Tampa Bay’s Nathan Haynes gets a lift from pitcher Edwin Jackson after singling in the game-winning run in the 11th inning against Boston last night.

AP / Chris O’Meara

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Most of the young Tampa Bay Rays players haven’t been around long enough to know just how effective Tim Wakefield has been against their organization.

The Red Sox’ veteran knuckleballer is so good against the Rays, especially here at Tropicana Field, he should own a stake in the club.

Wakefield entered last night’s game, the first of a three-game set against Tampa Bay, with a 19-3 all-time record against the Rays in 38 games (28 starts). His ball has a tendency to dance uncontrollably inside the dome, keeping hitters’ off balance.

That wasn’t so much the case last night.

Wakefield lasted only six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with five walks and one strikeout.

“The first couple of innings, it was all over the place,” said Wakefield of his knuckler. “It was kind of uncontrollable. I don’t think I was able to repeat my mechanics very well tonight. The bad ones I threw seem to get hit. It was a battle for me tonight, trying to get through six innings.”

It’s not like the Rays jumped all over him, they just got some timely hits.

He exited the game with the score tied, 4-4, and left the rest of the game to the taxed Red Sox bullpen. Boston’s David Aardsma worked a perfect seventh inning before Bryan Corey — recalled from Pawtucket yesterday — worked a one-hit scoreless eighth inning. Corey recorded two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but left the bases loaded for Javier Lopez, who retired former Red Sox player and current Ray Eric Hinske to force extra innings.

After Lopez got the first out in the 10th, Mike Timlin came on and held the Rays. But Tampa Bay got to him in the 11th for a 5-4 victory.

Nathan Haynes singled with no outs, driving in Carl Crawford from second base.

Crawford, who was 3-for-6 and scored three runs, began the rally with a single and stole second. Timlin walked B.J. Upton before giving up the game-winning hit.

Tampa got to Wakefield early.

“When he came out of the bullpen [after his pregame warmup] [pitching coach] John Farrell said, ‘I don’t know how sometimes people catch it.’” said manager Terry Francona. “It was all over the place. He gets in this environment where there’s nothing effecting it, he gets comfortable and that thing is darting all over the place.”

One of the players who was comfortable last night was the Rays’ Crawford. He is one of the most exciting players to watch in the majors. He proved why last night against the Red Sox and Wakefield.

Crawford had a pair of triples and made a highlight-reel catch that saved a would-be run for the Red Sox.

Tampa Bay gained a 1-0 lead in the first inning when he roped a triple to right field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by teammate Upton.

Boston scored three in the top of the second inning thanks to a brief meltdown by Tampa starter Matt Garza. Ramirez led off the inning with his first of his three hits and, after Garza got Kevin Youkilis to pop out to right, the right-handed Garza walked three consecutive batters to push a run across. The Sox’ Kevin Cash provided a sacrifice fly to give Boston a 2-1 lead before Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in the Sox’ third run with a single.

The Rays tied the game in the bottom of the third and took a one-run lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Tampa’s Akinori Iwamura singled and later came home on Crawford’s second triple of the game for a 4-3 advantage.

Garza was done after five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and one strikeout. Reliever J.P. Howell came in and surrendered a run in the top of the sixth as Boston knotted the game at 4-4. J.D. Drew led off with a single and reached third on a Jed Lowrie single to right. Drew then scored on a Julio Lugo fielder’s choice that tied the game.

Howell cruised through the seventh and eighth innings, getting six Boston batters in order. Warwick native Dan Wheeler entered the game in the ninth and allowed a lead-off single to Cash. Ellsbury popped out and then Cash showcased his base-running talents.

Pedroia hit a grounder to Iwamura, the Rays’ second baseman, who attempted to tag Cash. But Cash stopped and began to retreat, which made Iwamura hesitate and allowed Pedroia to reach on a fielder’s choice. Cash was also safe at second.

David Ortiz flied out to center and Ramirez struck out.

Next Game

Tonight

at Tampa Bay

7:10 p.m.

jmcdonal@projo.com