G54: Red Sox 6, Tigers 3

Red Sox - 006 000 000 - 6  6  0
Tigers  - 030 000 000 - 3 10  0

First series sweep in Detroit since September 17-18-19, 1996! In the first game of that series, the TCM struck out 20 Tigers.

The Red Sox took advantage of Willis's inability to throw strikes. Though a lot of his pitches were not far out of the zone, he did not get many calls. He walked one in the second, but quickly got a double play. He faced the minimum six batters through two innings.

In the third, Willis plunked Ellsbury, then walked Lugo. After Kottaras struck out, Willis walked Pedroia, Drew and Youkilis -- on a total of 14 pitches. That was the end of his day (2.1-0-5-5-3, 53). Zach Miner came on and allowed Bay's two-run double (ending the Tigers' no-hit bid!), Lowell's RBI groundout and Baldelli's run-scoring single.

Wakefield allowed three straight hits to begin the Detroit second, but other than that, pitched well (6.2-8-3-0-3, 81). Okajima extended his team-best scoreless innings streak to 16.1 and while Papelbon gave up a walk and a single in the ninth, he got his 14th save.

***

Tim Wakefield (4.55, 106 ERA+) / Dontrelle Willis (5.56, 84 ERA+)

On May 12, Wakefield had a 2.92 ERA. Since then, he has made four starts and allowed 19 runs in 23.1 innings, with opponents teeing off at a .320/.409/.480 clip.

Actually, there was an excellent eight-inning, one-run game mixed in there. But in the other three starts -- against the Angels, Mets and Blue Jays -- Wake gave up 18 runs in only 15.1 innings.

MLB.com:

The Tigers are wondering which version of Willis will show up -- the somewhat effective lefty who compiled a 3.57 through three starts after he was activated from the 15-day disabled list after being treated for an anxiety disorder, or the guy who threw batting practice to the Orioles on Friday. In a disastrous outing at Camden Yards, Willis surrendered seven runs on 10 hits over five innings and his ERA jumped almost two runs a game.