01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, June 17, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

DENVER -- It wasn't hard to pick out the bright spot for the Red Sox in their 7-6 loss to the Rockies last night: the return of outfielder Trot Nixon.

Nixon, who missed the Red Sox' first 63 games with back and quad injuries, came back in a big way. After flying deep to the warning track in center in his first at-bat in the second, he hit a slow curve from Jason Jennings into the right-field seats in the fourth.

He later walked, hit into a double play and struck out in the ninth as the Sox tried, without success, to stage a come-from-behind rally in the final inning.

"I thought it was OK," he said of his return. "But the fact is, we lost the game. I'd trade in that home run for a win, that's for sure."

Playing in a meaningful game for the first time since October, Nixon experienced some nervousness.

"I had some butterflies," he admitted. "Overall I felt good. Sometimes I didn't and I think that was the cold weather."

Nixon hit sixth in the Boston batting order. He became the 36th player to appear in a game for the Sox this season -- 18 position players and 18 pitchers.

In all of last season, the Sox went through 46 players.

Reese sees action

A sore toe kept Pokey Reese out of the starting lineup for a second straight night last night, but the acrobatic infielder expects to be back on the field when the Sox close out their series here this afternoon.

Reese did get into last night's game as a pinch runner in the top of the ninth. He represented the go-ahead run but was left stranded at second when David McCarty flew out to right. Reese suffered an extensor strain of his fourth toe on his right foot when he robbed the Los Angeles Dodgers' Dave Roberts of a base hit Sunday night at Fenway Park. Reese leaped high into the air to snare the liner, but landed awkwardly.

"I couldn't walk yesterday," Reese said yesterday afternoon, "but I already went out and took batting practice and ran. I felt pretty good. (Today) I should be OK."

Reese's unavailability meant that Mark Bellhorn was again at second, with Kevin Youkilis at third. Bellhorn took a 13-game hitting streak into last night, the longest of his career and longest on the team this season. He had hit safely in 19 of his previous 20 games. It's expected that Reese will play shortstop today when manager Terry Francona sits Nomar Garciaparra for a rest after a night game.

Martinez sent to Pawtucket

With Nixon activated and playing for the first time this season, Anastacio Martinez was, as expected, optioned to Pawtucket.

"The time he spent with us has been great for him," said Francona. "He threw really, really well. He can go back (to Pawtucket) and make an impact at Triple A. I'm sure he'll be back at some point with us."

In 10 games, Martinez was 2-0 with a 6.52 ERA. Of the seven runs he allowed in 9 2/3 innings, four came in one poor outing -- last Saturday when he was racked in one-third of an inning.

Burks not making progress

Ellis Burks continues to be frustrated by the lack of progress he's made following surgery last month to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

"He's trying to do more activity and have less swelling," said Francona. "We're trying to increase his activity and see how he responds."

For now, the Sox aren't planning to have the knee drained further, as Burks suggested last weekend in Boston.

If Burks can't be counted upon, GM Theo Epstein would like to obtain another run-producing bat.

Andres Galarraga, who has successfully beaten cancer a second time, has had some contact with clubs, including the Sox. But after missing all of last year, Galarraga would need some significant rehab time in the minor leagues before being cleared to return to the big leagues and may not be ready to contribute much.

Wakefield hurt thumb

Tim Wakefield, who jammed his right thumb while taking a tumble in his last start on Wednesday, has had the thumb wrapped as a precaution, but was able to throw on the side without any complications. Wakefield, who was skipped here because of problems knuckleballers have had in the thin air, will start the opener of the Giants series tomorrow night.