Sports Redux: Get Well, Wake

Bostonist would much rather sit in an obstructed view right field seat behind a sign-wielding fan gabbing on his cell phone than trade in Fenway Park for a newer model. Whenever Tim Wakefield takes the mound in a domed facility, however, we can't help but wish that there was a canopy or something that the Fenway crew could erect over the ballpark every five days. The typically fluttery knuckleball becomes even screwier, allowing Wakefield to wreak havoc on batters such as those on the Twins' top-notch lineup.

Wakefield limited Minnesota to three hits in seven shutout innings on Friday night, allowing the Sox to pull off a 2-0 win and improving his Metrodome record to 7-3. Boston took the lead in the sixth inning, when David Ortiz slammed a shot into the upper right field deck. Estimates for the homer, Ortiz's 200th as a designated hitter, marked the distance at 423 feet. Coco Crisp batted in the insurance run in the ninth with a single to right field that scored J.D. Drew.

To further explain the sigh of relief that came from Sox fans late in the game, Jonathan Papelbon delivered a perfect ninth inning to close out the night. We imagine that Papelbon must have been just as antsy, if not more so, than us for the chance to bounce back from Tuesday's blown save at Fenway, but the pitcher was back on point and delivered the goods.

We're a little worried, though, about the possibility of sickness running rampant on the active roster. Drew's omission from the lineup on Tuesday concerned us, all the more so when it was announced that he'd been scratched due to viral symptoms. Terry Francona said Friday night that Wakefield's showing was particularly impressive given the pitcher's health woes this week, noting that Wake was "about 48 hours removed from a couple of IV bags." We've played on enough teams in our day to know that once someone catches something, it's only a matter of time. Two words, dear ballplayers: Emergen-C. STAT.

Today Julian Tavarez gets the start, facing off against Johan Santana and making us a little nervous. Boston's going to need to increase their hits over Friday night's minimal offense (a staple for Wakefield games, it seems) to keep the Twins down. After three consecutive losses, Justin Morneau and his fellow Twins must be looking for any possible comeback strategy.

-- Curt Schilling and the aforementioned Twins pitcher Santana announced Friday that they will join forces to promote skin cancer awareness. Fun fact: the pregame press conference marked the first time the two pitchers had met.

-- Will it be Curlin, Street Sense, Circular Quay or a dark horse? The Kentucky Derby will take its 133rd run today and everyone's there for it - if by everyone you mean K-Fed, Larry Birkhead and the Queen (real, not Helen Mirren)!

-- The Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont sucked us into his preview of tonight's Oscar De La Hoya/Floyd Mayweather Jr. World Boxing Council super welterweight championship with what we regard as a brilliant lede sentence: "There is such a reserve and polish to Oscar De La Hoya that it is easy to forget he beats men senseless for a living."

-- The Buffalo Sabers took a 3-2 series lead in the NHL Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night by edging out the Rangers in overtime, 2-1. Maxim Afinogenov found the net at the 4:39 overtime mark to end the night with a win for the hometown team.

Also in hockey news, San Jose's Bill Guerin won't be available for today's Game 5 hockey matchup against Detroit. The forward sustained a cut to his face during Wednesday's Game 4 action and it's not clear whether he'll be available for a Game 6 on Monday. We'll refrain from commenting on beat up hockey faces because we imagine that Guerin's already unhappy about missing the chance to suit up and take the ice.

A great action shot of Tim Wakefield from flickr user Waldo Jaquith.