J.D. Drew heads back to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

BOSTON — Tim Wakefield’s record may not show it, but he has been one of the most consistent pitchers in Major League Baseball over the last two months.

Including last night’s outstanding outing against Baltimore, in which he pitched seven innings, allowed a season-low two hits, one earned run, and struck out six batters, the 41-year-old veteran knuckleballer has gone at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or less in nine straight starts.

“Ever since [May 28] against Seattle, everything has been clicking for me, so I don’t want to change anything,” said Wakefield, who is 6-6 overall. “I just want to work hard and be ready for the second half of the season.”

Wakefield has only a 3-3 record over his last nine starts despite a 2.13 ERA. To put it simply, the Red Sox offense hasn’t scored a lot of runs for him.

That changed last night at Fenway Park.

Boston exploded for a 12-1 drubbing of Baltimore.

Kevin Youkilis (2-for-4) hit his first career grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs, which is also a season-high for a Red Sox player.

Along with Youkilis, Boston’s No. 6 hitter, the Red Sox’ two-through-five hitters — Dustin Pedroia (2-for-5, 2 RBI, run scored), Manny Ramirez (2-for-3, RBI, 3 runs scored, HBP), J.D. Drew (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs scored, two walks) and Mike Lowell (2-for-3, RBI, runs scored, walk) — all had multiple hits.

Even though he didn’t need it, Wakefield was happy with the offensive outburst.

“I’m very grateful,” Wakefield said.

By mixing his knuckleball, which hovered from the mid-to-high 60-mph range, to near perfection with his “fastball” and curveball, Wakefield confused Baltimore’s batters throughout the game.

“I felt very good and very confident,” Wakefield said. “I was throwing a lot of strikes with a lot of movement tonight and I was a beneficiary of a lot of runs scored, so that made my job a lot easier.”

Boston manager Terry Francona said Wakefield has never been better.

“I think that’s actually the best I’ve ever seen Wake pitch,” Francona said.

“He’s worked hard to stay where he is, and when last year ended and he wasn’t able to pitch, it was very important to him to come back and take the ball when it’s his turn,” Francona added. “That means a lot to him.”

Wakefield has given Francona and the Red Sox a lot of good innings lately. He pitched into the seventh inning for his ninth consecutive outing last night, which ties a career high for consecutive games pitched of at least six innings or more with three earned runs or less (Aug. 11-Sept. 28, 2002).

“I was getting ahead and I had a lot of movement in the zone,” Wakefield said. “I was getting a lot of ground-ball outs — which is good — and some strikeouts, so I was very pleased with the way the action on the ball was and I was right in the zone.”

Said Francona: “He went out there and he did exactly what you want him to do.”

In Wakefield’s six losses this season, Boston has scored only a combined seven runs. But last night was different.

For the 10th time this season, Boston hit back-to-back home runs in an inning. This time it was by Drew and Ramirez, who accomplished the feat in the top of the first inning to give Boston and Wakefield a 2-0 cushion.

Wakefield, meanwhile, was on cruise control through the first two innings, in which he allowed only one hit, a single by Kevin Millar, and he struck out two batters.

In the third inning, Ramon Hernandez slashed Boston’s lead to 2-1 when he ripped a 0-1 knuckleball over the Green Monster in left field. That was Wakefield’s only mistake of the night.

Wakefield settled down after that and retired 15 of the next 16 batters before being relieved by Craig Hansen, who started the eighth inning.

“I’m confident now,” Wakefield said. “I’ve been on a nice run and hopefully I can continue to keep doing that.”

As for the Red Sox offensive outburst, Francona hopes that they can keep it going today.

Boston exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, which included Youkilis’ grand slam, to break the game open.

“I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit right there,” Youkilis said of his grand slam. “It was a 3-1 count and I got a good pitch and I tried to drive something to the outfield. Off the bat it felt good, and I’m just glad it got out of here.”Red Sox

12

Orioles

1

Next Game

Today

vs. Baltimore,

1:35 p.m.

roblee@projo.com