BOSTON — For the second year in a row, Paul Byrd and Tim Wakefield have been linked in the American League playoffs. Byrd won their match last year, but Wakefield “won” this year.

The Sox announced that Wakefield will join the starting rotation for Game Four of the ALCS. Wakefield made one start in last year’s ALCS, in Game Four. The Sox lost the game. The winning pitcher for Cleveland in that game?

It was Byrd.

Starting Wakefield means Byrd will work out of the bullpen. That’s where he was against the Angels. Byrd warmed up once but never got into the game. He said he has no problem working out of the pen.

“I’m hanging out, just like Paul Revere. Just give me a couple minutes’ notice and I will do whatever you want,” he said.

Byrd said he had no problem getting ready when he was asked to warm up in Game Three. He changed his routine to include some throwing before the game.

“I played catch in the afternoon. I played catch with the outfielders a couple times,” he said. “I was ready very quick. My arm is only going to throw 85 (miles per hour), so it doesn’t take long to warm up, five to seven minutes . . . If I throw a little bit earlier in the day I’m fine.”

Sox should get bounce on turf

The Red Sox have struggled on turf this year, especially in Tropicana Field, a situation that confuses Terry Francona.

“I used to think it was fairly obvious when we were slower and we would get on turf, in Toronto, Minnesota, with teams that could run and we couldn’t. We were at a disadvantage some times,” Francona said. “I don’t feel that way anymore . . . our record is not very good. I’m hopeful that’s going to change.”

With its infusion of youth and speed in the last two years, the Sox should be better on turf, the manager says.

Jed Lowrie, one of the new guys, said the turf at Tropicana Field is not as much a change from a natural surface as others.

“It’s not that quick,” he said. “It’s still a little bit of an adjustment, a little different than natural. It is a true hop.”

Southern hospitality at the ’Trop

Tropicana Field often gets a bad name, with players complaining about the turf and fans unhappy with the humidity inside the dome. But infielder Alex Cora knows a secret: Tampa Bay’s clubhouse is the Four Seasons of the majors.

Forget the lousy field — inside, they press your shirts!

“I love the clubhouse. It’s the best clubhouse in the league. This guy, the guy does a great job down there. You can quote me on that. The food is amazing, they clean your shoes, they press your shirt, they do a great job. It’s the best visiting clubhouse in the league,” Cora said.

The Rays had often had a reputation for frugality in the past, which reportedly has changed with the evolution of their ownership group in recent years, but Cora said he doesn’t know anything about that. He’s only had the experience of what to him is a veritable Tampa Ritz.

“Since I’ve been here it’s the best clubhouse in the league. Bring your checkbook, tip ‘em good,” he said.

Tag play caught Varitek off guard

Catcher Jason Varitek has heard all the back and forth over his controversial, and possibly game-saving, tag of Reggie Willits after a failed suicide squeeze in the eighth inning of Game Four on Monday night. He had no idea of the intricacies of baseball’s rules on how long he needed to hold the ball to make a tag, or whether, in football parlance, the ground could cause a fumble.

In fact, until he looked up at umpire Tim Welke, he didn’t know whether Willits was out.

Schilling’s shoulder strengthens

Curt Schilling’s surgeon is saying the right-hander probably would have been ready for this postseason if the pitcher’s shoulder operation was performed in January.

Dr. Craig Morgan wanted to operate then and said in spring training that the only way Schilling might pitch this season would be if he had surgery. Team physician Dr. Thomas Gill recommended rehabilitation. Schilling reluctantly agreed, then had surgery on June 23.

Morgan says Schilling’s shoulder is “phenomenal” and that his health would not prevent him from pitching at the start of next season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

pkenyon@projo.com / dbarbari@projo.com