For Immediate Release 

August 26, 2009

  

RED SOX ACTIVATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER TIM WAKEFIELD FROM THE 15-DAY DISABLED LIST; DESIGNATE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER ENRIQUE GONZALEZ FOR ASSIGNMENT

 

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today activated right-handed pitcher Tim Wakefield from the 15-day disabled list.  Wakefield is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the White Sox at Fenway Park.  The club also designated right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez for assignment. 

 

The announcements were made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

 

Wakefield, 43, has been on the disabled list since July 21 (retroactive to July 18) with a lower back strain.  He made two rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Pawtucket, going 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA (3 ER/9.1 IP) with seven strikeouts compared to two walks.  In 17 starts for the Red Sox this season, he is 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA (52 ER/108.2 IP) and leads the American League with a .786 winning percentage.  The knuckleballer earned his first career All-Star selection in 2009, the oldest player to do so since Satchel Paige (46 years old) in 1952.

 

A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Wakefield has a career 189-160 record with 22 saves and a 4.32 ERA (1,397 ER/2,910.2 IP).  He holds the franchise record with 384 starts with Boston.

 

Gonzalez, 27, has posted a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) in two relief appearances over his two stints with the Red Sox this season.  In 23 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Pawtucket in 2009, he is 7-11 with a 5.23 ERA (74 ER/127.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts.  Signed by Boston as a minor league free agent on December 10, 2008, Gonzalez is 4-7 with a 5.93 ERA (76 ER/115.1 IP) in 29 career Major League appearances (18 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Diamondbacks (2006-07), Padres (2008) and Red Sox (2009). 

 

— RED SOX —–