01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Second baseman Mark Bellhorn was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, replaced on the active roster by infielder Kevin Youkilis, who was recalled from the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Bellhorn has a sprained left thumb, an injury he suffered while making a spectacular diving play that robbed the Yanks' Jason Giambi of a base hit in the fourth inning of Sunday night's game.

It was unclear how long Bellhorn will be unable to play, but the quick roster move was prompted partially by the fact that the Red Sox are carrying 12 pitchers. They can't afford to have a player on the bench for even a few days if he can't play because the Sox have only four reserves.

Alex Cora started at second last night, and is the primary option at the position at this point. Bill Mueller has agreed, said manager Terry Francona, to move from his third-base spot to second in an emergency.

Youkilis, a third baseman by trade, was working out at second base yesterday when he joined the team, getting some pointers from infield coach Dale Sveum. Youkilis, a shortstop in college, has played an inning at the position this year, but he and Francona admit he's no Gold Glover over there.

"I'm not going to say (Youkilis) is not an option, but I don't know if it's our best option," said Francona.

"I'm getting better. I feel a lot better turning the double play," said Youkilis, who was sent down to Pawtucket after the final game of the first half, July 10, constituting his third option of the year to the PawSox.

Mueller is another option, albeit a reluctant one. In a crucial spot in Sunday night's game, Francona stuck with Cora to bat against Mariano Rivera instead of using John Olerud because he had told Mueller he wouldn't shift him over to second and didn't want to go back on his word had the Sox tied the game and sent it into extra innings.

Yesterday Francona called Mueller into his office for a brief chat. Mueller emerged with a smile on his face.

"I asked him if he'd be okay with it and he said he'd be willing to go over there in an emergency," said Francona. "He has some issues (about it), some concerns, and I respect that."

Mueller's concerns revolve around exposing his surgically repaired knees to the baserunner on the double-play pivot as well as his inexperience at the position.

"Who knows what can happen (to the knees)," said Mueller. "In an emergency (start, or go into a game in the late innings), I feel I can try and do the job. I'll make any move to try to help the team any way I can. I'm just not sure I can help the team there with my lack of experience and lack of confidence."

General manager Theo Epstein said two other future second-base options -- Pawtucket's Dustin Pedroia (sore wrist) and Portland's Hanley Ramirez (two games of experience at the position) -- aren't ready yet to take over in Boston.

Never a dull moment

The last time the Red Sox and Devil Rays met was April 24, the day two bench-clearing gatherings occurred because of hit batsmen, ultimately resulting in suspensions for Boston's Bronson Arroyo and Francona. Tampa Bay's Dewon Brazelton was suspended as well.

Francona said he wouldn't have been surprised if the umpiring crew was on alert because of bad blood between the teams that goes back several seasons.

Over the first four innings, the Sox' Wade Miller plunked two Devil Rays -- Carl Crawford (right arm) and Julio Lugo (right hand). Neither one appeared to be intentional. Crawford was hit with a full-count pitch with none on and one out in the first. Lugo was drilled with a 1-and-2 pitch with none on and two outs in the fourth.

Plate umpire Laz Diaz did not issue a warning. Schilling has fans, detractors The crowd, lulled to sleep by the Boston offense most of the night, began buzzing when Curt Schilling entered the game to start the ninth.

Schilling, in his third appearance out of the bullpen, continues to look better each time. Last night he whiffed the first two batters he faced before Carl Crawford took a measure of personal revenge with a ringing double to left-center and a stolen base. Crawford had been drilled with a pitch by Schilling on April 23.

Julio Lugo thought he had a run-scoring infield single, but the call was reversed by first-base umpire Dana DeMuth, generating sarcasm from Lugo.

"I used to admire Curt Schilling, but I've got more admiration for him now that he could come out and beg for a call and get it," said Lugo. "I don't think anybody in baseball could do that. I've never seen anything like that."

Francona, though, liked what he saw of Schilling on the mound.

"I thought it was by far the best he's been," said Francona. "He pounded the strike zone. I thought he was very, very good."

Around the bases

There was no word on when David Wells would have his appeal heard. The left-hander was suspended six games for making contact with umpires Chris Guccione and Angel Hernandez after being ejected for swearing at umpire Larry Poncino . . . . Rhode Island's Rocco Baldelli, on the mend from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury suffered while he was rehabbing a knee injury, was in the Rays' clubhouse before the game. . . . Keith Foulke (left knee) was expected to be examined at some point last night by the Sox' medical staff. . . . The Sox are in the middle of a stretch in which they will face six consecutive left-handed starters -- the Yankees' Randy Johnson and Al Leiter, Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, Casey Fossum and Mark Hendrickeson and Chicago's All-Star Mark Buehrle. . . . The Sox now are only 14-14 in games started by left-handers.