There is no middle ground for Tim Wakefield when he pitches. Eighteen times he has started this season; 18 times he has gone home with either a win or a loss. No other pitcher in baseball has had as many decisions as Wakefield, who is now 10-8 after beating the Toronto Blue Jays last night, 7-4.

Is there a clause in his contract that stipulates every Wakefield start must have a decision attached to it? Wakefield laughed.

"Seems that way," the Red Sox knuckleballer said. "I wish I did. When I talked to John [Farrell] and Tito [Terry Francona] before the season, I asked them what they wanted out of me, and they said innings and decisions. I've been able to accommodate both of those so far this year. As long as there are W's on there, I don't mind getting decisions, that's for sure."

Wakefield was touched for a run in the top of the first inning when Vernon Wells led off with a single and came around on an infield out, a base hit by Alex Rios, and a sacrifice fly by Frank Thomas. Dustin Pedroia's defense spared Wakefield further trouble, the rookie second baseman making a diving backhanded stop and springing up quickly to throw out Troy Glaus.

"He saved us a run there," Wakefield said. "It was a huge play at that point in the game. After that, our offense went ahead and scored four off [Roy] Halladay early, and gave me a huge cushion that made my job easier."

The Blue Jays scored again in the fifth on a single by Aaron Hill, a wild pitch, an infield out, and John McDonald's sacrifice fly, then cut the lead to 5-4 in the sixth when Matt Stairs and Rios hit back-to-back home runs.

"Matt Stairs hit the first pitch and hit a fly ball to right," Wakefield said. "Dougie [Mirabelli, the catcher] and I talked about it afterward, and when he hit it, I thought it was an out. But unfortunately, sometimes the prevailing wind is blowing out, and it carried into the bullpen. Rios, I got ahead of him and thought I made a good pitch - Dougie said it was the best knuckleball I threw all night - but unfortunately, it went right into his swing path."