BALTIMORE (AP) -- Tim Wakefield got his knuckleball to flutter at

just the right time against the overeager Baltimore Orioles, who

flailed away with little success when it mattered most.

Wakefield pitched six perilous innings without allowing an

earned run, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 victory Sunday and

a three-game sweep.

Adam Stern drove in two runs for the Red Sox, whose 5-1 start is

their best since 1999. Boston outscored Baltimore 20-10 in the

series and has won eight straight against the Orioles dating to

September.

For the Red Sox, the best part about their good start is that it

occurred on the road. Boston plays its home opener Tuesday against

Toronto.

"I think Fenway will be jumping. It's a great way to go home,"

Boston manager Terry Francona said.

Wakefield (1-1) retired the side in order only once. The

right-hander twice worked out of bases-loaded jams and stranded 10

runners before leaving with a 4-1 lead.

"He's tough when he's got that thing moving, so as an offense

you have to start trying to get base hits and not overswing,"

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. "Sometimes we get a little too

anxious. We needed to take what he gives us."

Wakefield gave the Orioles plenty, but not when it counted.

Despite allowing five hits, two walks and hitting two batters, he

lowered his ERA from 17.18 to 6.52 following a horrible season

debut.

"You always want to get back out there. I had pretty good stuff

in Texas, almost too good," Wakefield said. "I couldn't control

it and I couldn't throw it for strikes. When that happens, you

start walking guys and it leads to really big innings. Today I felt

more comfortable."

And that made the Orioles very uncomfortable. Baltimore went

2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, including 2-for-10

against Wakefield.

"I played with him for three years and faced him a lot,"

Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar said. "It's a 50-50 thing when

you're facing a knuckleballer. You just have to keep battling and

take your hacks."

Mike Timlin worked the seventh, Keith Foulke pitched a perfect

eighth and Jonathan Papelbon got three outs for his third save, the

second in two days. With runners at the corners and one out in the

ninth, Jay Gibbons and Millar fouled out.

Ramon Hernandez had three hits for the Orioles, who left 14

runners on base. Baltimore has lost four straight after starting

2-0.

"You're always worried when your team doesn't hit well and

doesn't pitch well," Perlozzo said. "We need to start clicking a

little bit better in all areas."

Boston went up 4-1 in the sixth, scoring two runs with two outs

after Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez walked the bases loaded. Stern

got an RBI single on a grounder that handcuffed Millar at first,

and Mark Loretta chased Lopez (1-1) with a single before John

Halama retired David Ortiz on a grounder to first.

In the bottom half, a double by Hernandez and a single by Chris

Gomez put runners at the corners with no outs. Wakefield then

capped his gritty performance by striking out Corey Patterson,

David Newhan and Luis Matos.

"You just try to minimize the damage and you get your

concentration down to one hitter at a time, in and out," Wakefield

said. "I was fortunate enough to get three strikeouts there and

get us out of the inning."

Wakefield threw 93 pitches, 63 for strikes.

The Orioles got an unearned run in the first inning. After

Newhan's grounder to second base went through Loretta's legs,

Newhan stole second and scored on a single by Miguel Tejada.

"Early on, we made it hard on (Wakefield)," Francona said.

"He made some real good pitches, stranded some runners, gave

himself a chance to settle down."

Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth before

Wakefield got Matos to hit into a fielder's choice.

Boston then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Two singles and a

sacrifice bunt preceded an RBI single by Stern, and a throwing

error by second baseman Gomez enabled another run to score. It was

the first error by a Red Sox opponent this season.Game notes
The Red Sox made two errors, twice as many as they had in

their first five games. ... Since 1999, Boston is 44-18 at Camden

Yards. ... Hernandez is batting .688 and has reached base in 14 of

20 plate appearances.