BOSTON -- Seven errors. Six unearned runs. A parade of seven pitchers to the mound who combined for 11 walks and 326 pitches in three-plus hours. Add it all up, and it spells U-G-L-Y.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As far the Red Sox are concerned, their come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Brewers in the nightcap of Saturday's day/night doubleheader was a sight to behold.

"It’s not easy to do,” manager Terry Francona said of sweeping a doubleheader, which -- thanks to their 5-3 win in the first game -- the Sox accomplished with Saturday night's comeback. "We used every pitcher that was available and we found a way to win that second game."

Tim Wakefield started the nightcap and was staked to a 5-0 lead after five innings. He departed with one out in the sixth after having thrown 108 pitches, and watched as the bullpen -- specifically David Aardsma and Craig Hansen -- gave it all back and then some, as the Brewers surged ahead, 6-5, with three runs in the sixth (all of which were charged to Wakefield) and three more in the seventh.

Still, Wakefield was happier with the Sox' subsequent rally -- they scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to move back ahead, 7-6, at which point Javier Lopez and Mike Timlin nailed it down -- which completed the sweep, than he was disappointed at losing a chance for a personal victory.

"It’s huge, especially with [Hideki] Okajima and [Jonathan] Papelbon [unavailable] for the second game," he said. (Okajima will be sidelined several days because of a sore wrist, and Papelbon had pitched in the opener on Saturday evening.) "The offense did a great job coming back and Mike Timlin got the save. It’s been a while, but I’m glad to see he got an opportunity to get a save and we won.”

With that save, Timlin, 42, became the oldest major-league pitcher to record a save since John Franco did it for the Mets against the Dodgers on Aug. 24, 2003.

The Sox had built their lead on a two-run double by Mike Lowell in the first, a two-run homer by Lowell in the third, and an error by third baseman Billy Hall which allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to score from third base with two outs in the fifth.

The Brewer comeback began in the sixth when, with one out, Corey Hart launched a rocket shot off Wakefield over the Monster Seats and out of the ballpark, making it 5-1. After Wakefield allowed a single to former teammate Gabe Kapler (1-for-5 with two runs scored and a rousing ovation in his Fenway return) and hit Hall, he was lifted in favor of Aardsma.

Aardsma started well enough, freezing Mike Rivera with a called third strike on the inside corner. But he hit Craig Counsell, loading the bases, and Richie Weeks won a long battle by fouling off several pitches and then spiking a two-run single to left on a 3-and-2 offering. Aardsma reloaded the bases when he walked Mike Cameron before escaping further damage by inducing Braun to foul out to first baseman Kevin Youkilis.

The further damage arrived in the seventh when Hansen took over, though he was wasn't helped by his defense. He gave up a leadoff single to Prince Fielder and struck out Hart. Lowell, at third base, then committed a rare throwing error on a slow chop by Kapler, putting runners at first and second. Shortstop Alex Cora compounded the problem by booting the in-between hop on a slow grounder by Hall, loading the bases.

The Brewers made it 5-4 on a fielder's choice grounder by Rivera, putting runners on first and third. Rivera soon made it into scoring position on a wild pitch by Hansen. Kapler held at third, but he wasn't there long; Counsell ripped a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring both runners and putting Milwaukee ahead, 6-5.

The Brewers entrusted the lead to Salomon Torres, whom they brought on in relief of starter David Bush, and it didn't take long for the Sox to jump on the 36-year-old right-hander . . . though, like Hansen, Torres had a case for defensive non-support. Ellsbury reached on an error by Weeks at second base. Dustin Pedroia hit a grounder to third and Hall's throw to second in an attempt to force Ellsbury went into right field, putting runners at second and third.

David Ortiz tied the game with a grounder to short, moving Pedroia to third. The Brewers then brought their infield in, which put them out of position to catch a popup into short right field by Youkilis. It fell for a hit, Pedroia scored, and the Sox were back ahead to stay,

"It’s always a battle," said Youkilis, who provided the would-be game-winning RBI in the seventh inning. "It’s a long day and by the end of the second game your body is tired."

It was clear late Saturday night that the Red Sox players were drained. It won’t get any easier, however, as the two teams play at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday.

"It’s baseball, you’re going to get something different every time you watch the game," said center fielder Coco Crisp. “It’s not like ice skating, where you know what you’re going to get where they have to do the mandatory jumps."

jmcdonal@projo.com