01:00 AM EDT on Monday, May 24, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- His eyes are a little red. His body is tired.

But new father Tim Wakefield , whose wife, Stacie , gave birth to the couple's first child, Trevor Stephen , on May 15, stayed awake long enough to effectively stifle the Blue Jays for seven innings in yesterday's 7-2 win at Fenway Park.

Wakefield offered no resistance when manager Terry Francona elected to take him out after seven innings, even though the knuckleballer had thrown only 89 pitches.

Was he tired?

"You see my eyes?" said Wakefield. "I've been trying to help out my wife as much as I can. That's part of life. I have a beautiful son at home and a beautiful wife who has blessed me with this child. I labored there for a couple of innings. I'm just a little sleep-deprived right now."

He hasn't gotten any sympathy from his teammates who already have children.

"They're laughing at me right now. They know what it's like," said Wakefield.

The opposition hasn't been enjoying many laughs at Wakefield's expense lately. Since becoming a father, Wakefield is 2-0, having allowed only three runs on 10 hits over 14 innings.

"Fatherhood seems to agree with him," said Francona.

The victory improved Wakefield's record to 4-2. He lowered his earned-run average to 3.21, which is ninth-best in the league.

Second opinion

Third baseman Bill Mueller left for Arizona yesterday to get a second opinion on his ailing right knee. Mueller was bringing his MRI pictures, taken Friday in Boston. The diagnosis by Red Sox team physician Bill Morgan was mild patellar tendinitis.

Mueller was expected to see orthopedist David Zeman in Phoenix. Zeman performed surgery on Mueller's left knee in 2002, removing bone chips. Mueller suffered a fractured kneecap while playing for the Chicago Cubs in 2001.

Yesterday marked the fourth straight game Mueller had missed.

Aggressive approach

Nomar Garciaparra took batting practice against a Harvard pitcher for the second straight day. The Sox' All-Star shortstop, trying to bounce back from a right Achilles tendon problem he suffered during spring training, reported no ill effects after hitting against senior right-hander Trey Hendricks , the Ivy League's pitcher of the year.

Garciaparra took more aggressive swings than he had the previous day against right-hander Mike Morgalis . Garciaparra also had more of a strenuous day of fielding grounders, moving more up the middle, into the hole and charging slower bouncers, forcing him to throw on the move, albeit still a bit gingerly.

He will take today off, as will the rest of the Sox, and will continue his workouts the next two days, facing Morgalis (tomorrow) and Hendricks (Wednesday) again.

Essay contest

The Bosox Club's annual essay contest for children ages 8-15 has begun. The club will award 15 all-expenses-paid sessions either overnight or for the day camp at the New England Baseball Camp in July. The essays are to be 100 words. The topic is why they would like to attend the camp. Kids must include their name, address and phone number. Essays should be mailed to Bosox Club Baseball Camp Contest, Fenway Park, 4 Yakwey Way, Boston, Mass., 02215. E-mails can be sent to info [at] bosoxclub.com

Extra bases

Johnny Damon has been on base as the leadoff batter in the first inning five games in a row and in six of the last seven. Damon boasts a .515 on-base percentage (9 hits, 8 walks) over his last seven games. . . . Shortstop Pokey Reese didn't start, giving his body a well-needed rest, Francona said. Today's scheduled day off will make it two days in a row for Reese, who entered yesterday's game as a defensive replacement at short for the final inning. . . . The rotation will stay intact, with each pitcher enjoying an extra day of rest. . . . Toronto second baseman Orlando Hudson had to leave the game after suffering a strained left hamstring while running to first on a grounder to second base in the third inning. . . . For the second time this season, fans were allowed to sit in the center-field bleachers. They were given green T-shirts to wear to provide a better background for the hitters. In the past, those seats have been off limits during day games because it presented a distraction for the hitters in the sunshine. . . . Cesar Crespo , who started at short and finished the game in left field, celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday.

Presidental candidate Sen. John Kerry was in the crowd, wearing a Red Sox jacket. After the game he visited Francona's office and a handful of players went in to meet him. . . . Yesterday was State of Vermont Day. . . . Ellis Burks (left knee surgery) has had a setback, pushing his recovery off a bit. He hasn't played since April 24, and isn't expected back any time soon. . . . Right-hander Jason Shiell had Tommy John surgery and is done for the year. . . . Another right-hander, Reynaldo Garcia , who had bone chips removed from his right elbow in late March, had to have another surgical procedure to clean up the elbow a few days ago. . . . Anastacio Martinez , who was the winning pitcher Saturday night, was the first Red Sox pitcher to claim a win in his big-league debut since Juan Pena on May 8, 1999.