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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- Tim Wakefield has worn many hats for the Boston
Red Sox. Now he has a new one -- stopper.
Wakefield (5-5), who has bounced between the bullpen and the
rotation over the last two seasons, gave up six hits over seven
innings to defeat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 Sunday, snapping the Red
Sox's five-game home losing streak.
|  | | Nomar Garciaparra connected for his 11th and 12th homers of the season on Sunday. |
"I'm not trying to make a statement, I'm just trying to be as
consistent as I can," said Wakefield, who complained earlier in
the season about pitching out of the bullpen. "Mentally, it's
easier to deal with (starting) because you know what your role is.
When I was pitching out of the bullpen, I didn't know what my role
was."
It was Wakefield's third consecutive victory, earning him a spot
in the rotation following the All-Star break. Wakefield has a 3.98
ERA since being inserted into the rotation on June 29.
"Wakefield really pitched a great game for us," Red Sox
manager Jimy Wiliams said. "We talk about starters setting the
tone for us, he's really pitched well in his last few starts."
Nomar Garciaparra homered twice and scored three times as the
Red Sox scored seven runs on 10 hits and two walks against Braves
starter Kevin Millwood (5-8), who lasted four-plus innings in place
of scheduled starter Greg Maddux. The four-time Cy Young award
winner was scratched from his start with a sore right shoulder,
sustained after being hit by a ball during batting practice
Saturday.
Garciaparra's first homer, a solo shot in the third inning, gave
the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Following Brian Daubach's triple in the
fifth, Garciaparra went deep off Millwood again, giving Boston a
6-2 lead. It was Garciaparra's second two-homer game in a span of
five days.
"I still have confidence in myself," Millwood said. "I know I
can go out and win, and four of my last five starts have been good.
I always had done pretty well against Nomar until today. He is hard
to face because he doesn't walk a lot."
Jason Varitek went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Jose Offerman had a
two-run triple for the Red Sox, who have won only four of 12 at
home and six of 16 overall.
"He (Millwood) got out of a couple of jams," Braves manager
Bobby Cox said. "The big hit was Offerman's -- it ruined the day."
The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second on Varitek's single,
but the Braves tied it in the third on Reggie Sanders' fourth homer
of the season. Garciaparra's 11th homer of the season gave the Red
Sox a 2-1 lead.
The Red Sox took a 4-1 lead in the fourth on Offerman's triple.
Atlanta's Quilvio Veras extended his hitting streak to eight games
with an RBI single in the fifth, cutting the score to 4-2.
Following Garciaparra's 12th homer in the fifth, Carl Everett
singled, chasing Millwood, and scored on Varitek's doubled off
reliever Bruce Chen, giving the Red Sox a 7-2 lead.
Millwood has lost his last two starts and hasn't won since June
20.
Game
notes
The Braves announced Maddux will miss Tuesday's All-Star
game in Atlanta. Cincinnati Reds reliever Danny Graves was added as
his replacement. ... Braves SS Rafael Furcal missed his eighth
straight game with a sore right hamstring. ... The Red Sox have not
been swept in a three-game series at home since the Braves took
three at Fenway Park from Aug. 29-31, 1997 ... The Red Sox optioned
right-hander Paxton Crawford to Triple-A Pawtucket.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 7
Atlanta 2
Cleveland 5
Cincinnati 3
Toronto 13
Montreal 3
Baltimore 5
Philadelphia 4
Minnesota 3
Pittsburgh 2
Milwaukee 10
Detroit 3
Chicago Cubs 9
Chi. White Sox 6
Houston 9
Kansas City 6
Florida 10
Tampa Bay 9
Arizona 4
Oakland 2
Seattle 2
Los Angeles 0
Anaheim 10
Colorado 4
San Diego 4
Texas 3
NY Mets 2
NY Yankees 0
St. Louis 8
San Francisco 7
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Nomar Garciaparra tips his hat to his teammate Tim Wakefield.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Tim Wakefield is just trying to be consistent.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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