ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Only a month ago, Tim Wakefield seemed a lock to set a new career-high for most wins in a season, with an outside shot to become one of the handful of pitchers to win 20 games for the first time as a 40-year-old.

But now, in the final week of the season, Wakefield will have to win his final start just to match his career-high for victories (17), set in 1998.

Wakefield took the lost yesterday in the Sox’ 5-3 loss to Tampa and dropped to 16-12 for the season. He’s winless since beating the White Sox in Chicago on Aug. 25.

Of course, that month included a missed start (back spasms). But in his last four starts, including yesterday, Wakefield has given up at least four runs and has yet to pitch past the fifth inning.

He was charged with four runs yesterday in five innings of work.

The loss yesterday was the first for Wakefield at Tropicana Field. He had been 9-0 with three saves in 19 games (13 starts) here.

“It couldn’t have come at a worst time,” a rueful Wakefield said of the end of the streak.

No healing in sight

As the Sox head home for the final week of the season with a playoff spot assured, the most important task at hand is getting Manny Ramirez (oblique strain) and Kevin Youkilis (right wrist) healthy again.

Ramirez told Francona that he had a “better day … all around,” Saturday, but still isn’t ready to play. Youkilis, meanwhile, continues to show steady improvement, but is still experiencing swelling and pain.

Both players will hit at Fenway Park today, an off-day for the team and be evaluated.

Asked if Youkilis could return to action tomorrow night against Oakland, Francona hedged.

“We’ll see how he does (today),” said Francona, “but I would say probably not.”

Long time no see

Reliever Julian Tavarez was dusted off and brought in to start the sixth in relief of Wakefield.

Until yesterday, Tavarez hadn’t pitched since Sept. 12, or 11 days ago. Both Tavarez and the Sox said health had not been an issue in his layoff.

The rust showed some in his first inning when he allowed singles to two of first three hitters he faced.

Tavarez was charged with a run

Long time, no hit

Alex Cora got the start at second over Dustin Pedroia, who had a rough road trip, going just 3-for-19.

Cora was struggling even more — at least before yesterday. He had a single and a homer in four trips yesterday, after coming in hitting just .118 in his last 11 games and .157 over his last 23.

The homer for Cora was his third of the season and first in 174 at-bats, dating back to April 29 in New York.

Around the bases

Doug Mirabelli got his second start since the middle of August and went hitless in three at-bats. Mirabelli had missed two weeks with a calf muscle strain, then came back and suffered a groin pull that sidelined him again. … Of the four games the Red Sox have won this season when trailing after eight innings, three have come against the Devil Rays. In addition to Saturday night, the Sox also staged ninth-inning comebacks against Tampa Bay on Aug. 14 and Sept. 12. … David Ortiz has a chance to become just the sixth Red Sox player to stroke 50 doubles. He has 48. … Jacoby Ellsbury singled and has now hit safely in 19 of 20 games since his Sept. 1 call-up. He also swiped his ninth base and has yet to be thrown out. Ellsbury’s steal was the 90th of the season for the Sox, their most since 1996, when they had 91. In 1995, they had 99. …Yesterday was the eighth time this season the Devil Rays had drawn a crowd of 30,000 or more (30,310) — five of those crowds have come with the Sox as the visiting team.

smcadam@projo.com