BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 5TH: A Hill singled to left. A Hill to second on wild pitch by
T Wakefield. G Zaun grounded out to shortstop, A Hill to third. J McDonald hit
sacrifice fly to center, A Hill scored. V Wells grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 5TH: K Youkilis grounded out to shortstop. M Lowell struck out
looking. C Crisp singled to center. D Mirabelli grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, BOSTON 5.

TORONTO 6TH: M Stairs homered to right. A Rios homered to left. F Thomas
grounded out to third. T Glaus flied out to center. L Overbay singled to
right. A Hill grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Overbay out at
second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 6TH: B Tallet relieved R Halladay. J Lugo flied out to left. J Drew
grounded out to first. D Pedroia reached on infield single to second. D Ortiz
doubled to deep center, D Pedroia scored. C Janssen relieved B Tallet.
M Ramirez singled to center, D Ortiz scored. K Youkilis walked, M Ramirez to
second. M Lowell popped out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4,
BOSTON 7.

TORONTO 7TH: M Delcarmen relieved T Wakefield. G Zaun struck out looking.
J McDonald grounded out to third. V Wells grounded out to third. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 7.

BOSTON 7TH: C Crisp flied out to right. D Mirabelli struck out looking.
J Lugo safe at first on throwing error by shortstop J McDonald. S Downs relieved
C Janssen. J Drew grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TORONTO 4,
BOSTON 7.

TORONTO 8TH: H Okajima relieved M Delcarmen. Toronto's Manager J Gibbons
ejected by J Hirschbeck. R Johnson hit for M Stairs. R Johnson grounded out
to second. A Rios doubled to left. F Thomas struck out swinging. T Glaus
singled to left, A Rios to third. L Overbay flied out to left. (0
Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 7.

BOSTON 8TH: R Johnson in left field. D Pedroia grounded out to pitcher.
B Wolfe relieved S Downs. D Ortiz struck out swinging. M Ramirez grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 7.

TORONTO 9TH: J Papelbon relieved H Okajima. A Hill struck out swinging.
G Zaun doubled to left. H Clark hit for J McDonald. H Clark struck out swinging.
V Wells lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, BOSTON 7.</div>

 

Wakefield, Red Sox cruise past Blue Jays

<h3>BOSTON 7, TORONTO 4</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox looked to Tim Wakefieldto get off to a good second-half start.


Wakefield pitched six effective innings and Manny Ramirez drovein three runs as the Red Sox topped the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-4,on Thursday.


David Ortiz had three hits and drove in two runs and J.D. Drewscored twice for Boston. The victory followed a three-game skidprior to the All-Star break for the Red Sox, who at 54-34 ownthe best record in the major leagues.


Wakefield (10-8) allowed four runs and nine hits en route to histhird straight win. The knuckleballer, who struck out two,also has won five straight home games for the first time sinceAugust 2-September 6, 2005.


The 40-year-old righthander is 3-1 in four starts againstToronto this season and 15-9 lifetime vs. the Blue Jays, winningeight of his last 10 decisions against the club.


"I thought Tim was strong and I thought he had enough to gomore," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He just got uswhere he needed to and we had our bullpen set up."

Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima each tosseda scoreless inning before closer Jonathan Papelbon workedaround a hit in the ninth for his 21st save in 22 opportunities.

"We had a great 1-2-3 punch tonight and I think that our bullpenis finding its own identity," Papelbon said. "If we could dothat every night, it would be great, but we know we just have tobe ready for every situation that comes about."


After Toronto took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on asacrifice fly by Frank Thomas, Boston gave Wakefield breathingroom in the bottom of the frame.


With runners on first and second and none out, Ortiz singled toright field to tie the game. Ramirez added with a run-scoringdouble, followed by an RBI groundout by Kevin Youkilis that madeit 3-1.


Mike Lowell completed the four-run burst with a run-scoringsingle to left field.


All four runs came off Blue Jays starter Roy Halladay (10-4),who also surrendered a sacrifice fly by Ramirez in the secondinning that put his team behind, 5-1.


"I made some good pitches in the first inning but then made somebad ones in the second, which led to some long at-bats,"Halladay said.


The 2003 American League Cy Young Award winner allowed fiveruns, eight hits and a season-high four walks in five innings.

"Roy couldn't do much with his breaking ball," Blue Jays managerJohn Gibbons said. "He just couldn't make good pitches, andsometimes a good-hitting team knocks you around even when you domake good pitches."


Halladay, who was tagged for five runs for the second straightstart, is 9-9 lifetime against the Red Sox.


The Blue Jays cut the deficit to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly by JohnMcDonald in the fifth and climbed within a run an inning later.

After Matt Stairs led off by hitting the first pitch he saw fromWakefield into the bullpen in right field for his 14th homer,All-Star Alex Rios smashed a 1-2 offering over the "GreenMonster" to reduce Boston's lead to 5-4.


"When (Stairs) hit it, I thought it was an out andunfortunately, sometimes with the wind here, a fly ball getsinto the bullpen," Wakefield said. "Rios was the next hitterand I got ahead of him, and thought I threw him a really goodpitch. But it was right into his swing path and, unfortunately,it left the ballpark."


However, the Red Sox answered in the bottom half, as Ortizsmacked an RBI double off the center field wall and Ramirezfollowed with a run-scoring single up the middle.


"When we have a night like tonight, you know that our people canstill hit," Ortiz said.


Rios, Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill each had two hits for the BlueJays, who have lost six of their nine meetings with Boston thisseason.