Boston Red Sox defeat Philadelphia Phillies, 8-3

PHILADELPHIA — Before yesterday’s 8-3 Red Sox win over the Phillies, as he walked over to hit in the cage with bat in hand, Dustin Pedroia made reference to his recent difficulties at the plate.

He joked that the cage is the only place where he can get a hit.

That’s all too true, at least at the moment.

Pedroia is mired in a deep slump, which now stands at 0 for 19 after he went hitless in four at-bats yesterday, though he did walk and score in the ninth. His last hi...

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Youkilis didn’t slide into third base in the second inning of yesterday’s game against the Phillies; he collapsed on it.

As Youkilis slid, he jarred his knee and rolled over the base. Then, as he got to his knees, the relay throw hit him in the back of the neck. Were it a “Three Stooges’’ episode, Moe would have emerged from the dugout and smacked Youkilis with a frying pan.

Manager Terry Francona and head trainer Mike Reinold came out of the dug...

PHILADELPHIA — When the figure began walking in from the visitor’s bullpen, there was certainly disappointment in a few quarters. Ramon Ramirez was entering the game, taking away the chance for the Red Sox’ resident senior citizen, 43-year-old Tim Wakefield, to throw a complete-game shutout.

But it was Wakefield himself who had gone to Terry Francona after the eighth inning, letting his manager know that he had had enough. He was tired. It was time.

So, no, Wakefield...

PHILADELPHIA—Tim Wakefield's fluttering knuckleball had the Phillies flustered.

The 43-year-old Wakefield pitched eight shutout innings for his first victory in nearly a year, and the Boston Red Sox roughed up Roy Halladay in an 8-3 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.

Kevin Youkilis tripled, homered and scored three runs for Boston.

Wakefield's knuckleball, which was clocked in the mid 60s, clearly confused the Phillies. He allowed five hits and two walks in earning ...