G149: Royals 12, Red Sox 9

Red Sox - 006 021 000 -  9 12  1
Royals  - 001 136 10x - 12 11  0

Do you really wanna hear about this one?

As you can see, Boston led 6-0 and 8-2, as DiNardo (5-10-8-6-0, 116) was crapping the couch as if he had come straight from dinner with Royals HoFer George Brett.

Wakefield (5-5-5-7-2, 102) allowed a three-run dong in the pouring rain to Mike Jacobs in the fifth to cut the Sox's lead to 8-5 -- no problem, still a comfy lead, and the tarp should come out soon -- but it was the pen that gave the game away in the sixth.

Manny Delcarmen, fresh off a 4-BF, 2-HR, 2-BB outing on Saturday against the Orioles, started the sixth. The first batter, Josh Anderson, doubled. MDC then got two outs, but gave up an RBI double to Billy Butler (9-6). Then he walked Jacobs on four pitches and gave up a two-run double to Alberto Callaspo (9-8).

Daniel Bard took over, but he was no better. After making Miguel Olivo look positively stupid on fastballs, and getting ahead of him 1-2, Bard suddenly stopped throwing heat and walked him. Then Alex Gordon doubled down the left field line (9-9) and Yuniesky Betancourt singled to right (KC 11-9) before getting tagged out in a rundown for the third out.

There were 18 walks in this game, 13 by the starters.

Tim Wakefield (4.22, 112 ERA+) / Lenny DiNardo (5.23, 83 ERA+)

Everyone thinks Wakefield's lower back and left leg are strong enough for him to start -- he showed some slight improvement in strength tests on Saturday -- so he'll take the hill for only the second time since July 8.

DiNardo spent most of this season in Omaha (AAA), with a 3.32 ERA in 29 games (23 starts). He was called up when rosters expanded and has made only two appearances, starts against the Tigers on September 10 and 16.

Jacoby Ellsbury has a team-high 56 multi-hit games. In the two months since being put back in the leadoff spot, he has hit .319 with an OBP of .373. In his last 13 games, he is hitting .408/.491/.571/1.063.

Victor Martinez's hitting streak is now at a career-best 19 games. ... Dustin Pedroia has a 12-game streak.

Out West at 10: Yankees/Angels (Pettitte/Saunders) and Rangers/A's.