Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield finally celebrated his 200th career win yesterday, 51 days after claiming win No. 199. It was an arduous road to the milestone.

No. 199 came July 24. Despite surrendering seven runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings, Wakefield earned the win as the Red Sox won their 17th game out of the previous 20. He also joined Roger Clemens as the only men to strike out 2,000 batters in Red Sox uniforms.

On July 29, Wakefield registered a tough-luck loss in throwing seven innings while allowing just three hits and three runs. "That was the best knuckleball I’ve seen him throw," Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski said

On Aug. 3, the Red Sox failed to provide run support to Wakefield for the second straight start. Wakefield got a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. He entered the seventh with a 3-2 lead, but allowed Cleveland to tie the game when he surrendered back-to-back doubles. The night ended well for the Red Sox when Jacoby Ellsbury blasted a walk-off home run in the ninth inning.

On Aug. 8, Wakefield again had a chance for a win in the late innings when the Red Sox took a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth. But Alfredo Aceves surrendered a game-tying run in the bottom of the inning before the Red Sox scored two more in the ninth to claim the victory. Wakefield allowed three earned runs on eight hits in seven innings.

On Aug. 14, Wakefield threw a complete game but was again foiled. He surrendered four earned runs on nine hits over eight innings of a 5-3 loss. “I don’t care about it," Wakefield said of the lengthening wait. "The first couple, yeah, but I’m just trying to pitch quality starts and quality innings to get us wins."

On Aug. 20, Wakefield cruised into the sixth with a 4-1 lead. But disaster then struck when the Royals exploded for eight runs in the inning to hand Wakefield the loss. He went 6 1/3 innings while surrendering four runs on nine hits.

On Aug. 26, Wakefield was roughed up for the second straight start. He surrendered eight runs (four earned) on eight hits over just four innings of a 15-3 loss to the A's.

On Sept. 2, the wait for No. 200 worsened after Wakefield's spot in the rotation was skipped and the starter was used in mop-up duty during a blowout loss. He pitched the final four innings and allowed three hits in a 10-0 loss to the Rangers.

On Sept. 7, Once again, Wakefield was in line for a win late in the game only to have the Red Sox bullpen blow the lead. Wakefield threw five innings and gave up four earned runs on three hits. The Red Sox led 8-6 in the eighth, when Daniel Bard imploded in five-run inning for the Blue Jays, who won 11-10.

On Sept. 13, the long wait finally ended as the Red Sox' offense busted out of a slump to help Wakefield achieve the milestone. He threw six innings and surrendered five runs on six hits to improve his record to 7-6. The Red Sox scored seven runs in the eighth to clinch the 18-6 win against the Blue Jays.

Up next for Wakefield is the Red Sox' all-time record for wins. He has 186 victories with Boston and trails Roger Clemens and Cy Young, who hold the franchise mark with 192.