All season long, Charlie Zink has simply worn out Class AAA hitters with his floating and fluttering knuckleballs, and all season long the 28-year-old has patiently watched fellow minor league pitchers get called up to the big leagues.
Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Zink gets to finally be that guy. "It's amazing. It's a dream come true," Zink told 890 ESPN radio on Monday afternoon. "I've been with this organization since 2002, and this is what I've been working for. I can't even put it into words."
The right-hander will fill in for 42-year-old Tim Wakefield -- who will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in the back of his right shoulder -- for the spot start and will feature the very same repertoire that fans have grown accustomed to with the venerable Wakefield on the mound.
"This year he's made some drastic improvements," said Sox catcher Kevin Cash, who caught Zink a handful of times at Pawtucket last season. "He pitches a lot like Wake in the respect that he's going to throw the knuckleball for strikes, and when he gets behind 2-0 or 3-1 he's still willing to come in with it.
"I'm excited for him, and from what he's done at Triple-A this season it's very deserving," added Cash.
Zink, 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 25 starts for Pawtucket, had been seemingly mired in the minor leagues this season -- a byproduct of both incredible starting pitching depth in Boston and an understandable reluctance to slot two knuckleball pitchers into the same five-man starting staff.
Zink might throw the ball a tick harder than Wakefield when he muscles up a mid-80s fastball and also features a cut fastball, but the youngster is a solid facsimile of Wakefield.
"Charlie has been throwing the ball really good, and I think everybody felt like it was kind of a breakout year for him," said manager Terry Francona. "When you look at the reports, he's done well, and if there's ever a time ... he's replacing Wake and facing a team that we're hoping to slow down a little bit."
Francona already has the perfect ending for the sure-to-be-nervous rookie in his first big-league start.
"I hope he dazzles everybody," Francona said.
RED SOX 5, WHITE SOX 1: RHP Josh Beckett held the line and earned his 11th win of the season after allowing only a single run on seven hits in eight innings. 1B Kevin Youkilis broke up LHP John Danks' no-hit bid in the seventh inning, and OF J.D. Drew won the game for the Sox when he stroked a two-run double to left-center field in the same inning.
