KANSAS CITY — Quality starts and pats on the back are nice, but Tim Wakefield is like anyone else — he’d like a win for his troubles once in a while.

For much of the year, they’ve been tough to come by. Wakefield went into last night with a more-than-respectable ERA (3.77), 15 quality starts and the fourth-lowest batting average against in the American League.

What he didn’t have much of were victories — just six in 22 outings — a number that in no way reflected how well he’s pitched this year.

So it was fitting, finally, that the Sox erupted for eight runs in the span of three innings to give Wakefield an 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals and a relatively fret-free night.

“He’s pitched so well,” said Terry Francona in praising his veteran knuckleballer. “But you’re human — the guy’s been giving everything he has. I think everybody in the dugout was happy” when they got runs for him.

Even that took a while, however. While Wakefield was limiting the Royals to one hit over the first four innings and retiring 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced, the Sox weren’t doing much against Royals starter Luke Hochevar.

Boston loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Mike Lowell lined into an inning-ending double play and Sox then mustered just one hit over the next three innings.

But in the fifth, they broke through. With Alex Cora (single) and J.D. Drew aboard, Jed Lowrie drilled a booming double over the head of center fielder Mitch Maier to score two runs and a sharp single up the middle by David Ortiz then scored Lowrie.

In the sixth, the Sox loaded the bases off Hochever, who was removed in favor of lefty Ron Mahay. Drew foiled the strategy by lining a single to right, scoring two.

When Mahay got into m

ore trouble in the seventh by hitting Sean Casey and yielding a single to Jason Bay (two hits), Jacoby Ellsbury made him pay with a homer to straightway center.

It was Ellsbury’s first homer since June 15 and first in the big leagues off a lefty and it continued a good streak for the rookie outfielder. After collecting two hits Tuesday night, he added three more last night.

“He’s been swinging the bat good,” said Francona. “I’m sure he feels better. The approach is there, he’s swinging at strikes and I think better days are ahead for him.”

“For the last week,” said Ellsbury, “I’ve been feeling good at the plate. There was nothing wrong with my swing. It was just a matter of being on time, getting a good pitch to hit and being aggressive.”

The eight runs in support of Wakefield helped him snap a three-game winless streak and gave him just his second and was just his second win since June 25, some six weeks ago.

The outpouring of offense “felt great,” acknowledged Wakefield. “It was welcome support, that’s for sure. I can only control so much… My goals going into the season are to get quality starts, give the team innings and keep us in games.”

All of which Wakefield has been doing on a regular basis, without much personal reward.

The only runs off him last night came it the bottom of the fifth after the Sox had staked him to a 3-0 in the top of the inning.

Singles by Billy Butler and Alex Gordon, a passed ball by Kevin Cash and a line single to left by Ross Gload produced two runs, and when Gload took third on a throw to the plate, the Royals had the potential tying run in scoring position with just one out.

But Ellsbury contributed a sterling defensive play next, making a diving catch just behind second base on a shallow flyball from Mitch Maier. When Wakefield retired Mike Aviles on a flyout to left, he was out of trouble.

“That was the key play of the game,” said Wakefield in recognition of Ellsbury’s play.

“I got a great read on the ball,” recounted Ellsbury. “It’s a big, big outfield here, though and I wasn’t sure I could get to it. As I was coming in, (shortstop Jed) Lowrie was coming out and I kind of tucked in because I was worried I was going to collide with him.”

Instead Ellsbury snared the ball an inch or so off the ground and saved Wakefield a big inning.

The win gave the Sox a win in the road series. They’ve now won consecutive series on the road for the first time since the middle of June and are 5-1 in their last six games.Red Sox

8

Royals

2

Next Game

Tomorrow

at Chicago

8:11 p.m.