Wakefield's knuckler "just nasty" as BoSox win Fenway debut
The Boston Globe * April 9, 2004
At first it looked like Boston starter Tim Wakefield might get chased in the first inning.
The Toronto Blue Jays put up two quick runs, then filled up the bases with one out as Red Sox manager Terry Francona frantically warmed up his bullpen.
But Wakefield settled down from there, his knuckleball started working its magic and the Blue Jays swatted mostly at air the rest of the way in an 8-3 Boston win in the team's Fenway Park opener last night.
"Tim's stuff was just nasty," said Jason Varitek, who had the unenviable task of catching Wakefield. "His ball was moving all over the place. After he got out of that first inning jam, he was on."
The Boston offense also was on. Nomar Garciaparra and Ellis Burks both hit homers and went 2-for-4. Bill Mueller and David Ortiz also had two hits apiece. Five different Red Sox players had RBIs. The team put up 12 hits -- their best performance of the season.
"This is the kind of offensive production we need night in and night out," Francono said. "We won't let our pitchers down if we can hit like this on a regular basis."
In other MLB news, the Chicago White Sox clubbed 17 hits and beat the New York Yankees 14-9. It's the third-straight loss for the Bronx Bombers, who fell to 2-4 and dropped into last place in the early AL East standings...