Wakefield helps get Sox started again

On Tuesday night, the Red Sox' relief pitchers took it on the chin, blowing a three-run lead on the way to a 12-8 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Indians. Yesterday, Tim Wakefield stopped the bleeding.

''I knew what the situation was going into the game," said Wakefield, who pitched seven innings while giving up only two runs in Boston's 5-2 victory over Cleveland at Fenway Park. ''I was very thankful to go seven innings. The bullpen needed rest, and I needed to go deep into the game."

Wakefield improved to 7-6, and dropped his ERA to 3.94. He threw a season-high 115 pitches, 73 for strikes, and allowed only five hits. He walked four and struck out three, with his strikeout of Travis Hafner in the third inning being the 1,500th of his career. Wakefield made only two bad pitches -- Casey Blake hit a home run in the fifth, and Victor Martínez knocked one out in the sixth. Blake's homer broke a 19 2/3-inning scoreless streak for Wakefield, the longest by any Red Sox pitcher this season.

''I ran into problems in the first and second innings [stranding two runners each time], but I settled down and made pitches when I needed to make them," said Wakefield. ''I really just tried to hone my concentration, to make the pitches when I had to. I try to get my concentration down to one pitch at a time."

In Wakefield's three previous starts, an 8-0 victory over the Phillies, a no-decision in a 2-0 loss to the Pirates (seven scoreless innings), and an 8-1 win over the Cubs, he had compiled a microscopic ERA of 0.41, He wasn't quite as sharp yesterday, but he may be taking off on one of his patented runs.

''I had better stuff in my last two starts, but I came through when I had to," he said. ''I get a break now and then. Every once in a while, someone tops one, and I get a double play [Alex Cora hit into an inning-ending double play with two on in the sixth and the Indians up, 2-1]. I feel that free-swinging teams [such as the Indians] have helped me in the past."

The Sox tied the game on a double by Trot Nixon in the sixth, and went ahead for good when Doug Mirabelli, Wakefield's trusty batterymate, hit a shot that cleared the Monster seats for a 4-2 lead. Mark Bellhorn followed with a homer that accounted for the final score.

''When Tim gets his mechanics right, he gets the feel of the ball and he makes great pitches," said Mirabelli. ''He's been great his last four starts. He's always had the knack of making a big pitch when he has to. He got that double play in a key part of the game.

''On my homer, their starter [Scott Elarton] was throwing three or four different pitches for strikes, and you have to wait for a mistake. The Green Monster makes a lot of homers look good, but definitely, I hit it real well. I got into a hitter's count, and that's what happened. I put a good swing on the ball. I'm locked in right now, I'm feeling comfortable at the plate."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona was relieved that his club had salvaged the last game of the series after two embarrassing losses. And, he knew he had Wakefield to thank.

''He did exactly what he had to do," said Francona. ''He gave up two solo homers, and that was it. For the most part, he put his knuckleball in the strike zone, and it moved down. It looks like he's putting together a little hot streak, which is good for us."