01:00 AM EDT on Friday, August 27, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM and KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- Outfielder Trot Nixon, sidelined for the last month because of a recurrence of a quad injury that has dogged him since the spring, took batting practice yesterday and expressed optimism that he could rejoin the the Red Sox in a matter of weeks.

Nixon, who went back on the DL on July 25, swung a bat for the first time in weeks and did some running and reported improvement.

"It was better than I thought it was going to feel," said Nixon. "Right now, it's a matter of getting back into baseball shape."

Nixon will continue his physical activity, and hopes to take live batting practice sometime next week, with an eye toward beginning a rehab assignment with a minor-league affiliate.

Time is running out for that, however, since most minor-league affiliates end their regular-season schedules by Labor Day. Still, Nixon anticipates a return to help his teammates in the final weeks, and won't rule out playing the outfield when he comes off the DL.

"The big thing now," he said, "is to keep working and keep the legs strong."

Uncomfortable hitting 4th

Despite ripping two home runs to get to a career-best 33 for the season and climb to within one of league leader Manny Ramirez's 34, David Ortiz said after Wednesday's win in Toronto that he doesn't like to bat in the cleanup position. Without Nomar Garciaparra, the Sox have only two candidates for the third and fourth spots in their order, and manager Terry Francona has chosen to bat Ramirez third and Ortiz fourth.

"I think we have two guys who are premier hitters in the league, but right now we're better off doing what we're doing," Francona said. "I think we're 14-4 doing it this way."

Ortiz was 5-for-25 on the road trip, and didn't have a hit in the first two games in Toronto. He hit fourth in the lineup last night.

Asked if he's spoken with Ortiz concerning the order, Francona said he hasn't, but added, "I don't doubt that he's more comfortable (batting third or fifth), but I don't have an answer for that. We have a very good 1-2 punch with him and Manny Ramirez, and I don't think it matters where they hit. And since Kevin Millar has been hitting, it's helped them both."

Good news for Mientkiewicz

The Sox breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when Doug Mientkiewicz showed up at Fenway and reported that his left shoulder had significantly improved overnight. Mientkiewicz suffered a sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder and some biceps tendinitis trying to stretch a single into a double in Toronto Wednesday night on a head-first slide into second base.

"It's better than I thought I was going to be," he said. "The more I moved around, the better it's been. . . . Could I play? Sure. Would it be the smartest thing in the world? Probably not. When you have a team this capable of doing things without you, you don't get in the way if you're 80 percent. There are other guys ready at 100 percent."

Mienkiewicz will have an MRI performed as a precaution today.

Suspension's history

Jason Varitek ended his four-game suspension last night. He worked out with the team before the game and presumably will be in the lineup tonight against the Tigers. Doug Mirabelli has shined in Varitek's absence, and Francona said he's been a bit nervous knowing the team didn't have an experienced backup catcher. Last night's potential stand-ins were Gabe Kapler and Mark Bellhorn. "Mirabelli knows if he gets hurt, he can look over, but he's not coming out," Francona said.

Around the bases

Kevin Youkilis (ankle) returned from working out in Fort Myers and was examined by the medical staff. He began long-tossing and took part in some "light baseball activity." . . . Infielder Pokey Reese continues to make strides in rehabbing from a ribcage strain, building up his endurance . . . Orlando Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a fifth-inning single . . . Dave Roberts recorded his first steal as a member of the Red Sox . . . The win was the Sox' seventh in a row at Fenway against the Tigers . . . Johnny Damon has 30 multi-hit games in his last 60 starts. He has 47 multi-hit games this year . . . Ortiz' double in the first inning was his 40th of the season, eclipsing the career-high 39 he hit last season.