01:00 AM EDT on Monday, April 26, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

NEW YORK -- Scott Williamson was the closer du jour yesterday.

And, with ace closer Keith Foulke being given a day off by manager Terry Francona, Williamson came through with flying colors for the Red Sox yesterday at Yankee Stadium.

The right-hander retired all six batters he faced, racking up a pair of strikeouts and not allowing the Yanks to get the ball out of the infield in saving a 2-0 win for Pedro Martinez. It was the second straight game in which a reliever not named Foulke earned the save. Mike Timlin claimed the honor Saturday, saving the game for Foulke, who had worked the previous two innings in Boston's 3-2, 12-inning victory.

Williamson, Foulke, Timlin and Alan Embree have been the main contributors to an outstanding bullpen that has stretched its scoreless streak to 24 2/3 innings.

"A bullpen makes a manager smart," said Francona. "We have the ability to shorten a game. When you have a lead, you're supposed to win. Our guys' mentality and talent gives us a chance to win that you might not have in other places. It helps that we have four guys who have pitched in the ninth-inning slot. They all can do it."

Williamson had a feeling he'd get his chance yesterday if the opportunity arose because Foulke had the day off and Timlin had worked the previous two days, totaling three innings.

"I was the only right-hander in the 'pen," said Williamson, who earned the 55th save of his career, but first in the regular season in the American League.

"But all of us can do the job," he said. "That shows how strong our bullpen is."

Filling in the holes

The Red Sox' shift against powerful, left-handed pull hitters paid dividends twice yesterday against the Yanks' Jason Giambi. In the sixth inning, Giambi hit a hard grounder through the hole on the right side. But second baseman Cesar Crespo was stationed in shallow right field and easily made the play.

In the eighth, Giambi hit a grounder just a shade to the right of the second-base bag. But shortstop Pokey Reese was swung over to that side of the bag, and he made that play without a problem.

Around the bases

Manny Ramirez's homer was the 20th of his career at Yankee Stadium tying him with Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro as the active opposition home-run leaders at the park . . . Enrique Wilson entered the game as a Martinez nemesis. The journeyman infielder was 10 for 20 against the Sox' ace. But this a new year. Wilson whiffed and popped up yesterday . . . Derek Jeter heard boos for the second game of the series. The Yankee shortstop and captain went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. In the series he was 0 for 12 with 6 whiffs. He is mired in a career-worst 0-for-25 slump . . . Catcher Jorge Posada had an interesting day chasing foul popups. He went 1 for 2 with Johnny Damon at bat in the first inning, failing to hang onto one but tracking down the other as he leaned over the railing at Boston's dugout. He missed another one, hit by Kevin Millar, also near the same railing . . . The Yankee defense messed up again in the sixth, when David Ortiz pop fly down the left field line fell between Jeter and left fielder Hideki Matsui. The ball went as a double, marking Ortiz' seventh straight game with an extra-base hit.

Mueller gets a break

Third baseman Bill Mueller was given the day off, which, in effect, gives him two days off because the Red Sox aren't scheduled to play today.

Mueller had played all but two innings in the Sox' previous 17 games, getting that brief respite Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Not that Mueller, who was slowed in spring training because of a mild hyperextension of his right elbow, wanted out of the lineup.

"I don't want to say he fought it, but he certainly wasn't going to offer (to take a day off)," said Francona. "But it's the right thing to do. He didn't play a lot in spring training and then the bell rings and you play. Billy Mueller really needs a day."

Mueller was replaced at third by Mark Bellhorn, who had filled in nicely for the two innings Friday night, making one outstanding play.

Varitek scuffling

Jason Varitek is due for a rest, said Francona. Today's day off is one he'll get, and he won't start tomorrow night, giving him two consecutive days. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will start tomorrow night and he will be caught again by Doug Mirabelli in the first game of a three-game homestand against Tampa Bay.

Varitek was hitless in the Yankee series, going 0 for 14, though he did smoke a couple of hard liners to deep center. Varitek's skid dropped his average from .349 to .263.

Meeting of the minds

Byung-Hyun Kim is likely to throw on the side in Boston today. Francona will huddle with Kim, general manager Theo Epstein, pitching coach Dave Wallace and pitching instructor Tony Cloninger, who has been with Kim during the right-hander's rehab assignments, to determine when Kim might be ready to rejoin the Sox.