01:00 AM EST on Saturday, March 19, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Warming up in the bullpen early yesteday afternoon, David Wells had a feeling it wasn't going to be a good day for him.

In the first inning, when the Florida Marlins had four of their first six hitters reach base and scored three runs, his fears were confirmed.

But after a rocky beginning, Wells settled down and followed up his shaky first inning with three scoreless ones, making his second Grapefruit League appearance a qualified success.

"In the bullpen, I was fighting myself and I couldn't throw my curveball," said Wells after the Sox beat Florida, 5-3. "But when I got out there, I didn't think about it as much."

A number of the Marlins' hits, including Luis Castillo's leadoff single, were of the bloop variety.

"It's frustrating," he said. "But that's the game. You can't do anything about it."

But as Wells settled into a groove, finishing with 64 pitches, he felt plenty strong and could have pitched "a couple more (inngs)," he said.

He'll have two more Florida outings before the regular season starts.

"I feel I'll be on track," he said.

Wells again reiterated his desire to be the Red Sox Opening Night starter, assuming Curt Schilling can't make it.

"If he's ready, he deserves it," said Wells.

But Wells didn't hesitate when asked whether the opportunity excites him.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "Who wouldn't want to pitch Opening Day in Yankee Stadium? The tension will be high and the crowd's going to be unbelievable. That's what I'm here for -- those kind of games. If you don't want to pitch a game like that, what are you doing in baseball?"

Schilling to pitch on Monday

Schilling will have a short side session today, then pitch in a minor-league game Monday.

"He could have done it (tomorrow), but I said, 'Let's give you another day,' " said manager Terry Francona.

Schilling will pitch at the minor-league complex with Jason Varitek catching, while many of the players will be on the longest bus trip of the Grapefruit League season -- to Vero Beach -- spring home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, about 3 1/2 hours each way from Fort Myers.

It's expected that Schilling will pitch "a couple of innings," according to Francona.

Sox send six on their way

After the game, the Sox announced six roster cuts.

Catcher Kelly Shoppach was optioned to Pawtucket while shortstop Hanley Ramirez was optioned to Portland. Shoppach had been sidelined with a foot injury, but caught yesterday's game.

Meanwhile, pitchers Denney Tomori and Kris Wilson, infielder Dave Berg and infielder/outfielder Simon Pond were reassigned to minor-league camp.

The moves leave the Sox with 43 players in major-league camp.

Let the hits begin

Jay Payton hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot. Berg and Tim Hummel provided sacrifice flies, while Ramirez had a run-scoring double.

Anastacio Martinez, who is out of options, had his best outing of the spring, pitching two scoreless innings with two hits allowed and two strikeouts.

Scott Cassidy, Mark Malaska and Jason Kershener each provided scoreless innings of relief.

Around the bases

Johnny Damon was at the ballpark in the morning, but he's not yet cleared to return to action after his battle with cellulitis. With little fanfare, Damon shaved his beard. . . . Trot Nixon, still sidelined with the flu, remained home. . . . Byung-Hyun Kim had a side session and could pitch against Baltimore today. . . . The Sox held a moment of silence to observe the passing of former reliever Dick Radatz, who died Wednesday at his home in Easton, Mass.