01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, June 30, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Given the season-long struggles of Keith Foulke (6.03 E.R.A.), it might be reasonable for the Red Sox to consider giving someone else a look in the role of closer. But manager Terry Francona said no changes were imminent in the bullpen, even as Mike Timlin closed out yesterday's 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.

"No, not right now," he said when asked if he was giving any thought to looking at someone else in the role. "We don't need a quarterback controversy . . . What we need to do with our guys down there is to get outs. Bring them in games (and) if they get outs, there will never be a problem with when they get used.

"I know (Foulke) has had a couple of bumps in the road. I think if you just change directions and go with different people . . . I mean, getting to the ninth inning isn't always easy, either. Sometimes, those innings are maybe more important than the ninth. So if you start plugging one perceived hole, then you create maybe a bigger one somewhere else. So we need to keep that in mind."

With Foulke unavailable yesterday after his ninth-inning blowup Tuesday night, Timlin earned his first save since April 24, 2004, and has said publicly that he wouldn't mind trying to close again. It's widely acknowledged that Timlin, a veteran right-hander, is far more effective in the setup role, and has privately confided to some that he doesn't feel comfortable closing. The Sox are reluctant to take Timlin out of that spot and shift his responsibility.

Back in comfort zone

It may or not be a coincidence, but since Doug Mirabelli came off the disabled list, Tim Wakefield has been far more effective. Mirabelli, who is Wakefield's personal catcher, missed three weeks recently with a wrist sprain. When he came off the DL on June 12, it signaled a turnaround for the knuckleballer.

After losing five straight decisions -- four of which came with Mirabelli sidelined -- Wakefield has gone 3-0 with a 0.93 E.R.A. since Mirabelli returned.

"There's a comfort level with him back there," said Wakefield. "Nothing against Varitek -- he's a great catcher and I enjoyed throwing to him all those years prior to Dougie getting here, through that stretch when nothing went right for us with Tek back there. It's not his fault. It's not like I don't like throwing to Jason. But there is a comfort level with Doug back there because I've thrown to him so many times."

"It's something that's taken a long time to develop," said Mirabelli of his relationship with Wakefield. "We hit it off when I was traded over here. I caught him the last eight or nine starts of that year (2001). Grady Little saw the success that we had when we worked together. From there, it's just been a constant building process between the two of us."

Damon up to 16

Johnny Damon has built another impressive hitting streak. With a 2-for-5 afternoon, Damon has hit in 16 consecutive games, tying him with Kansas City's Emil Brown for the longest active streak in the majors.

Earlier this season, he had an 18-game streak from April 22 through May 13, equaling his career-best streak.

Jokingly reminded that he needed to hit in 40 more games to reach Joe DiMaggio's 56-game record, Damon, who's been nursing a sore right shoulder, cracked: "I'm not even sure I can play 40 straight, let along hit in 40 (straight)."

Around the bases

Wakefield continued to reach milestones. He notched his 1,500th career strikeout. Of those, 1,391 have come with the Red Sox, placing him behind only Roger Clemens (2,590) and Pedro Martinez (1,596) on the all-time Red Sox list . . . John Olerud collected his 1,200th career hit with an RBI single in the fourth. He needs two doubles for 500 in his career and one homer to get to 250. Since joining the Sox, Olerud is hitting .405 with seven RBI in 22 games.