Their cleanup hitter was resting up before a day off, their bullpen was taxed and their lineup was not exactly primed for double-digit run production.

So, with a winning record on the road trip hanging in the balance, the Red Sox handed the ball to Tim Wakefield yesterday afternoon, wishing and hoping for the best.

They got Wakefield's best.

The knuckleballer allowed just one run in 7 1/3 innings and the Red Sox ended the seven-game journey with a 4-1 win over the Devil Rays. After an inconclusive split in Chicago, the Sox opened the Tampa Bay series with a flat loss Monday night.

Even Tuesday's emotional roller-coaster victory - when Matt Clement and Trot Nixon were lost to injuries and the team rallied in the ninth and 10th innings - was good for just one win.

Emotional rescues can take you just so far.

Wakefield and his knuckleball took them a step further.

"You know about the situation in the back of your head, you just try not to think about it," said Wakefield, who also picked up a key win in the final game of a tough road trip through St. Louis and Chicago in June. "I understood the bullpen was taxed after (Tuesday)."

Wakefield not only spread out six hits but he also contained the Devil Rays' formidable running game. Opponents know they can run on Wakefield. They managed just one stolen base in two attempts yesterday.

"Outstanding - it was much needed," manager Terry Francona said of Wakefield's effort. "He has a knack of understanding the situation. Teams are going to run on Wake. He and Mirabelli did a great job eliminating that part of the game."

The Red Sox had John Olerud batting fourth (Manny Ramirez had the day off) and a bottom third of the order that featured Alex Cora, Doug Mirabelli and Adam Stern. Tampa Bay starter Seth McClung began his day by mowing down the first nine batters in order.

That was when the Red Sox realized they must start thinking small, not big.

"(McClung) was throwing about 1,000 early on," Francona said. "We weren't going to mash it out of the park. We got his pitch count up and did the little things to get the game to go in our favor."

Little things included Edgar Renteria advancing from first to second in the sixth, when David Ortiz fouled out to the catcher on the third-base side.

"Was that beautiful baseball?" Francona asked rhetorically. "That's knowing how to play the game."

Relievers Chad Bradford and Mike Myers followed Wakefield, before the Devil Rays began a two-out rally in the ninth. With two runners on, Curt Schilling came in and walked a batter to load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate.

Carl Crawford then hit a groundball to the sure-handed Olerud at first base and the game and road trip ended on a high note. The celebration even included Clement, who was in the clubhouse waiting to return to Boston with the team.

Talk about your happy endings.

"Last night at 9 o'clock, this could have been a 2-5 trip and we're going home 4-3," said Schilling, who picked up his third save. "That's a pretty good swing and the best thing is we're going home with Matt Clement."