For quite a spell, Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield just wasn't able to make it through six innings.

For example, in his last outing - Saturday in San Diego - the veteran righthander survived only 5 1/3 innings and allowed six runs. He absorbed the loss, marking the fourth time in seven starts he had failed to go six innings.

Last night against the Rangers at Fenway Park, Wakefield was back in form. He went 6 2/3 and allowed one earned run in the Red Sox' 2-1 victory.

The knuckleballer threw 101 pitches, 62 for strikes, walked four, and struck out four to improve to 8-8. And although he helped end the Sox' three-game losing streak, he had to deal with runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth, and fifth.

The Rangers' run came in the fifth, when catcher Adam Melhuse doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ramon Vazquez, and came home on Jerry Hairston's sacrifice fly, tying the score, 1-1.

"It was one of those nights I didn't have my best stuff," said Wakefield. "But I felt like I made the pitches when I needed to make them. I was very fortunate on that aspect."

Wakefield was followed by Manny Delcarmen, who averted trouble by striking out Sammy Sosa on a 3-and-2 pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh.

"Our bullpen has done a great job all year," said Wakefield, whose ERA dropped to 4.31. "Manny coming in and picking me up there in the seventh inning, getting a huge out with the bases loaded against a guy who has 600 homers, then [Hideki] Okajima has obviously done his job all year and [Jonathan Papelbon] closes it out in the ninth.

"It's how you like to script it sometimes, and it worked for us tonight."

Wakefield earned a decision for the 16th time in 16 starts. Some of his losses have been because of lack of run support.

In his eight victories, the Sox have scored 36 runs, an average of 4.5 per game. In his eight losses, the Sox have generated just 10 runs, an average of 1.3.

"That's part of the game sometimes," said Wakefield. "You pitch on those days that [not much is generated]. We're just thankful that we're home after a long road trip. Unfortunately, it didn't end the way we wanted it to in Seattle, but it's nice to be back in front of your home crowd.

"You could definitely feel the electricity here tonight. Getting a win after getting swept in Seattle was huge for us and, hopefully, we can carry the momentum into this series and the next one."

Even though there have been plenty of times Wakefield has faced tight situations, he said he doesn't approach hitters any differently.

"You know the situation and you try not to make one mistake," he said. "I've always said that when a team scores any pitcher runs, it makes your job a little bit easier. I had a one-run lead in the fifth and I gave it back, and they manufactured a run with a double, they bunted a guy over and a sac fly, but after that, we got a 2-1 lead and I was thinking it's hard not to make a mistake. I was trying my best to grind it out and I was fortunate enough to make the right pitches at the right time."