“There was some genuine happiness, probably for us, too,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “It seemed like we’d been waiting for that win as long as Wake’s been waiting for his.’’
The Red Sox needed the victory badly after their lead over the Rays had dropped from nine games to three over the previous nine days. And Wakefield was eager to end the long wait — 0-3 in seven outings since his last win on July 24 — to become the 108th pitcher with 200 wins.
“I’m kind of speechless,’’ said Wakefield, who signed with Boston in 1995 after being released by Pittsburgh, “but I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to wear this uniform for as long as I have and reached a milestone that I thought I’d never reach.’’
Dustin Pedroia hit two homers and he and Jacoby Ellsbury had four hits each. But the Red Sox still feel pressure with a four-game home series against Tampa Bay starting Thursday night.
“Not really,’’ Pedroia said when asked if the win took a weight off the team. “We’ve got 15 games left and were up, what, four now? … We’re all taking it like it’s the playoffs now.’’
Wakefield (7-6) went six innings and overcame a shaky outing to retire his last six batters. He left with a 6-5 lead after allowing six hits and two walks. He struck out two.
The crowd clapped and chanted, “Wakefield! Wakefield!’’ as Junichi Tazawa pitched the ninth for Boston.
After the game, Wakefield went on the field and closer Jonathan Papelbon sprayed him with champagne. Wakefield waved and winked to the crowd and then hugged his teammates. The song “Still the One’’ played on the sound system.
“Two hundred wins is a long time,’’ said Toronto manager John Farrell, Wakefield’s pitching coach from 2007-10. “It’s a heck of an accomplishment. We would have liked to prolong that date that he got his 200th a little bit more.’’
