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August 21, 2007

Wakefield Left With Stiff Back

Tim Wakefield was pulled from last night's game after seven innings (and only 77 pitches) because of a stiff back.
It happened to me last time here. Maybe it's the turf or the mound, or the beds. It started to get tight in the fifth. I got through the sixth and the seventh and told [Francona and pitching coach John Farrell] about it to give them a heads-up.
Tito: "We didn't want to push it."

Catcher Kevin Cash was unable to catch five of Wakefield's first 11 pitches. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little rattled ... I didn't know what was going on." After the second inning, Cash said Jason Varitek and bullpen coach Gary Tuck "brought up the point that Dougie kind of shifts a little bit and angles his body. Once I did that, I got a heck of a lot more comfortable."

Manny Ramirez now has 1,600 RBI -- 28th place on the all-time list. With Francona trying to rest his regulars before the road trip hits New York, Manny may get tonight off.

Matt Clement threw 50 pitches in the bullpen before last night's game. He is hopeful that he will pitch this season, but with minor leagues seasons winding down, it might be too risky to have Clement make his rehab appearances in a pennant race. "Maybe we'll win 20 in a row and then it will be easier to get me in there again. If I get in there in the middle of the month, maybe I can even contribute an inning or two that matter."

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