Tim Wakefield wasn't happy with his individual effort, but he was pleased with the overall team result.

Despite giving up four runs and six hits in a shaky five-inning stint, Wakefield was bailed out by relievers Mike Myers, Mike Timlin, Ramiro Mendoza and Keith Foulke as the Red Sox kept pace with the Yankees in the AL East race with an 8-6 victory over Tampa Bay last night at Fenway Park.

"It was a huge win for us. The team played great behind me," said Wakefield. "I wasn't able to go back out there in the sixth, but the bullpen did a good job holding it until it was 6-6, then our offense came through and scored some runs.

"I was struggling with the strike zone. I had pretty good movement on it, but you can't take (Tampa Bay) lightly either, they're a pretty good ball club."

Even though Wakefield had allowed 15 hits and 15 runs in his last 10 innings over two starts against Texas and Seattle, Red Sox manager Terry Francona had hoped last night would be the beginning of one of those vintage Wakefield winning spurts.

"Coming out of the bullpen, (Doug) Mirabelli said his ball was all over the place," said Francona. "The game starts and I thought he was throwing some good ones, but he was falling behind a lot. Even when he fell behind, he wasn't throwing his fastball for strikes. He falls behind and tries to maybe get one over that's not, that gets hit or he walks a guy.

"He's just not getting in a rhythm where he can get on a roll. I still think he has good stuff. I think it's more of having a nice, easy inning and feeling good about himself and going out and repeating it."

After allowing single runs in the first two innings, Wakefield appeared to settle down against a team he has owned in his career (10-1 with three saves and a 2.70 ERA), retiring seven straight batters before Toby Hall opened the fifth with a double. By the time Wakefield got out of the inning, the Devil Rays had scored twice to tie the game again at 4.

"Little things are happening," said Wakefield, who threw 96 pitches in five innings. "I just need a litle bit of luck to fall my way once in a while."