01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 22, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The transactions came at a dizzying pace for the Red Sox yesterday.

In short order, they:

Placed infielder Pokey Reese on the disabled list because of an oblique muscle strain on his right side, an injury that could easily sideline him for more than the 15-day DL period.

Obtained veteran utility infielder Ricky Gutierrez from the Cubs' organization for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Recalled infielder Kevin Youkilis from Pawtucket.

Optioned right-handed pitcher Joe Nelson to Pawtucket.

Recalled left-handed pitcher Mark Malaska from Pawtucket.

Necessity played a role in each of the moves.

The Sox needed a bona fide shortstop to back up Nomar Garciaparra with Reese on the DL.

Garciaparra, who missed the first 57 games of the season because of inflammation in his right Achilles tendon, needs a day off every now and then. He was supposed to take Tuesday's game in Seattle off, but the injury to Reese forced him to play. He was not in the starting lineup last night, with manager Terry Francona forced to start Mark Bellhorn, primarily a second and third baseman, at shortstop.

Gutierrez, who was playing for the Cubs' Triple-A team in Iowa, is expected to join the Sox today, and likely will start in tonight's game.

In the meantime, Boston needed another infielder for last night's game, so Youkilis, who was optioned to Pawtucket only a week earlier, was brought back. His stay may be brief, though. It's likely he'll be returned to Pawtucket when Gutierrez is activated tonight.

The bullpen, meanwhile, took a beating on the road trip, so Francona needed a fresh arm. That accounted for the Malaska-Nelson swap. Malaska, though, may also only be a one-day roster fill-in. The Sox need to add a starting pitcher for today's first game, and whether that is Abe Alvarez or Frank Castillo, someone has to go, and that could be Malaska or Jimmy Anderson.

But the major move yesterday revolved around Reese and Gutierrez.

Reese underwent an MRI, which showed that he is suffering from an oblique muscle strain on his right side, high up on the abdomen, just under his rib cage, said team physician Bill Morgan.

Morgan said the injury is one that has to be monitored closely because if Reese begins doing baseball activities too soon, it could set him back to square one on the recovery trail very quickly.

Reese will not do anything for at least a week. He will be re-evaluated on Sunday, Morgan said. It's an injury that affects Reese both throwing and hitting. It wouldn't be a surprise if Reese is out at least three weeks, but a positive by-product of the inactivity is that his left thumb will have a chance to heal more fully, too. Reese suffered a partially torn ligament in the thumb on June 23.

"I want to be in the lineup, but the best thing is to get it right," said Reese.

Reese initially suffered the rib injury while hitting in the cage in Anaheim last Thursday. He tried to play through the injury, but had to come out of Monday's game in Seattle.

"This stinks. If it's not one thing, it's another. I want to be in the lineup, but the best thing is to get it right," said Reese, whose 2-for-33 skid after the thumb injury has dropped his average to .230.

Gutierrez, meanwhile, was a player the Red Sox had interest in over the winter, said general manager Theo Epstein.

Gutierrez, 34, has been with the Cleveland, New York Mets and Cubs organizations this season. He had signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on June 14. Gutierrez was batting .368 (25-for-68) with 10 RBI in 20 games for Iowa.

"He's a utility player we can put at shortstop when Nomar needs a day off," said Epstein. "He's a veteran and a tremendous-makeup guy who will fit in well with our other players."

Adding versatility

Youkilis brought back with him something new -- a broken-in first baseman's mitt.

Youkilis, who batted .287 with three homers and 19 RBI in 38 games from May 15 to July 11, played two games at first for the PawSox as the Red Sox try to increase his versatility and value to the organization by adding another position to his résumé.

He started last night at third base, which is where he had played in his previous 38 big-league games. Youkilis batted .308 in his seven games for the PawSox.

It could be Alvarez

The Red Sox were coy about naming a starting pitcher for the day game today, but it appeared as if Boston was ready to give the ball to Double-A left-hander Abe Alvarez instead of veteran right-hander Frank Castillo, who is pitching for Pawtucket.

Alvarez, 21, who was the Sox' third-round pick in the 2003 draft, is 8-6 with a 3.53 earned-run average in 19 starts for Portland. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has given up 100 hits, fanned 82 and walked 24 in 99 1/3 innings. He also has surrendered 11 homers.

Ortiz' waiting game

David Ortiz still was waiting for the other shoe to drop as the baseball officials decide what punishment should be meted out to the Red Sox slugger for his tantrum in Anaheim last Friday.

There still was no word on what length suspension he might receive.

So far, so good

Scott Williamson, who has been on the disabled list because of impingement of a nerve in his right elbow, threw off the mound yesterday for the first time since June 30, when he had to come out of a game at Yankee Stadium because of the injury.

Williamson threw about 25 pitches and said after the workout that he felt fine. Today will be the important day, to see how he bounces back from yesterday's session. There is no timetable for his return.