01:00 AM EDT on Monday, May 17, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TORONTO -- Finally, a break.

After a stretch that has seen the Red Sox play 20 games in 20 days, Boston has a day off today in Florida.

"We're going to enjoy it," said a smiling Johnny Damon, who created a controversy earlier in the series when he blamed the team's sloppy play on fatigue. "It'll be nice to spend it in the warm weather." His manager agreed.

"We can really use it," said Terry Francona. , (Alan) Embree or (Keith) Foulke, so our bullpen will be at full strength (tomorrow night)."

In the 20-game stretch, the Sox finished at .500 (10-10). Their last scheduled off-day was April 26. During that period, the Sox had two rainouts, resulting in doubleheaders soon after.

They won't have to wait long for the next break. That comes a week from today, after the Sox return from their series in Tampa and host Toronto next weekend at Fenway.

By then, the Sox will have completed four of their six series with the Blue Jays in the first 44 games.

Martinez moves up in K chart

Pedro Martinez inched up the charts yesterday with his seven-inning performance.

Martinez struck out six, moving him past Jack Morris into 27th place on the all-time strikeout list. Martinez now has 2,482 and is closing in on becoming just the 26th pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts.

The start was his 177th as a member of the Red Sox, tying him with Willard Nixon for 13th on the list. Next ahead for Martinez: Lefty Grove, who made 189 starts for the Sox.

New dad Wakefield returns

Tim Wakefield, whose wife Stacy gave birth to a son Saturday afternoon, will rejoin his teammates tonight in Tampa.

He was in Boston for the birth and worked out yesterday in preparation for his start tomorrow night at Tropicana Field.

Youkilis may stay with Boston

Kevin Youkilis got another start at third and went 1-for-4 with a ninth-inning single.

It's expected that Bill Mueller (right knee inflammation) will return to the position tomorrow night, but the Sox may opt to keep Youkilis around for the rest of the series for depth purposes.

Francona said the Sox might go with the current 14 position players-11 pitchers split for a while. The club has carried 12 pitchers for the past few weeks.

Padres outfielder acquied

The Sox obtained outfielder Henri Stanley from the San Diego Padres late Saturday night and assigned him to Pawtucket. It was a cash deal.

Stanley, 26, is a career .293 hitter in the minor leagues with 70 steals over five seasons in the Houston and San Diego organizations.

He was hitting .248 with two homers and 12 RBI for Portland of the Pacific Coast League.

"He's a guy we've had our eye on for a while," said general manager Theo Epstein. "He's not off to a great start this year, but sometimes that's the time to get a player. He's got a good eye, and gap power, and he's a good defensive outfielder. He's good protection for us at Triple A."

Rookie hazing

Red Sox veterans got some early-season rookie hazing in, having Youkilis and Lenny Dinardo dress in Hooters' waiter outfits (orange shorts and tank tops) for the flight to Tampa. Rookie Jamie Brown wasn't part of the initiation. . . . Kevin Millar got most of the afternoon off, with Cesar Crespo getting the start in right field. Millar pinch-hit for Crespo in the ninth and grounded to short. Crespo was 0-for-3 and now has gone 54 at-bats without a walk. . . . With Manny Ramirez bothered by a slight groin strain, the Sox decided to keep him out of the outfield and off the turf. Brian Daubach played left with Ramirez the DH. . . . Martinez beefed with home plate umpire Rob Drake on a called third strike on Reed Johnson.