First-time All-Star Wakefield gets AL-leading 11th win, Red Sox beat Athletics 5-4

All-Star Wakefield gets AL-leading 11th win

BOSTON — First-time All-Star Tim Wakefield earned his AL-leading 11th victory, and David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Oakland Athletics 5-4 Wednesday night.

Wakefield (11-3) left to a standing ovation in the seventh inning in his final scheduled start before the break. The 42-year-old knuckleballer is 9-0 in his last 11 starts at Fenway Park.

J.D. Drew led off the Boston sixth with a home run that made it 1-all. Ortiz connected for a three-run shot later in the inning.

Wakefield gave up three earned runs and 10 hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

Jonathan Papelbon gave up a run in the ninth, but got his 22nd save. Jack Cust had three hits, including an RBI single, but struck out with two runners on to end the game.

Kurt Suzuki had three hits and drove in two runs for Oakland.

Boston trailed 1-0 before scoring four times in the sixth against rookie Trevor Cahill (5-8). Drew homered into the Athletics’ bullpen and Ortiz homered deep into the right-field seats.

Ortiz drove his fourth run with a grounder, making it 5-3 in the seventh.

Wakefield exited with two runners on and no outs in the seventh. Reliever Manny Delcarmen nearly escaped without allowing a run, but a strange play kept the inning going.

Boston shortstop Nick Green stepped wide of second base as he caught first baseman Mark Kotsay’s throw trying to double up Bobby Crosby on a shallow fly. Suzuki then singled in two runs.

Cust, just 9 for 45 with 21 strikeouts in his previous 13 games, gave Oakland a 1-0 lead with his single in the second.

The Athletics had runners on first and third with no outs after jumping ahead, but Wakefield retired the next three hitters easily, fanning the final two — Mark Ellis and Crosby — swinging.

Wakefield also worked out of a jams the next two innings.

In the third, Matt Holliday fouled out and Suzuki grounded out with two on.

Wakefield gave up Cust’s leadoff double in the fourth, but Crosby lined into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: Oakland 1B Nomar Garciaparra got a standing ovation again when he pinch hit. He received a lengthy one Monday in first Fenway game since being traded in 2004. … The Red Sox activated SS Jed Lowrie from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday and optioned him to Single-A Lowell so he can continue to play after left wrist surgery in April. To make room, OF Jonathan Van Every was designated for assignment. … Athletics 1B/DH Jason Giambi, in a 5-for-44 slump, was benched against Wakefield. He’s hit .163 (15 for 92) against Wakefield with 21 strikeouts. … Cahill was Oakland’s second 21-year old starter in the series. LHP Brett Anderson threw a two-hitter to win the opener. … Boston avoided losing a second straight series at Fenway. The Red Sox earlier lost consecutive home series against the New York Mets and Texas Rangers — though they were nearly two weeks apart.