01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David Wells owns the Devil Rays. But the left-hander, 10-1 with a 2.52 career earned-run average against them prior to last night's start, was forced to settle for a no-decision in Boston's 4-3 10-inning loss.

Wells gave up nine hits, and worked out of a few early jams. The one pitch that haunted him, the one pitch that cost him a chance to stay in the game and possibly come out with a win, was his 88th and final pitch.

With a runner at first and one out and Boston ahead, 3-2, in the seventh, Nick Green slapped that pitch to right for a single, ending Wells' night. Mike Timlin took over and soon Wells' chance for a win was gone, too, on Julio Lugo's game-tying single.

"It was the only time I shook off Tek (catcher Jason Varitek)" said Wells of the pitch to Green. "I tried to slide-step and throw a sinker and I threw it down the middle. That was the ballgame right there. I get the ball down, maybe it's a double play. Late in a game you can't make mistakes like that."

Wells said he wasn't about to criticize manager Terry Francona for lifting him then despite his low pitch count.

"It's not my call. That time of the game you go to the bullpen and we've got a good bullpen. I'm not going to second-guess Terry. You could second-guess me. I left the ball up," said Wells.

Stern caught in a trap

Rookie Adam Stern was in a difficult spot.

He entered the game as a pinch-runner in the ninth and steamed to third on a chopped single to right by Johnny Damon with one out and the game tied at 3-3. On the 1-and-0 pitch to Edgar Renteria, Damon took off for second. Renteria hit a hard one-hopper up the middle that was speared by pitcher Jesus Colome.

Colome turned briefly to look at second, whereupon Stern started for home. But Colome quickly spun around, trapped Stern, ran at him and tagged him out.

No mistake was made by Stern, though, said Francona.

"You never want to let them try to turn a double play. He did the right thing. It may not look good, but it was fine. We still had Johnny at second," said Francona.

"It's just one of those reads you've got to make," said Stern. "Johnny was stealing, but you don't want to be standing at third if they turn a double play."

Seems like the right move

The Devil Rays may make a change today, but if they go with left-hander Mark Hendrickson as scheduled tonight, Francona said he might try to find a way to get Doug Mirabelli into the lineup along with regular catcher Varitek.

If that's the case, Mirabelli likely would start as the designated hitter, with Varitek catching Matt Clement. Francona, who likes the way the right-handed Mirabelli hits lefties (though he's only batting .207 in 29 at-bats against left-handers this season), did that on July 16 versus the Yankees. Mirabelli went 1-for-2 with a walk against Randy Johnson.

Hansen deal confirmed

The Red Sox made it official yesterday, announcing the signing of closer-in-waiting Craig Hansen, the 26th selection overall in this year's draft. Hansen, an All-American at St. John's University, reported to the Sox' training facility to get in pitching shape.

It was not certain yesterday where he'll be assigned when he is ready. But the Red Sox did put Hansen on their 40-man roster, shifting Matt Mantei (left ankle surgery) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day list to make room for him.

Around the bases

Second baseman Mark Bellhorn (sprained left thumb) went to Arizona to see a hand specialist. . . . Francona said by using Curt Schilling often out of the bullpen, he is strengthening the right-hander's arm so he can return to the starting rotation at some point, even if he'd only be a five- or a six-inning pitcher. . . . Renteria's seventh-inning single snapped an 0-for-11 skid. . . . Kevin Millar went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He has now gone 105 at-bats without a home run, dating back to June 4 when he hit two that day against the Angels. . . . John Olerud had an unusual single in the 10th. With Trot Nixon running from second, Olerud scalded a low liner that short-hopped the infield just in front of Nixon and ticked off his right foot. Interference was called, Nixon was called out and Olerud was credited with a single. . . . Timlin has allowed 13 of 21 inherited runners to score. . . . The Sox set a record for the longest stretch at the start of a season with playing an extra-inning game. Last night was their first, in their 99th game. The Chicago White Sox held the previous record, 69, in 2002. . . . The Rays notched their second walkoff win against Boston this season. A pinch-hit homer by Eduardo Perez in the ninth sent the Sox home sudden losers on April 22.