Indians knuckle up to Red Sox

The Tribe got to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in a 7-1 victory.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- For the first few innings of Wednesday's game, Indians third baseman Aaron Boone had about as much luck hitting Tim Wakefield's knuckleball as Boston's Josh Bard had catching it.
"I could barely touch that thing," said Boone following Cleveland's 7-1 win at Jacobs Field. "It's like trying to hit a wiffle ball in your backyard."
Boone finally figured it out -- after two strikeouts, he hit an RBI double in the fifth that ended Wakefield's night -- but the Tribe's biggest blow didn't come on a knuckleball. After Grady Sizemore walked and Jason Michaels singled against Wakefield to lead off the first inning, the veteran pitcher tried to sneak a fastball past Jhonny Peralta, who snuck it over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.
That's all the Indians needed.
"I'm always looking for the knuckleball," said Peralta. "I was surprised to see a fastball."
Did he see Wakefield throw another one all night?
"I don't think so," Peralta said.
Catching it just as tough
Wakefield's knuckleball can tie hitters up in knots -- as Boone can attest -- but it isn't much fun to catch. Just ask Bard.
The former Indians catcher, who was acquired by Boston in January in the Coco Crisp trade, had four passed balls on the night, giving him 10 in six games this season.
Bard now has twice as many passed balls as hits this season.
That's not too good.
"It's tough," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, who caught Wakefield when they were teammates on Boston's Triple-A team. "Those last couple feet, you never know what's going to happen. It's one of the most difficult things to do as a catcher."
Scores twice on passed balls
Indians catcher Victor Martinez, who had a considerably easier job catching Cliff Lee, scored two of his runs through the benefit of a Bard passed ball. Bard is supposed to be Wakefield's "personal catcher," but who knows how long he'll keep that job.
"He's a good kid and a good catcher," said Wedge. "It's a difficult job."
Lee, meanwhile, gave up just one run -- a Wily Mo Pena homer in the fourth -- in six innings to improve to 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA this season.
"To keep them to one run in six innings, that's pretty good," said Lee. "I'll take that."
Lee has pitched at least five innings in 36 straight starts. He ran into a little trouble in the third when he loaded the bases with two outs, but he struck out David Ortiz -- the runner-up for last year's American League MVP -- and was in control most of the night.
"If he gets a hit there, it changes the complexion of the game," said Lee of the Ortiz strikeout. "I actually missed my location. I was trying to go low and away and the ball went high and tight."
Did he feel like he dodged a bullet?
"Hey, he's out," Lee said. "That's all I think about."
Davis has two strong innings
Jason Davis, who has emerged as one of the better pitchers in the Indians bullpen, threw two shutout innings and Bob Wickman pitched a scoreless ninth to close it out.
"I felt pretty comfortable," said Davis. "We got a lead early and I just tried to come in there and throw strikes."
The win snapped the Indians' three-game losing streak and their six-game losing streak against Boston. It was Wakefield's first loss at Jacobs Field since Sept. 13, 1999.
"Everyone had a hand in tonight's win and hopefully it will get us going a little bit," said Boone.
Ronnie Belliard, Boone and Martinez each added two hits for the Tribe, who also stole a season-high three bases.
"We've lost a few in a row, so it was good to get a win," said Lee. "I don't know what we would have done if we'd lost, but we didn't so I don't have to worry about it."
scalzo@vindy.com