MIRABELLI

BALTIMORE — Doug Mirabelli, who was forced to the disabled list on Aug. 17 because of a strained right calf, was back in the lineup last night, serving in his primary Red Sox role as personal catcher for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

But Mirabelli’s return lasted only into the top of the third, when he had to be replaced by a pinch runner after suffering a strained left hamstring while running the bases.

By the bottom of the fourth, Wakefield, who had been scratched from his last start because of back woes, was gone, too, unable to bend his back well enough to get his knuckler to sink. Wakefield, who entered the game boasting a 22-inning scoreless streak, was torched for six runs on nine hits in a season-low 3 2/3 innings.

Wakefield’s earned-run average jumped from 4.16 to 4.39.

It was the first time in 27 starts Wakefield (16-10) did not get a decision. Chicago’s Jack McDowell had the longest previous streak of decisions for each start to start a season — 27, in 1993.

Mirabelli grounded the first pitch he saw just inside the third-base bag. As he neared first base, the Sox’ coach there, Luis Alicea, was waving him on to second for an easy double.

But about four steps from the bag, Mirabelli’s stride broke down. Trainer Paul Lessard and manager Terrry Francona went out to check on Mirabelli, who convinced them to let him stay in the game.

But after watching Mirabelli struggle to second base on Julio Lugo’s single to center, Francona sent out Royce Clayton to pinch-run for Mirabelli.

Mirabelli was replaced behind the plate by Kevin Cash, who had caught Wakefield in the knuckleballer’s previous two starts, a pair of scoreless seven-inning outings.

Dice-K praises Pedroia’s play

One day in Yankee Stadium last week Francona crossed paths with Daisuke Matsuzaka and tossed a question Dice-K’s way.

“I asked him about the Rookie of the Year, and he had an interesting answer,” said Francona yesterday afternoon. “He said, ‘I’ve already been Rookie of the Year (in Japan, the Pacific League award in 1999). Then he pointed to (Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and he said, ‘That’s the Rookie of the Year.’ That’s a pretty mature remark. I loved his attitude.”

The Sox have three strong Rookie of the Year candidates — Matsuzaka (14-11, 4.11), Pedroia (.329) and left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima (3-2, 1.79). Players from the Japanese League are eligible for the major-league award because, even though they may have numerous years of professional baseball under their belts in their native country, this is their first year in the big leagues here.

Okajima’s innings are mounting

On Wednesday night, Okajima served up a game-losing two-run homer in the ninth to Vernon Wells.

The left-hander was quoted after the game as saying he was getting tired, a function of the longer season in the majors compared with the Japanese League season. Francona, though, discounted that comment from Okajima.

“How many people asked him the same thing?” Francona said yesterday afternoon.

“After 12 people ask you that, you throw up your hands (and agree with the question). I think he left a changeup up. No one asked him two days ago (when he turned in a scoreless outing) if he was tired. There needs to be some consistency in the questioning. He didn’t all of a sudden run a marathon. He gave up a hit,” said Francona.

“I think everybody gets somewhat tired at this time of the year. But his fastball is the same as it has been all year, not an ounce of drop-off. I am aware of where he pitched and the amount, but we can’t stop the season. We have to try to use good judgment (on when to call on Okajima). He just left a pitch up,” said Francona.

Okajima has made 61 appearances, totaling 65 1/3 innings. His career-high for games in Japan was 58 (2001) and for innings it was 72 1/3 (2000). Last year, pitching for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Okajima worked in 55 games, totaling 54 2/3 innings.

The manager said that Okajima was suffering from a sore hip for a few days, but that condition has improved.

Youkilis flashes the leather

The homer for David Ortiz was his 200th for the Sox. … The home run for Coco Crisp was his sixth of the year but first since July 5, a stretch of 54 homerless games. … Kevin Millar’s homer was his third in 21 at-bats at Wakefield’s expense. … Eric Gagne hasn’t pitched in a game since Aug. 26 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. He threw a bullpen session yesterday afternoon. Francona said the Sox are going to be patient with him. … Bobby Kielty (lower back) started last night, replacing impressive rookie Jacoby Ellsbury, a left-handed hitter, because the Orioles started a left-handed pitcher (Garrett Olson). … The Orioles wore 1932 Baltimore Black Sox replica uniforms, paying tribute to the 75th anniversary of that Negro League team.

Kevin Youkilis entered the game having gone 177 consecutive games without a fielding error at first base, one shy of the American League record, established by Mike Hegan, who did not make an error in 178 games in a row for Milwaukee and Oakland from Sept. 24, 1970 to May 20, 1973.

Youkilis had handled 1,499 chances in his 177 errorless games, which includes 165 starts. Hegan handled 787 chances, starting only 52 games during his errorless streak. Steve Garvey boasts the major-league record — 193 games — while playing for San Diego from June 26, 1983 to April 14, 1985.

On Wednesday, Youkilis played in his 122nd game at first, edging past Tampa Bay’s Travis Lee for consecutive errorless games in one season. Lee played 121 games in a row without an error in 2003.

skranser@projo.com