01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 3, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ATLANTA -- As expected, Bill Mueller was activated from the disabled list. And he was in the starting lineup at third base.

To make room for Mueller, the Red Sox designated utilityman Cesar Crespo for assignment. Crespo was to be on waivers for 72 hours and, if unclaimed, the Sox could option him to Pawtucket.

Boston, in desperate need of another arm for two reasons, also recalled right-hander Anastacio Martinez from Pawtucket. This will be his second stint with Boston. He was with the Red Sox from May 21 to June 16.

Martinez, who was expected to land in Atlanta about an hour and a half before last night's first pitch, was promoted when Boston placed right-hander Scott Williamson on the disabled list for the second time this season.

Williamson (0-0, 1.25 earned-run average) is suffering from a radial nerve impingement of his right forearm. The brittle Williamson was on the DL from May 21 to June 11 because of tendinitis in his right elbow.

The Sox needed protection in the bullpen last night because Curtis Leskanic, who threw 1 2/3 innings in Thursday night's emotional loss at Yankee Stadium, was unavailable. Closer Keith Foulke, meanwhile, was likely to be limited to one inning, at most, after having thrown a total of 30 pitches in a two-inning outing Thursday night.

Mueller was playing in his first game since May 19. He had his right knee cleaned out arthroscopically on May 27 and had a rehabilitation assignment in Pawtucket before rejoining the Sox.

"I hope I can go out and play every single game, that's what I want to do. But what my conditioning is remains to be seen," said Mueller, the reigning American League batting champion who was hitting just .262 this season.

Mueller went 2 for 3, including an RBI single in the second inning.

Crespo wasn't happy, but he certainly understood the move. He was batting only .165. He started 15 games, but only one since May 30.

"I know the game. You have to show a little offense to stay here," said Crespo as he packed his bag. "I want to get back, so I have to go wherever destiny takes me. What I need to do is play. I've been sitting around. I need to get my timing back."

Another roster option would have been to return rookie third baseman Kevin Youkilis to Pawtucket. But manager Terry Francona wanted to keep Youkilis around. Youkilis was batting .299 (35-for-117), with an impressive on-base percentage of .399.

"We felt he deserved to stay here," said Francona. "We'll figure out playing time for him. There will be no set formula."

Anderson, Puffer added

The Red Sox made a couple of moves to shore up their organizational pitching depth yesterday.

Boston acquired left-hander Jimmy Anderson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Sarasota (Class A) right-hander Andrew Shipman and a player to be named. The Sox also picked up right-hander Brandon Puffer from San Diego for a player to be named.

Anderson was added to the PawSox' roster. Puffer was put on Boston's 40-man roster and then optioned to Pawtucket.

Anderson, 28, appeared in seven games with the Cubs (4.66 earned-run average, one save) from May 28 to June 14 before being sent to Triple-A Iowa. He is 25-47 with one save and a 5.41 E.R.A. in 117 career big-league games, pitching for Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and the Cubs.

Puffer, also 28, has made 68 relief appearances in the big leagues, with a 3-3 record and a 4.60 E.R.A. Puffer was pitching for Triple A Portland this year. The Red Sox will be his seventh organization.

Standing up for Nomar

In the wake of the epic struggle with the Yankees on Thursday night, there was the perception that Nomar Garciaparra didn't take up Francona on the manager's desire for him to start the game, and that the All-Star shortstop decided he didn't want to go into the extra-inning game as a late-inning pinch hitter or defensive replacement.

Not so, said Francona.

"I went to him the night before, not that it really matters who went to whom," said Francona, standing up for Garciaparra. "I love when Nomar plays, but I promised him when he came off the DL (June 9) that he wouldn't play 90 games in a row. I wanted to keep him out of the game. It got a little crazy. In the ninth, I could see him getting a little antsy. He had his bat. He was in the tunnel (leading to the clubhouse) in the 12th, stretching."

Francona, though, said he thought about batting Garciaparra for Crespo in the 13th. But the Sox already had scored on Manny Ramirez's homer for a 4-3 lead, so Francona held out Garciaparra. Crespo hit into an inning-ending double play.

Streak continues

David Ortiz extended his hitting streak 10 games, and he did it with style. He fouled off four pitches after falling behind in the count at 1 and 2, finally getting a 3-and-2 pitch in his wheelhouse, and he didn't miss it, crushing his 22nd homer of the year deep and just inside the right-field foul pole. Ortiz has hit four homers in his last five games and nine in his last 14 games.

Around the bases

Jason Varitek's single to center in the second snapped an 0-for-15 skid. The Sox' catcher promptly swiped second, for his fifth stolen base, establishing a career high. He has been caught twice. Varitek is third on the team, behind Johnny Damon (8) and Pokey Reese (6). Reese, pinch running in the eighth, was gunned down trying to steal second, only the second time he has been thrown out . . . Bronson Arroyo hit Charles Thomas with a pitch in the second. It was his 11th hit batsman of the year. Only Tampa Bay's Victor Zambrano (12) has hit more batters in the A.L. As a team, the Sox lead the majors, with 51 . . . Mark Bellhorn looked at a called third strike in the sixth. It was his 90th whiff of the year, second in the majors. Cincinnati's Adam Dunn had 97 heading into last night's action . . . The last pitch of the night for Atlanta starter Jaret Wright, his 100th, was a 97 mph fastball that sizzled past Ramirez for an inning-ending whiff in the sixth . . . Of the Sox' last 17 homers, 13 have been solo shots.