01:00 AM EDT on Monday, May 23, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- One man's misfortune was another man's opportunity yesterday.

With Kevin Millar sidelined with a sore instep after fouling a ball off his left foot Saturday night, Kevin Youkilis got the start at first base yesterday, driving in the first Boston run of the afternoon and chipping in with a nifty play on a hot smash for the second out in the ninth inning.

"He played a nice game," remarked Terry Francona of Youkilis. "I don't think he had faced [Atlanta starter John Smoltz] before and he had a real mature at-bat [coming back from being 0-and-2]. And the more he plays first, the more his confidence level goes up."

It was just Youkilis' second at-bat of the season at first. Francona said the Sox had been "trying to find ways to get him in the lineup," as he's hitting .353 for the season.

Millar's mishap presented a chance. Millar had the foot x-rayed yesterday, which proved negative. He was told he was suffering from a mild sprain.

"I [foul a ball off the foot] about five times a year," lamented Millar. "Now, I'm going to start wearing a [protective] pad."

Millar expects to be ready Tuesday night when the Sox begin a six-game road trip in Toronto. He may soon get pushed for playing time by John Olerud. Olerud, signed as a free agent last month by the Sox, has been working in extended spring training, but will join the Pawtucket Red Sox today and could be promoted to the major league roster in another week or so.

Bound for Cooperstown

The Sox have an early travel day today, leaving Fenway at 7 a.m., flying to Albany, N.Y., then busing to Cooperstown, where they will play the Detroit Tigers in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game.

Millar, Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez won't be in the lineup. The rest of the Red Sox regulars will get an at-bat, then give way to the minor leaguers being brought in to augment the squad.

"We're trying to balance common sense and respect for the game and it's not the easiest thing," Francona said. "The players will show their faces and sign some autographs. When everyone leaves, we want them to have a good taste in their mouth about the Red Sox."

Johnny Damon and David Ortiz are scheduled to take part in a pre-game home run hitting contest.

Highly-touted pitching prospect Anibal Sanchez will start for the Sox.

Orr a fan of Bobby's

For Boston fans, it was a strange sight to look out in left field and see a player named Orr wearing, yes, No. 4.

Atlanta Braves rookie outfielder Pete Orr, like hockey legend Bobby Orr, is a native Ontario and grew up about two hours from Bobby Orr's hometown of Parry Sound. He even shares the same middle name (Gordon) with the Hall of Famer.

The two are not related, but Pete Orr's father was a huge fan of Bobby Orr, and so Pete became one, too. He wears No. 4 in honor of Bobby Orr. Orr, who works as an agent, has been told Pete's story and for a time, it was thought that the former Bruin might stop by Fenway and meet his namesake. However, those plans fell through.

Around the horn

Yesterday's win gave the Sox their first home series win over the Braves since interleague play began in 1997. Atlanta had won the first five series meetings at Fenway . . . Overall this season, the Sox are 5-1-1 in seven home series this season . . . Johnny Damon reached base 10 times in 14 plate appearances in the series and has scored at least one run in each of his last seven games . . . Over his last 19 games, catcher Jason Varitek is hitting .351 (26-for-74) . . . David Ortiz' double in the sixth was his 16th of the season, the most in the American League . . . Bill Mueller had a three-hit game for the first time since April 5. Over his last nine games, he's boosted his average 47 points, going from .236 to .283.