» August 26, 1992: Pittsburgh rookie P Tim Wakefield defeats Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers, 2-0, in the first matchup of knuckleballers in the NL since 1982. Candiotti gives up nine hits in six innings, while Wakefield (4-1) allows six hits in nine frames. » September 23, 1992:
For the 2nd time in eight days, the Pirates witness a 9–3 putout; this time it is Montreal RF Larry Walker gunning out Tim Wakefield at 1B in the 6th. It is the 2nd time this season that Walker has thrown out a runner at 1B. Moises Alou, who enters the game as a pinch runner, hits a grand slam in the bottom of the 14th to win it for Montreal, 5–1.
» October 9, 1992: Rookie Tim Wakefield hurls Pittsburgh to a 3–2 victory over the Braves, giving the Pirates their 1st win in the NLCS. He is the 1st rookie to start an National League playoff game since Philadelphia's Charles Hudson in 1983. Ron Gant homers for the Braves, but Andy Van Slyke's sac fly in the 7th provides the margin of victory.
» October 13, 1992: The Pirates even the NLCS at three games apiece with a 13–4 rout of the Braves. Tim Wakefield wins his 2nd game of the series. Barry Bonds and Lloyd McClendon each have two hits in Pittsburgh's 8–run 2nd inning to tie a playoff record.
» April 27, 1993: Pirates knuckler Tim Wakefield tosses 172 pitches in defeating Atlanta, 6-2, in 10 innings. It is the most pitches thrown by a pitcher in one game in the 1990s. Fernando Valenzuela, in 1987, was the last to throw that many pitches in a game.
» April 20, 1995: The Pirates release Tim Wakefield, 8–1 in 1993 and the National League Rookie pitcher of the Year. The knuckleballer started the 1994 opener, but spent most of the season in Buffalo (International League) going 5–15, and was shelled in his only start this spring. Wakefield will be picked up by the Red Sox.
» May 5, 1996: Toronto scores 10 unearned runs to beat Boston's Tim Wakefield, 11–4, and snap the Sox win streak at four games.
» June 10, 1996:
The White Sox defeat the Red Sox, 8-2. Tim Wakefield goes the distance for Boston, surrendering 16 hits and making 162 pitches, all on two days rest. It is the most hits allowed in a game by a pitcher this decade.
» August 15, 1996:
Frank Thomas hits three homers for the White Sox, becoming the Sox career home run leader, but Boston wins, 9–8. Thomas hits his 1st two off Tim Wakefield to pass Carlton Fisk (214).
» January 5, 1997: Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield escapes serious injury when he is hit by a car while out jogging. He is released from the hospital after being treated for bruises.
» April 4, 1997: Rookie Jason Dickson pitches a complete game shutout for the Angels, beating the Red Sox, 2–0. Tim Wakefield takes the loss.
» July 29, 1997:
The Mariners and Randy Johnson knuckle under to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox, 4–0. Mo Vaughn's 2-run homer is the big blow for Boston.
» June 14, 1998:
Carlton Loewer pitches an impressive complete game 5–hitter in his ML debut to lead the Phils to a 4–2 win over the visiting Cubs. Loewer walks none and strikes out eight and at one stretch retires 14 straight. Mark Clark goes five innings for the Cubs to take the loss. The last complete game debut was by Boston's Nate Minchey, who beat the Indians 11–1 on September 12, 1993. The last National League complete–game debut was by Pittsburgh's Tim Wakefield, who beat the Cards, 3–2, on July 31, 1992.
» May 28, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Indians, 12-5, despite five passed ball by C Jason Varitek, who has trouble catching Tim Wakefield's knuckleball. Varitek, who has three PBs in the 1st inning, falls one short of the major-league record for a single game. He atones for his fielding sins by stroking three hits, including a home run.
» August 10, 1999:
The Red Sox defeat the Royals, 9-6, as Boston P Tim Wakefield ties a major league record by striking out four batters in the 9th inning. KC C Chad Kreuter gets two hits in the game, his first breaking a streak of 38 consecutive at bats without a hit. It is the longest hitless streak in the majors since Dann Howitt of Oakland and Seattle went 0-for-43 in 1992.
» August 28, 1999: The Red Sox defeat the Angels, 7-6. With Tim Wakefield and Steve Sparks as the starting pitchers, the game is believed to be the 27th matchup of knuckleballers in major league history.
» June 5, 2001: The Red Sox edge the Tigers, 4-3, in 18 innings on Shea Hillenbrand's home run over the Green Monster. Tim Wakefield, with a scoreless inning, is the winner. Sox DH Manny Ramirez is handed four intentional walks, tying the AL mark set by Roger Maris, on May 22, 1962. Maris did it in a 12 inning game. The major-league record is 5, by Andre Dawson, in a 16 inning game, on May 22, 1990.
» June 7, 2001: In Boston's 8–1 win over the Tigers, the Sox lose C Jason Varitek when he breaks his right elbow diving for a pop bunt in the 7th inning. Varitek earlier hit a homer. Carl Everett drives home five to back Tim Wakefield's 4th win.
» July 17, 2001:
Expos coach Ozzie Guillen is thrown out before 1st pitch is thrown out, continuing an argument from last night with ump Greg Gibson. The Expos then pound Boston's Tim Wakefield to beat the visiting Red Sox, 117. Five homers are hit in the game, including a 457-foot shot by Vladimir Guerrero.
» September 1, 2002: Boston trims the Indians, 7–1, behind the strong pitching of Tim Wakefield, who doesn't allow a hit before Matt Lawton's home run in the 5th. Manny Ramirez and Brian Daubach hit back–to–back HRs, and Johnny Damon scores three runs. Jim Thome reached 100 walks for the 4th consecutive year and the 6th time in his career. Thome is the only player in Indians history to ever have consecutive 100 walks seasons.
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