Tim Wakefield walked into the press room as Grady Little exited. It was just long enough to see most reporters filing through the rear door on their way to the clubhouse.

''Thanks for staying guys,'' said Wakefield, who did not look the least bit hurt by the mass exodus. Most members of the media were on their way to interview Trot Nixon. After all, the right fielder hit two home runs, including a grand slam that broke the game open in the seventh inning and ensured the Red Sox a 10-4 victory over the Devil Rays last night at Fenway Park.

Wakefield would take the late-game run support and a win over postgame attention any day.

The way games had been going for the knuckleballer, the run support was a welcome change. Throughout July, Wakefield had received hardly any offensive assistance. Hard to believe for a team that leads the majors in batting (.296), runs (621), and hits (1,071). Over Wakefield's previous four starts, the Sox had scored seven runs, the same number produced by the team in the seventh inning last night.

As a result of the outburst, Wakefield finally got the numbers he needed to end a two-game losing streak and earn his first win since June 23. The victory ended a string of bad luck for Wakefield that also included three no-decisions. Entering last night, he had a 2.65 ERA over his last eight starts, but just one win.

Still, when asked if it felt like it had been a long time since he had seen some decent run support, Wakefield said, ''Not really. I am out here every other day watching these guys score some runs. My run support, I can't say anything bad about it, because those guys are busting their tails every time I take the mound. It's just one of those unfortunate things that have happened on the days that I pitch, but I am not knocking our offense whatsoever. They are leading the league in four or five different categories for a reason. These guys know how to hit, and I am just excited to be on the same team as our offense is.''

It was hard to tell during the brief press conference, but Little said ''no one was happier'' about the run support than Wakefield. The righthander gave a more subdued assessment of the game, praising the offense and downplaying his role. Wakefield said he simply tried to keep the Sox in the game as long as he could.

''I look at innings pitched and quality starts,'' said Wakefield. ''As the starting pitcher, you try to keep the team in the game as long as you can. If I can get into the sixth or seventh inning every time, I know I am doing my job.''

In the end, Wakefield earned his seventh win of the season by pitching seven innings, allowing four runs (including two solo home runs in the top of the seventh) on six hits and just one walk. He also recorded five strikeouts. For a knuckleballer, he posted an impressive 69/20 strike-to-ball ratio.

''After the two solo home runs there in the top of the seventh inning, to see those seven runs pop up there in the bottom half was probably the most pleasant sight [Wakefield] has had all season long,'' said Little. ''And it was good for all of us. But he continues to pitch well. He's throwing the ball very well. Wake is a knuckleball pitcher. Sometimes they hit the ball out of the park, but you always look up on the scoreboard when Wake is on the mound and you see that our club is right in the game with a chance to win. And [last night], with those seven runs, it kind of did the trick.''