--The Red Sox announced that they will be retiring the uniform No. 6 worn by former SS Johnny Pesky in honor of a baseball career that began in 1942. Pesky has also acted as a coach, television and radio broadcaster and special instructor in 40 years of continuous service with the Sox since 1969. The Sox organization formerly had a policy of only retiring the numbers of Hall of Fame alumni, but it will make an exception for the 89-year-old Pesky during Friday night's induction ceremony. "We don't enter into these kinds of decisions lightly, but it is one for which we feel an enormous sense of appropriateness, fitness and rightness," Sox CEO and president Larry Lucchino said. "(Johnny) is a very special ambassador, a very special person in this organization and has been for many, many years."
--RHP Tim Wakefield earned his 10th win Tuesday night, the 10th time in his Red Sox career that he has reached double-digit victories. The achievement ties him with former RHP Roger Clemens for the most such seasons in franchise history. Wakefield also becomes only the fifth active pitcher in the big leagues to boast 10 seasons of double-digit wins with the same team, joining LHP Tom Glavine, RHP John Smoltz, RHP Greg Maddux (Braves) and LHP Andy Pettitte (Yankees). The victory also gives Wakefield 164 career wins with the Sox, which leaves him 28 behind both Clemens and Cy Young for Boston's all-time record. --OF J.D. Drew reported a good deal of improvement in his troublesome lower back after undergoing a second epidural shot on Monday afternoon, and he was able to take batting practice and field flyballs before Tuesday night's win. Drew hasn't played since Aug. 17, but the Sox hope to get him some at-bats before making their decisions about postseason rosters. "This is as encouraged as he's been in a long time," manager Terry Francona said.
--3B Mike Lowell hit in the batting cage Tuesday and will take grounders Wednesday in anticipation of a return to Boston's lineup over the next several days. Lowell may hit in the DH spot as manager Terry Francona attempts to ease the player and his partially torn hip labrum back into the lineup. Lowell hasn't played since tweaking the injured right hip during a Sept. 16 game, and he admits that he'll be playing through pain the rest of the way. "I think it's going to come down to what I can tolerate and how much movement we can eliminate that might hurt me," Lowell said. "I feel like the process has almost been taken in a precautionary way, but I think that's the right way."
--OF Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a double in the fifth inning of Tuesday night's win. He is hitting .344 (22-for-64) over that stretch. Ellsbury also leads American League rookies with 94 runs this season, which is the eighth-highest total by a rookie in team history and the most since Nomar Garciaparra scored 122 runs in 1997. Ellsbury also leads AL rookies in hits (147), triples (seven) and multi-hit games (38) in what's been a solid rookie campaign for the speedster.
BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- One-run losses that the Sox suffered at Tropicana Field this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're fine. We've just got to keep on playing. I never noticed the difference between winning the division and the wild card. As long as you're in, you're in." -- DH David Ortiz.
