The line drive that blasted off the back of his right shoulder blade just five days ago in Anaheim tried to derail Tim Wakefield. But it couldn't.

It might have knocked him down and made him sore for a few days. But when it came time to take the mound on Thursday night at Fenway Park, Wakefield was once again the rock he's been for the Red Sox so many years.

With the Sox in dire need of a victory after treading water following the All-Star break and losing the first game of Thursday's day-night doubleheader, Wakefield delivered in a big way.

His knuckleball danced in such a way that perplexed the Orioles and delivered a badly needed 4-0 win for the Sox.

"That was awesome," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "We needed this like you can't believe. He really gutted it out."

And how. Wakefield pitched seven shutout innings, scattering eight hits and striking out four. He didn't walk anyone, improving his record to 6-6.

A member of the Sox since 1995, this performance was yet another example of Wakefield coming through at an important time.

"He's a guy that wants to take the ball every chance he can and barring a broken shoulder there, he'll be running to take the ball and to come out and throw like he did," said Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli. "That was huge."

Boston's season-high American League East deficit of nine games lasted just a few hours, and the Sox enter this weekend's series against the Yankees 8 1/2 games behind, the exact same spot they were after being swept out of New York on July 1.

Sharing co-star honors with Wakefield was utilityman David McCarty, who recorded a big assist from left field in the top of the first, and added a two-run single with his bat in the bottom of the inning.

"He's a pro," said Francona. "I respect the way he handles himself. He's a quiet, real calming influence in the clubhouse."

Reeling from the ugly 8-3 loss in Game 1, the Sox (52-43) got a quick charge defensively in the top of the first of the nightcap. With runners at the corners and one out, Melvin Mora hit a fly ball to medium-depth left field. McCarty caught it and fired to the plate, nailing Brian Roberts for a 7-2 double play.

"It hung up long enough so I was able to get around behind it, square up my shoulders, so I could get a good throw off," McCarty said. "I take a lot of pride in that. I think it's something that, especially as a utility player, when they get you in there, the number one thing is to not hurt the team on defense. Anything you do offensively is a bonus to that."

The bonus came in no time. In the bottom of the first, Manny Ramirez put the Sox in front with a fielder's choice grounder to third. Trot Nixon and Kevin Youkilis kept the rally going, loading the bases on consecutive singles. That set up McCarty for a two-run single to right.

"That was nice, that was very nice, to contribute like that," said McCarty.

The Sox extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth, when Youkilis smashed a solo shot over the Green Monster.

Mike Timlin came on for Wakefield and pitched a scoreless eighth. Lefty Alan Embree finished it in the ninth.

Most of the post-game talk centered around Wakefield.

"He had a good knuckleball tonight," said Mirabelli. "He had command of it. The ball was just moving a lot."

Did Wakefield ever envision that his sore shoulder might not allow him to pitch?

"No," Wakefield said. "I felt OK. I felt good enough. It felt a lot better today than it did last week. But you know, the training staff did a great job getting me ready to pitch today."

However, Wakefield was the one who went out and did it, earning more respect from his teammates in the process.

"It was outstanding," McCarty said. "For him to get hurt his last outing like that and to do everything necessary to get himself ready for this one and to come out and pitch like that and pitch so many innings, is huge."