01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 30, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Red Sox bullpen got a little more crowded yesterday with the news that the team had reacquired lefty reliever Mike Myers from the St. Louis Cardinals for two minor leaguers.

Myers, obtained from Seattle last Aug. 6 as a lefty specialist, didn't re-sign with the Sox as a free agent, choosing to agree to a one-year, $600,000 deal with St. Louis.

"He's a significant matchup guy," said Terry Francona of Myers. "He gets [lefty] hitters out he's supposed to, and that lets other guys pitch when they should. We talk so much about getting the right matchups. Well, for me, having that lefthanded matchup guy swings the percentages in our favor."

Reminded that earlier in camp Francona had downplayed the importance of having a lefty specialist, the manager cracked: "That's because we didn't have one."

Myers held opposing lefties to .234 last year. Over his career, they've hit .212 against him.

Going to St. Louis were 21-year-old outfielder Carlos de la Cruz and lefty pitcher Kevin Ool. De le Cruz played at Single-A Lowell last year, while Ool split time between Augusta and Sarasota.

Myers' arrival complicates matters for Byung-Hyun Kim. Beyond the four-man starting rotation [Curt Schilling will open the season on the DL], the Sox have six other pitchers set in the pen: Matt Mantei, John Halama, Alan Embree, Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke and newcomer Blaine Neal, who's out of options.

The 11th spot, thought to be held by Kim, will now go to Myers, giving the Sox three lefties in the bullpen [with Embree and Halama].

That means Kim will either be dealt elsewhere, released, or sent to Pawtucket in the next few days. Kim has the necessary service time this season to refuse an assignment to the minor leagues. He said Sunday he would have to discuss such a scenario with his agent and the organization before giving his approval.

In an effort to continue to showcase him for other clubs, the Sox pitched Kim for the second time in the last three days yesterday. He pitched a scoreless seventh against the Yanks.

To make room for Myers' addition to the 40-man roster, the Sox designated pitcher Anastacio Martinez for assignment. Martinez, who was out of options, was unlikely to make the team and would have been exposed to waivers eventually if the Sox found no takers. They now have 10 days to either release, trade or reassign him, but he will first have to clear waivers to remain in the organization.

Boston must still find room on the 40-man roster for first baseman David McCarty , who came to camp as a non-roster invitee.

Schilling impressive

While many of his teammates were facing the Yankees in Tampa, Schilling pitched five innings against Triple-A Indianapolis at City of Palms Park.

Schilling allowed four hits and two runs -- one of which was unearned -- with one walk and seven strikeouts.

"From all the reports," Francona said, "it was very, very encouraging."

Before Schilling pitched, Francona introduced the notion that his ace could face the Yankees at Fenway, either on April 13 or 14. He'll pitch the Triple-A opener on April 7, giving him either five or six days' rest before the final two games of the Yankee series.

Meanwhile, the Yankees set up their rotation for the first 10 days of the season, resulting in the following matchups for the first two series between the two clubs.

On Sunday, David Wells will face Randy Johnson. On Tuesday, April 5, Matt Clement will face Carl Pavano, followed by Tim Wakefield vs. Mike Mussina. When the teams shift to Boston next week, Wakefield will pitch the Sox' home opener against Mussina. On April 13th, Kevin Brown will pitch for the Yankees, opposed by either Schilling or Bronson Arroyo. Whoever doesn't pitch that game for the Sox will pitch the following day, facing Johnson for the Yankees.

Around the horn

In Boston's 7-2 win over the Yankees, Halama threw a pitch behind Alex Rodriguez in the third baseman's first at-bat in the bottom of the first, drawing a reaction from the sold-out crowd. But the two were once teammates in Seattle, and Rodriguez laughed it off after the game. . . . With their third road game in four days and a trip to Arizona coming tomorrow night, the Sox brought a sparse roster here. . . . The starting outfield featured minor leaguers Mike Lockwood in center, Mickey Hall in left and Chris Durbin in right. . . . Research by the Red Sox indicates Wells will be the first lefty to start a season opener for the Sox since 1986, when Bruce Hurst got the assignment. Since 1986, the Sox have used only five different Opening Day starters: Roger Clemens (1988-94, 1996), Bob Stanley (1987), Aaron Sele (1995), Tom Gordon (1997) and Pedro Martinez (1998-2004). . . . The Sox expect to set an attendance record today for City of Palms Park. The Sox have already drawn 116,167, averaging 7,744 per contest . . . David Ortiz left his red jersey at home and had to wear No. 79 -- with no name stiched on the back -- for the game.