01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

TORONTO -- The Red Sox' Bill Mueller was drilled by a Miguel Batista fastball squarely on the top of his left foot, at the base of his big toe, in the ninth inning last night and had to leave the game.

Mueller got his right foot out of the way of the errant pitch, but couldn't do the same with his back foot. The impact sent him sprawling to the dirt at home plate and prompted trainer Jim Rowe and manager Terry Francona to bolt out of the dugout to check on him.

Mueller was able to limp off the field, very slowly, under his own power. Kevin Youkilis replaced him, running at first base and then staying in the game to play third base.

X-rays taken after the game were negative. Mueller said he was hoping to be able to play tonight.

The scary part for Mueller, he said, was that when he was with the Giants, he was hit in the very same spot by a pitch from the Reds' Brett Tomko on Opening Day in 1999 and was on the disabled list for six weeks.

Miller went 2-for-3, including a long two-run homer that put Boston on top, 5-4, in the seventh.

Rarin' to go

When Bronson Arroyo steps on the mound tonight at the Rogers Centre, it will mark his first start since May 16, when he pitched against the Athletics in Oakland.

Since then, the Red Sox right-hander has been serving a six-game suspension for his part in the April 24 bean-ball game against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field, a suspension that came to an end after Boston's game against Toronto last night.

To say Arroyo is a bit antsy to get back in action would be an understatement.

"I hate watching games from the stands. I'm really bored. I am so ready to pitch a game it's unbelievable. Eight days off feels like a month when you get used to the baseball routine," said Arroyo yesterday.

It's not as if Arroyo has just been sitting around. He threw a couple of side sessions and he has done a bunch of throwing.

He admitted he had no clue whether he'll be rusty or not tonight, but he and the Sox hope he can pick up where he left off, because at 4-0 with a 3.21 earned-run average, Arroyo has arguably been the Sox' most consistently effective pitcher all year.

Arroyo also said that, considering he has made eight starts this year, he fully expects to be able to throw 100-110 pitches tonight. Another by-product of the enforced rest is that his body enjoyed a little more recuperative time.

Schilling needs support

Now that he has tossed away his protective boot, right-hander Curt Schilling is in search of an enhanced shoe design that will enable him to maintain his balance a bit better than he can in his customary shoes.

Manager Terry Francona said yesterday that plans are in the works to redesign Schilling's shoes, maybe to give him a broader base, which, in turn, would help him balance better in his delivery. That process still is in a trial-and-error phase, he said.

In the meantime, Schilling, who hasn't pitched since April 23, needs to build up strength in his surgically repaired ankle before he can even consider coming off the disabled list to pitch. He has been playing catch from 120 feet recently.

Sore subject

Alan Embree thought he would have to have a couple of wisdom teeth yanked on Monday, an off day, but was relieved to find out the swelling in his gums on the left side of his face can be treated with antibiotics.

That, though, isn't the end of Embree's problems. He has what he called a "sprained jaw," suffering from TMJ, the result of chewing too hard on gum during games and grinding his teeth while he sleeps.

Embree said he has given up chewing tobacco, at the request of his seven-year-old son, Alan, and has turned to bubble gum.

"But I throw in about seven pieces of Bazooka gum, and when it comes down to being ready (to go into a game) I chomp it pretty good," said Embree yesterday.

He's taking muscle relaxers when he goes to bed and wears a mouthguard to lessen the impact of any jaw-grinding he may do when he sleeps. Embree said the infection in his gums is not related to his tobacco use.

Millar back in action

First baseman Kevin Millar was back in the starting lineup last night. He had missed Sunday's game against Atlanta as well as Monday's home-run derby and Hall of Fame Game because of a sore left foot, the result of a foul ball off his instep during Saturday night's game.

"He's good enough. It's not like he's going to be stealing second base anyway," cracked Francona of Millar, one of the slowest runners in the big leagues.

Minor updates

In Boston-Pawtucket related news, Francona said that while veteran John Olerud is playing now for the PawSox, there is no immediate timetable for his promotion to the Red Sox.

Also, outfielder Adam Stern (thumb) will join the PawSox today and will begin his 20-day rehabilitation assignment tomorrow in Durham.

Around the horn

The Jays' ace, Roy Halladay (7-2, 2.84) will be held out of tomorrow night's start against the Sox because of a strained muscle on his left side. . . . Toronto activated catcher Gregg Zaun from the disabled list last night and outrighted former Pawtucket and Boston catcher Andy Dominique to Syracuse. . . . The Jays also put outfielder Frank Catalanotto on the bereavement list, calling up Gabe Gross from Syracuse to take his place. . . . The Sox' bullpen has been giving up gopher balls at an alarming rate, notably Embree (5 in 19 2/3 innings) and Keith Foulke (6 in 21 innings).

An inside look at Hall

Left-hander Mike Myers was one of several Red Sox veterans to get a quick, personal tour of the Hall of Fame, including items in the vault in the museum's basement.

They wore white gloves when handling such artifacts as bats used by Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig's first baseman's mitt and other equipment, some of which dated back to the 1800s.

"You need two full days to really see everything and sit down and listen to all the video displays to be able to enjoy it all rather than rushing through, but it was very, very neat and exciting," said Myers.