Triple-A knuckleballer Zink chosen to replace Wakefield in BoSox rotation

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CHICAGO -- Charlie Zink will replace fellow knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in the Boston Red Sox rotation.

Zink is scheduled to start against Texas on Tuesday. The team plans to purchase his contract from Triple-A Pawtucket that day and put the 42-year-old Wakefield on the disabled list with stiffness in his right shoulder.

Zink, who will turn 29 later this month, is 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 25 starts with Pawtucket this year.

"Charlie has been throwing real good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Monday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. "I think that everybody felt like it was a breakout year for him."

Francona said he was optimistic that Wakefield, who is 7-8 with a 3.67 ERA, will only miss two starts.

"He got a cortisone shot," Francona said. "He's going to be approximately three days without throwing."

If Wakefield can't return in two weeks, the Red Sox might alter their rotation with off days on Aug. 21 and 25.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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