Tim Wakefield either racked up a win or was charged with a loss in each of his first 26 starts this season, the most consecutive games with a decision to start a season since the Chicago White Sox’ Jack McDowell went 27 straight in 1993.

Wakefield was 16-10 over those 26 outings before he had to be scratched from a start on Aug. 31 because of a bad back. In his next start, Sept. 6 in Baltimore, Wakefield lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits.

He was trailing, 6-5, when he left, but the Sox took him off the hook — and snapped his consecutive decisions streak — by tying the game in the fifth and ultimately scratching out a 7-6 win.

Wakefield finished the year 17-12 in 31 starts.