BOSTON -- Tim Wakefield gave the slumping Boston Red Sox a huge lift five days after getting smacked on his pitching shoulder by a line drive -- and one day before they renew their rivalry with the New York Yankees.
Wakefield pitched seven shutout innings, and David McCarty drove in two runs and threw out a runner at home plate, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles and a split of their day-night doubleheader Thursday.
"I felt good enough," Wakefield said of his right shoulder. "Hopefully, this win will give us some momentum going into the Yankees series."
Boston salvaged the finale of the three-game series, ending its first three-game home losing streak of the season. The Red Sox trail AL East leader New York by 8 ½ games and host the Yankees in a three-game series starting Friday night.
"This weekend might be good for us," manager Terry Francona said, "having a little added electricity here."
Wakefield (6-6) didn't miss a start after being hit in the shoulder in the fourth inning of last Saturday night's 8-3 loss at Anaheim. He left after that inning.
On Thursday night, he allowed eight hits, all singles, struck out four and walked none.
"Barring a broken shoulder, he was going to take the ball," Boston catcher Doug Mirabelli said. "He didn't show any kind of aftereffects."
Mike Timlin pitched the eighth and Alan Embree finished the 10-hitter, Boston's major league-best ninth shutout of the season.
Baltimore's best chance came in the first when the first two hitters, Brian Roberts and David Newhan, singled. Then Mora flied out to McCarty, making his sixth start of the year in left field, and Roberts was thrown out trying to score.
"We had an opportunity in the first inning," Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said. "You've got to be sure" when tagging up with no outs.
"We've been falling behind in ballgames and I think that kind of took some of the pressure off of us," McCarty said.
Wakefield also held the Orioles scoreless after he allowed two singles in both the second and fifth.
The Red Sox went ahead 3-0 in the first against Dave Borkowski (1-2).
Mark Bellhorn walked and advanced to third on a balk and a wild pitch. David Ortiz walked, and Bellhorn scored when Manny Ramirez hit into a forceout at second. Singles by Trot Nixon and Kevin Youkilis loaded the bases before McCarty's two-run single.
Youkilis' homer made it 4-0 in the fourth.
Notes
- Mueller shaved his head between games but did not play in the night game.
- Alvarez was sent back to the minors after the first game. Ricky Gutierrez, acquired Wednesday from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named or cash, was activated and started at shortstop in the second game.
- LHP Jimmy Anderson was designated for assignment when Alvarez was called up.
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