Zink gets the call

Knuckleballer will start tonight for Sox

 All season long, Charlie Zink has worn out Triple-A 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.

Tonight at Fenway, Zink gets to finally be that guy.

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 a spot start, and will feature the very same repertoire that fans have grown accustomed to with the veteran knuckler 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 the PawSox, has been seemingly stuck in the minor leagues — a byproduct of both incredible starting pitching depth in Boston this season and an understandable reticence to have two knuckleball pitchers in the same five-man starting staff.

Zink might throw the ball a tick harder than Wakefield when he muscles up a mid-80’s fastball and also features a cut fastball — in addition to the knuckler — but this is a solid facsimile to the fallen 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 Sox 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. ”

The Sox skipper already has the perfect ending for the sure-to-be-nervous rookie in his first big league start.
“I hope he dazzles everybody,” cracked Francona.