01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2005

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox were extremely busy yesterday.

As the July 31 trade deadline looms and the club needs to fill some holes, Sox' general manager Theo Epstein pulled the trigger on several moves, trading PawSox reliever Scott Cassidy for former Pawtucket and Red Sox outfielder Adam Hyzdu of San Diego. Later, PawSox outfielder Chip Ambres and Single-A left-hander Juan Cedeno were sent to Kansas City for second baseman Tony Graffanino. To make room for Hyzdu on the 40-man roster, Red Sox left-hander Alan Embree was designated for assignment.

Embree, who joined the Red Sox from San Diego in a mid-season move in 2002, was 1-4 with a 7.65 E.R.A and one save in 43 appearances this season. Epstein, Red Sox manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Dave Wallace spoke with Embree yesterday morning and informed him of the move.

"It's not a real fun decision to make," said the Boston skipper. "Although I think he thinks he's getting better, he acknowledges that it's been tough. It's been a tough road for him this year. He made some mistakes and he paid dearly."

Losing a teammate and friend, especially one who helped the club to its first World Series championship in 86 years, cannot sit well in the clubhouse.

Fellow bullpen buddy Mike Timlin admitted as much.

"He had been struggling," said Timlin, "but his numbers of late . . . he's been throwing the ball really well. He's had good control and has minimized his pitches. He showed consistent improvement."

Timlin added that the bullpen is "the whipping child of the major leagues" and Embree was just another sacrificial lamb.

"It's like an ugly step sister," he said. "A lot of families have them, but don't want to talk about it. You need them in your family because you don't get to your closer without them, but you don't want to give them too much."

Embree, who was gone before the media was allowed in the clubhouse, is 29-32 with eight saves and a 4.62 E.R.A in 611 major-league appearances.

Kapler returns

Gabe Kapler was back in familiar surroundings yesterday. The outfielder returned to the Red Sox after spending the first half of the season playing in Japan. He went through a battery of medical exams and will begin a rehab assignment in Pawtucket soon. He has been added to the 40-man roster and placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

"He's doing great and he looks really upbeat," said Francona. "He looks excited and ready to go. He looks really good. We just want to get him cleared medically, and then work on getting him back here."

In the meantime, Hyzdu gives Boston a backup outfielder and right-handed bat off the bench. When Kapler returns, it is likely Hyzdu will rejoin the PawSox.

In 136 games for Boston last season, Kapler hit .272 with six home runs and 33 RBI. Hyzdu was named the Red Sox' Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .301 with 29 homers and 79 RBI.

Manny Mode

Manny Ramirez seems to be back in typical Manny Mode. During a break in the action on Monday, he entered the door of the Green Monster and barely made it back into position for the next pitch. When asked about it yesterday, Francona did not know why his left fielder left but added, "I'm just glad he came back."

In first inning last night, the Devil Rays' Carl Crawford lifted a high, fly ball to shallow left field. Sox shortstop Edgar Renteria moved back under the ball. Ramirez called him off but wasn't even close to making the catch. Instead, the ball dropped and Ramirez ended up kicking it a few more feet. It was ruled a hit and Crawford eventually scored.

Ramirez answered with his 25th home run of the season in the fourth inning off Casey Fossum to give Boston a 2-1 lead. Ramirez now has hit 25 or more homers in 11 consecutive seasons.

Baldelli progessing

Tampa Bay Devil Rays center fielder and Cumberland native Rocco Baldelli has been in Florida rehabbing his right elbow after having Tommy John surgery last month. He decided to join the club on its trip to Boston, but hasn't had a chance to make it back to Rhode Island.

"It's going fine," he said of his rehab. "I just finished my leg rehab -- it was seven months of that -- and starting up this one was tough."

The former Hendricken standout and first-round draft choice (sixth overall) by the Devil Rays, had surgery last November to repair a torn ACL and was ready to return at the time of his arm injury. The rehab for a position player after the procedure is not as long as for a pitcher, so his goal is to be back for spring training.

"That's why I had the surgery done right away," he said. "And this year I'll be in Florida for the offseason during my rehab."

Cora shines

There's been much ado about who will play second base for the Red Sox. Mark Bellhorn had been the starter despite struggling at the plate (.216). But he was placed on the 15-day DL after suffering a sprained thumb on Sunday. Alex Cora has taken his spot the last few game and last night turned in the defensive gem of the game, robbing the Devil Rays' Travis Lee of a possible base hit. Ranging to his left, Cora snared the hard-hit ball in shallow right field and made the throw to first for the out. Cora helped end the inning by helping to turn a 6-4-3 double play.

Around the bases

In the first inning Fossum hit Ramirez on the foot with a pitch that bounced in front of the plate. The Devil Rays southpaw leads the American League with 13 hit batsmen. Fossum left the game in the fifth inning with leg cramps. . . . Doug Flutie , who will be reporting to Patriots training camp in a few weeks, took batting practice at Fenway yesterday afternoon. . . . The former voice of the PawSox, Andy Freed, was back in town last night. He is enjoying his first season as a major league broadcaster with the Devil Rays.