01:00 AM EST on Monday, March 28, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Having spent the last week or so in the offensive doldrums, the Red Sox finally broke out at the plate against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Sox erupted for eight runs on 14 hits and won, 8-7. That was in sharp contrast with a recent stretch in which the Sox had scored just nine runs in their last six losses.

In the nine games before yesterday, the Sox were hitting just .207 as a team, lowering the club batting average to just .245, the lowest of any team in the American League this spring.

Leading the way yesterday was Kevin Millar (three hits) and Mark Bellhorn (two hits, one a homer). Seven players knocked in at least one run, with Johnny Damon responsible for two.

The outburst helped the Sox snap a five-game winless streak and lifted their Grapefruit League record to 9-13-1 with four games remaining in Florida -- and two more in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

Six roster moves anounced

The Sox announced six roster moves after the game, reassigning a host of players to minor-league camp.

Gone are pitchers Jack Cressend and Jeremi Gonzalez, outfielders George Lombard and Billy McMillon, first baseman Roberto Petagine and catcher Shawn Wooten. Petagine, who had knee surgery earlier this month, will soon be placed on the DL as he rehabs.

That leaves 29 players in camp. Three of those -- pitchers Curt Schilling and Wade Miller and outfielder Adam Stern -- will begin the season on the DL.

Pitcher Anastacio Martinez, who is out of options and can't be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing waivers, remains in camp while the Sox try to find a home for him.

More work for Schilling

The club plans to have Schilling pitch tomorrow in a minor-league game shifted to City of Palms Park.

The rest of the Red Sox major leaguers will be in Tampa, facing the New York Yankees five days before the teams begin the regular season in New York.

Before the Sox can move the Pawtucket-Indianapolis game from the minor-league complex to the big ballpark at the other end of Edison Avenue they must shift the filming of a commercial set to take place that afternoon.

By pitching Shilling in a minor-league game tomorrow, the Sox retain the flexibilty to place him on the DL retroactive to two days ago -- one day after he last pitched in a major league exhibition game.

Wakefield shines

Tim Wakefield shone in his final Florida tuneup, holding the Pirates to one run over six innings while yielding just two hits and three walks.

"You always want to get (good) results, confidence-wise," said Wakefield. "But when you do this long enough, you realize spring training results don't matter."

Sanchez tags Foulke

Former Sox infield prospect Freddy Sanchez hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Keith Foulke . . . . Matt Mantei was cuffed around for two runs on four hits in the eighth, but manager Terry Francona said the reliever had his best fastball of the spring.