BOSTON — Tim Wakefield bounced a few pitches during the early innings, a sure sign Seattle was in trouble.
Wakefield baffled most of Seattle’s hitters for seven innings and Manny Ramirez hit his 504th home run Saturday, leading the Boston Red Sox to an 11-3 rout of the Mariners.
“If I’m out there missing pitches, both the catcher and hitter are having trouble with it, then it’s a good sign,” Boston catcher Kevin Cash said. “When the hitters are not having awkward swings, that’s not a good sign.”
Wakefield (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits, just three of them beyond 30 feet. The knuckleballer struck out six and walked two.
It looked like a backyard game of catch, with Wakefield getting the ball and pitching quickly. One knuckler to Kenji Johjima in the second inning was clocked at only 56 mph.
“I’ve always been the type that likes to keep the game going,” Wakefield said. “I slow the game and make adjustments. Obviously, I didn’t need to today, so I just wanted to get the ball and keep throwing.”
