01:00 AM EDT on Monday, June 14, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM and JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Outfielder Trot Nixon is coming back, which means someone else must be going.

The Sox won't activate Nixon until Wednesday in Denver -- lefty Joe Kennedy is scheduled to start the series opener and Nixon wouldn't be in the lineup anyway -- but when they do, they'll need to demote someone to Pawtucket.

It's almost certain a pitcher will go, with the choice between Anastacio Martinez and Mark Malaska. The Sox currently have 12 pitchers. The betting is on Martinez, since the Sox view him mostly as a one-inning pitcher, and with plenty of other options for the latter innings, the Sox need someone to provide multiple innings in long relief.

Also, Malaska has previous major league experience; Martinez made his major league debut last month.

If tomorrow's starter -- Bronson Arroyo -- can't take the Sox reasonably deep into the game, however, the Sox may have no choice but to stay with 12 pitchers for the rest of the series and return a position player to Triple A.

Play of the game

His play was shown over, and over, and over again on the JumboTron at Fenway Park. And, it was for all the right reasons.

Pokey Reese turned in one of the best defensive plays of the season with a leaping -- no make that soaring -- catch off a Dave Roberts' line drive that is sure to make the highlight reel.

The chants of Pokey-Pokey-Pokey were heard from the 35,068 in attendance before at the start of the bottom half of the seventh. Reese's defensive gem of the game had Roberts shaking his head in disbelief of what he witnessed.

"I just got high enough to grab it," said Reese. "That's all I had, and all I needed. I timed the jumped perfect and it wasn't hit that hard."

His vertical jump has never measured, but he admitted after the game that he's able to dunk a basketball, "but I don't try to go out and jump like that everyday."

Reese, who had been the everyday shortstop while Nomar Garciaparra was sidelined with Achilles tendinitis, was moved back to his regular second-base position on Wednesday with Garciaparra's return. But, it doesn't matter whether he plays the right side or left side of the infield. Reese is comfortable at either spot and the two Gold Gloves he won while playing for Cincinnati prove that.

"Wherever I'm at, I feel pretty comfortable," said Reese. "I just have to go out and continue to work on grounders during BP."

Rockies road ahead

Red Sox pitchers have been taking batting practice the last couple of weeks in anticipation of some plate appearances on the upcoming road trip to Denver and San Francisco.

While mindful that Houston lefty Andy Pettitte hurt his elbow while swinging, manager Terry Francona said the Sox' pitchers won't be under orders to keep the bats on their shoulders.

"That's why we've prepared them," said Francona, noting Pettitte's injury. "We started them off on a tee, and progressed."

Francona will keep his expectations modest for his pitchers.

"The worst thing you can do (as a pitcher) is make quick outs," he said. "There's nothing worst than a one-pitch out."

Keep the options open

Francona said the Sox will soon start working out both Mark Bellhorn and Kevin Youkilis at first base to give the club more options with the infield logjam in place.

Last night, Bellhorn started at third for the first time since May 14 in Toronto. Youkilis, meanwhile, was out of the starting lineup for the first time since May 19 in Tampa.

Streaking ahead

Bellhorn's double to center in the third extended his hitting streak to 11 games, a career high. David Ortiz owns the season's longest hitting streak at 12, from April 19 through May 1. Bellhorn has now reached base safely in 20 straight games.

The double also extended the team's streak of games with at least one double to 38 games. The Sox are on a pace for 374 doubles, one better than the major-league mark by a team, set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930 and matched by Boston in 1997.

The Sox hit 371 last year, third most in baseball history.

Around the horn

Ellis Burks is still bothered by swelling in his surgically-repaired left knee, but will travel with the team on the road and resume hitting. . . . Byung-Hyun Kim, returning from Korea, is scheduled to be examined by the training staff at Fenway today and will be placed on a throwing program. . . . Johnny Damon's stolen base was the 250th of his career and ended a streak in which he had been thrown out three consecutive times. His last steal before last night was on May 6. He became the 17th active player to reach the 250 plateau. . . . Last night marked the 57th anniversary of the first night game at Fenway Park, played June 13, 1947 -- a 5-3 win over the White Sox. . . . Red Sox starters finished the six-game homestand with a 2.79 E.R.A. . . . The Sox are 9-3 in series at Fenway. . . . Gabe Kapler is hitting .307 in June after slumping to .125 in May. . . . Manny Ramirez has 22 RBI in his last 23 games. . . . Pedro Martinez increased his American League-leading strikeout total to 89.