By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
CHICAGO -- History will have to wait for Tim Wakefield.
Wakefield, already the active career leader in victories, was attempting to become just the 89th pitcher in the modern era to record 200 career victories Friday night.
Instead, Wakefield allowed three runs in seven innings and got little in the way of offensive support from his teammates and was stuck with a loss in the 3-1 setback to the Chicago White Sox.
"I felt great,'' said Wakefield, who dropped to 6-4 on the season. "I had a lot of movement on the knuckleball tonight. I just left one pitch up and it was hit for a homer.''
The pitch to Pierzynski wasn't a bad one, "just didn't do what it was supposed to do,'' according to Wakefield.
Wakefield, of course, knew as he went out to the mound to start the game that he was on the verge of a milestone, but tried to put it out of his mind.
"I thought about it a little bit before the game,'' he said, "but once I got done with my warmups and got into the game, I was trying to win for us -- not for me personally. We're still in first place, but we've got to get some wins and continue some momentum.''
Boston Red Sox
Wakefield's next chance at No. 200 will come at Fenway in front of a home crowd and a day after his 45th birthday.
"I'm excited about it,'' said Wakefield. "Again, I don't like to talk about my personal numbers. I'm excited about helping us win and getting us into the post-season.''
Dustin Pedroia, who extended his hitting streak to 25 straight games Thursday with a homer in his final at-bat of the game, wasn't as fortunate Friday.
He grounded to third in the first and fourth innings, reached on a fielder's choice in the sixth and flied to center in the eighth, snapping the streak.
"It's tough (to continue a streak),'' he said. "The pitchers we face are tough. Day in, day out, that's difficult to do. It's cool that I've been that consistent. I just have to keep it going.''
Clay Buchholz will see noted back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles Monday in an effort to determine what has slowed his comeback from a back injury.
Buchholz, who hasn't pitched since June 15, threw off a mound Monday, but a followup session scheduled for Wednesday was scuttled.
WEEI.com reported Thursday that the Red Sox are fearful that Buchholz's back injury isn't merely muscular, as has been speculated, but, instead, structural.
The timing of the visit with Watkins may be curious, too. With the non-waiver trading deadline Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern, the Sox may not want any negative prognosis on Buchholz made public before then, fearing that it may hurt them in any leverage in trade talks.
Unsure of Buchholz's availability in the coming months, the Sox are in the market for a starting pitcher. Seattle's Erik Bedard, Oakland's Rich Harden, LA's Huroki Kuroda and Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez are among the pitchers in whom the Sox have interest.
Jed Lowrie, who's been out for six weeks with a pinched nerve in his shoulder, will begin a rehab assignment with Pawtucket Monday.
Lowrie will play shortstop Monday for the Pawsox, DH Tuesday, and be re-examined Wednesday in Boston before rejoining Pawtucket for two more games Thursday and Friday.
Without any further setbacks, it's possible Scutaro could be activated next weekend.
"The way he swung the bat earlier in the season,'' said Terry Francona, "he was our most productive hitter. When guys aren't hear, it's like 'out of sight, out of mind.' But we want him swinging like he was. That would be a huge lift for us.''
Adrian Gonzalez was scratched from the lineup about 30 minutes before gametime with a stiff neck. His absence meant that Kevin Youkilis moved from third to first, with Drew Sutton getting the start in left field. David Ortiz took Gonzalez's spot hitting third in the batting order with Josh Reddick moving up to fifth.
Reliever Bobby Jenks got an injection his back Thursday. He remains in Boston, and will resume workouts with trainer Scott Waugh Monday.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam.