01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 28, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The rainout yesterday, coupled with the injuries to Curt Schilling and David Wells, forced the Red Sox to do a little juggling of their rotation for a seven-game road trip, which begins tomorrow night in Texas.

Tim Wakefield, who was scheduled to start yesterday's series finale against Baltimore, will be pitching on six days' rest when he takes the mound tomorrow night after the Sox enjoy a day off today in Texas.

Bronson Arroyo will pitch Saturday night and Matt Clement will work the series finale on Sunday. John Halama will make his first start of the season, Monday night in Detroit in the opener of a four-game series in Motown.

The identity of the pitcher for Tuesday night, though, was listed as "TBA" by manager Terry Francona.

The Sox will put Schilling on the 15-day disabled list either today or tomorrow, and will then make a roster move to bolster the rotation. If Boston wants to dip into the Pawtucket Red Sox' staff, left-hander Abe Alvarez and veteram right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez are possibilities for promotion.

The addition will not be Wade Miller, Francona emphatically stated, regardless of how the right-hander fares tonight for the PawSox in his third rehab outing. The Sox don't want Miller to be rushed just because there happens to be a vacancy sign in Boston's rotation.

"You hate to see two guys go down, but we still have to keep our focus," said Nixon, about the loss of Wells and Schilling. "We still have to score some runs and play defense, and the guys who fill in (for Schilling and Wells) will have to step up and do the job."

"I think there might be a few more innings for the bullpen," added Arroyo. "Curt and David pitched deep into games."

Foulke still steaming

Keith Foulke was no happier yesterday morning than he had been Tuesday night when the Sox closer blew a save, surrendering two-run homers to Miguel Tejada and Javy Lopez in the eighth inning of an 11-8 loss.

Tejada actually hit a low changeup, seemingly a good pitch. Tejada went down and launched the ball over the Green Monster. Foulke took no solace in any "it was a good pitch" defense.

"I gave up runs. It doesn't matter what pitch it was or where it was. You don't want to give up runs and blow a lead," snapped Foulke.

Foulke was working for the first time in five days. He would like more work which, he said, would help make him sharper. Circumstances -- scores, game situations -- had kept him in the bullpen and off the mound.

"Throwing twice a week is not doing it," said Foulke, whose season-long struggles include a 1-2 record, a 7.20 earned-run average, 13 hits and 5 walks in only 10 innings.

It's twins for the Millars

Kevin Millar became a father for the first time early yesterday morning when his wife, Jeana, gave birth to twins.

Millar said the boy, who was born at 8:39 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, is named Kashton Charles. He initially said they hadn't decided on the girl's name yet, but then made the call to name her Kylie Faith. She was born at 8:40 and weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces.

The Millar's son's name just sounded right to the Red Sox' first baseman.

"We gave him a good baseball name," said Millar. "It was like I was announcing, 'Now batting: (Kashton Millar)."

Enough is enough

Tomorrow night the Sox will be playing their first opponent from outside the American League East. Nixon, for one, would like baseball to drop interleague play and go back to the balanced schedule.

"I would like to see it spread around rather than play the Yankees and the Orioles (Tampa Bay and Toronto, too) 19 times," said Nixon. "Interleague play has run its course."

Game rescheduled

Yesterday's rainout will be made up on June 2 at 1:05 p.m. on what had been a mutual off day. Fans holding tickets for yesterday's game may use those tickets for the June 2 makeup.