Boston’s Kevin Youkilis follows through on his sixth-inning single against Atlanta Monday.

AP / Rob Carr

KISSIMMEE, Fla. –– Is Rocco Baldelli starting to find his stroke?

Baldelli started well, then slumped through two weeks of spring training, his average diving below .200. He has rebounded well of late, with a three-run home run Saturday, and a two-run shot Monday. His average is still low –– .194 –– but he now has nine RBI and some clutch hits to show for it.

“I usually don’t hit tremendously well in spring training,” Baldelli said. “It feels like I forget how to hit in the offseason, and then it takes me a little while when I get back. But it’s not something I’ve ever really worried about or pressed too much when trying to get ready for the season. I don’t know how many ABs I’ve got, but I think I’ll be ready to go.”

Baldelli spent an off-day last week taking extra hitting against lefties at the Sox minor-league complex, and doubled and hit a home run. That time seems to have helped.

“I mean, I feel all right,” Baldelli said. “I could always be seeing the ball better, making more hard contact consistently. But I feel pretty good, and I’m happy with how spring training is going so far.”

Manager Terry Francona isn’t positive that Baldelli has really hit a consistent groove yet. But he is such a talented hitter, with such quick reflexes, that he can make up for being rusty if a pitcher throws a mistake.

“The one thing is, if you make a mistake with a guy like Rocco, it can turn into a three-run homer,” Francona said. “The more guys you have like that, even if they don’t have their stroke, you throw a ball over the plate, they can change the game.”

Bad day for Wake

Tim Wakefield was hit hard Monday in a minor-league start at the team’s player development complex in Fort Myers, with Cincinnati Reds minor-leaguers slamming him for five runs in five innings.

Wakefield threw 94 pitches, 57 of them for strikes. He allowed five earned runs on five hits and three home runs. He hit one batter.

In his major-league level starts this spring, Wakefield has a 5.40 ERA in 15 innings.

dbarbari@projo.com