01:00 AM EDT on Monday, April 19, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER and PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Nomar Garciaparra (Achilles tendon) and Trot Nixon (herniated disk in his back) continue to progress.

Team physician Bill Morgan said yesterday that Garciaparra worked out for the first time on an elliptical trainer, an aerobics machine that works the upper body and the legs.

Garciaparra was able to work his legs in this way because the machine is not "high impact" for the Achilles, Morgan said.

"We want to be very careful with this because Achilles problems can be chronic," said Morgan. "Nomar is progressing, but there still is no timetable (for his return)."

Morgan also said that Nixon, who took batting practice last Wednesday and Friday at the University of Miami, would report today to the Red Sox facility in Fort Myers, Fla., to begin more extensive baseball activities.

Morgan said that Nixon will start to do some sprinting and throwing, as well as participating in more strenuous batting-practice workouts.

"The good thing is that he has been basically pain-free the last week," said Morgan.

Ump blows his cork

Plate umpire Larry Young got so irritated with David Ortiz when the Sox first baseman barked about a pitch called a strike in the fourth inning that Young took off his mask and got right in Ortiz' face, pointing his finger at him, telling him to be quiet, get in the batter's box and hit.

"All I said was 'I think that pitch was inside,' " said Ortiz. "I didn't swear or anything. He snapped."

Francona sauntered out a short time later to find out what the problem was.

In the third inning, Boston's Ellis Burks corrected Young on the count. The first pitch to Burks was a wild pitch by Jose Contreras , who promptly was yanked by New York manager Joe Torre. Paul Quantrill took over and threw four pitches. The count went to 2 and 2 -- on the scoreboard, at least.

Burks questioned it, insisting correctly it should be 3 and 2. Young eventually asked first-base umpire Angel Hernandez and received confirmation that it was indeed, 3 and 2. Burks grounded the next pitch into a forceout at the plate, with Young calling out Manny Ramirez on a high tag by Jorge Posada on Ramirez's feet-first slide.

Bellhorn sits out

Second baseman Mark Bellhorn was scratched from the starting lineup because of a swollen left elbow.

Bellhorn was hit by a pitch on the elbow in the eighth inning Saturday. He tried to take batting practice yesterday, but his elbow was too stiff for him to do so effectively. He was hoping to be able to play this morning in the series finale.

Cesar Crespo replaced him at second yesterday. He made an outstanding play going to his left on a ground ball in the second inning, robbing Hideki Matsui of a hit.

Around the bases

Frank Castillo was outrighted to Pawtucket, likely to make room for Lenny DiNardo, who will be activated from the disabled list today. The addition of DiNardo will give the Sox four left-handers in the bullpen. . . . Byung-Hyun Kim was in the clubhouse. The right-hander (right shoulder) is slated to pitch the first three innings for Pawtucket at McCoy Stadium tonight in his latest rehab outing. . . . Ramiro Mendoza (right shoulder) was sent to Fort Myers yesterday to begin a strengthening program. . . . Fans were allowed to ring the Fenway infield yesterday prior to the game, shaking hands and taking pictures of the Sox. . . . Kevin Millar and Pokey Reese are likely to get a rest today from the starting lineup for the first time this season. . . . Jason Varitek won an 11-pitch battle with Contreras, lining a single to right in the second. . . . Ramirez extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is batting .436 (17 for 39) with three homers, three doubles and eight RBI over that stretch. . . . The Red Sox have scored in the first inning in 9 of the last 12 games against the Yankees at Fenway Park. . . . The seven earned runs were the most Derek Lowe Better safe than sorry

If the decision was his to make, Kenny Lofton likely would be playing center field for the Yankees today. Instead, Lofton will be sitting and watching the final game of the Sox-Yankees' series, just as he did yesterday.

Lofton was placed on the disabled list before yesterday's game with a strained right quad.

"He's got an injury I could have played with, but I don't have his legs," said Torre. "With him and (Derek) Jeter and Bernie (Williams ), their legs are a big part of what they do. For his safety, we've disabled him so he can get this thing right."

Lofton felt a twinge in his leg in spring training but has been playing through it until now. He felt another twinge Friday.

"I can run, but when I try to kick it in that extra notch I feel it," Lofton said. "Friday I would have been able to get two base hits out of those (ground) balls, but I just couldn't kick it in that extra gear. Once I did, I felt an extra pull to it, a little pull to the muscle."

Yanks feeling the pinch

The Yankees also disabled pitcher Jorge DePaula with what general manager Brian Cashman called a sprained right elbow. But Cashman and Torre both indicated the problem could be more serious.

Both said DePaula will go to Alabama to be examined by James Andrews , the physician who made the so-called Tommy John surgery part of baseball lexicon.

"We have a diagnosis," Cashman said, "but until we get it confirmed we're just calling it a sprained elbow."

To fill the spots, the Yankees promoted two pitchers from Columbus, Scott Proctor and Alex Graman . Proctor, a righty, will pitch out of the bullpen. Graman, a lefty, will start tomorrow in Chicago. Neither has ever pitched in the majors.

Asked why the team did not go out and find experienced major league help, Cashman said he did not see any need for that -- or see anyone available.

"We've got a lot of fires to put out right now," Cashman said. That led to a very un-Yankee like statement by the general manager.

"We'll do what everybody else does," he said. "We'll plug from within."