All the concern about Josh Bard's ability to catch Wakefield after three passed balls in Texas seemed to subside after the backstop handled Wakefield's offerings flawlessly. Rule 5 player Adam Stern knocked in a pair of runs as a replacement for Coco Crisp, who sat out with a sore left index finger he hurt in Saturday's game (although there is a report Crisp has a broken knuckle).
Once again the bullpen thrived, as Mike Timlin and Keith Foulke got holds with an inning of work apiece, followed by another save by Papelbon, his third. Papelbon put runners on first and third in the ninth, but got out of it by inducing two popups.
And did we mention the Yankees went 2-4 on their West Coast trip?
''It's great, but it's over," said Sox manager Terry Francona. ''The quick satisfaction wears off, but it's a great way to open up at home at Fenway because the place will be jumping."
Wakefield, who allowed only one run, could have gone more than six, but Francona and pitching coach Al Nipper wanted to set up the bullpen the way they did. Francona felt Foulke might be effective in the eighth facing a pair of lefthanded hitters in No. 9 hitter Corey Patterson and leadoff man Dave Newhan because of his changeup, and his hunch was right. Foulke struck out leadoff man Brian Roberts (a switch-hitter who pinch hit for Chris Gomez), and Patterson, then got Newhan on a bunt attempt he lined softly to J.T. Snow at first.
Francona thought it was the best he'd seen Foulke throw in a long time, and that sentiment was echoed by Foulke, who was throwing his fastball at 88 miles per hour and his changeups at 76-77, the desired differential.
''Got three outs in a row. That's the first time that's happened in a while," Foulke said. ''I had a little better snap on the ball today. I definitely didn't hurt myself. It's definitely going to be something you put in the positive memory bank and just try to repeat it another 75 times. I felt better today than I have in a long, long time."
