Red Sox-Athletics: Boston 8-2 Win, Wakfield Takes No-Hitter into Eighth

What can Red Sox fans possibly find to complain about in Wednesday afternoon's lop-sided 8-2 victory against the Oakland Athletics?

Anything mentioned would seemingly immediately cross the nit-picking line.

Sure, it would have been amazing to see Tim Wakefield no-hit the A's after not winning in Oakland since 1999, but with the way the first eight games had gone for the Red Sox, any reasonable member of the Nation would settle for the complete game from the knuckleballer.

Wakefield allowed two earned runs on four hits (all in the final two innings) after allowing only one baserunner through the first seven, that coming on a Mike Lowell fielding error.

The win is reminiscent of Curt Schilling's no-hit bid in Oakland two years ago, when he shook off the signals of Jason Varitek only to allow a single and spoil it with two outs in the ninth.

Landon Powell and Matt Holliday drove in the runs for the A's, but it was too little too late. A six-run eighth inning had already put the stamp on Boston's victory.

After looking like the same anemic bunch that toiled through the first week or so of the season, the BoSox hitters came alive as a group. David Ortiz finally picked up his first extra-base hit, a one-out double.

Then Kevin Youkilis, the only Red Sox player hitting above .286 entering today's game, took an intentional walk. J.D. Drew subsequently made the A's pay as he blasted a three-run home run.

But that was only the beginning for Boston, who batted around in the inning before Dustin Pedroia struck out to end it. Even Nick Green joined in on the hitting barrage, driving Jason Bay home with a two-out single.

In fact, all of the scoring that eighth inning came with two outs. Not only did the Sox start stringing hits together, but they strung them together at a crucial time.

It seems as if Wakefield's performance got them to try to play up to par.

Amazingly, Pedroia was the only Red Sox player without a hit today. His early-season struggles continue, but there should still be little doubt he'll be hitting over .300 by the All-Star Break.

The injury-prone Ortiz, Drew, and Lowell are the players Red Sox fans should be more concerned about. Still, today's production from those three was certainly an encouraging sign.

The win ealier this evening reminded Boston fans that the Major League Baseball season is a marathon, and not a sprint. A 2-8 start would not spell doom for any ballclub, especially not one as deep and talented as the Red Sox.

All those who were holding their breath and waiting for the plunge can now exhale and take a step back.