Wakefield Secures Career Win No. 200

Former Panther struck out six in six innings of work against the Toronto Blue Jays

 BOSTON (Baseball) – Former Florida Tech Panther Tim Wakefield collected his 200th career victory in Boston’s 18-6 win over Toronto Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

He is now part of an elite group of 108 pitchers who have won 200-plus games. Only 89 have reached the mark since 1900 and just 69 have done it since 1920.

In six innings against the Blue Jays, Wakefield surrendered five runs on six hits and two walks, while fanning six. He received plenty of run support from Red Sox top two hitters in their lineup, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia. The pair combined to go 8-for-10 with eight RBIs and nine runs scored.

Wakefield, the league’s oldest player at 45, played for the Panthers from 1986-88. He was named team MVP his sophomore and junior seasons as a first baseman. He still holds the program record for career home runs with 40 and set single-season marks in 1987 with 22 home runs and 71 RBIs.

The Melbourne native was the first player to be drafted from Florida Tech. He made his major league debut in 1992 with Pittsburgh. His No. 3 jersey was retired by the institution in Feb. 2006. He is a member of the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame and the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was selected to the SSC’s Silver Anniversary Team, which highlighted the top players and coaches from the league’s first quarter century.