01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER and SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Johnny Damon, struck on the left hand by a pitch Monday night, was not in the starting lineup last night. And there's doubt as to whether Damon will be back in center field tonight.

But Red Sox manager Terry Francona was relieved after talking to Damon yesterday.

"He called me and said he wanted to play (last night)," said Francona. "That's a good sign."

Francona said Damon was going to have his sore hand checked by the team's training staff last night. He said giving the hard-nosed Damon a day or two off right now isn't necessarily the worst thing.

"I don't want to say (the sore hand) is a blessing in disguise, but taking the night can help his legs," said Francona.

Damon let Francona know during the game that he was ready to help.

"He came up around the sixth inning and said, 'What do you want me to get ready to do?' " said Francona. "He went back and took some swings in the cage and told me he was fine. I went back to see if he was lying, but the guys throwing to him said he was swinging fine. He directly impacted this game because of how tough he is."

Ump takes control

Plate umpire Ed Montague issued a warning to both teams after Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir drilled Tony Graffanino in the back with his first pitch of the night.

There has been much bad blood because of past bean-ball wars between the teams, which Montague clearly was aware of, and Kazmir has been a focal point at times. Kazmir, a young, hard-throwing and erratic left-hander in his first full year in the big leagues after breaking into the majors last season, has drilled his share of Red Sox players, notably Manny Ramirez.

In a start at home on April 22, Kazmir hit both Kevin Millar and Ramirez. The series degenerated into a bean-ball battle two days later, featuring several ejections and a suspension of Boston pitcher Bronson Arroyo for his part in the April 24 brawl.

Kazmir made it through his 5 2/3-inning stint last night without hitting another batter.

All's quiet on Wells front

A day after David Wells' pointed criticism of Major League Baseball -- and commissioner Bud Selig in particular -- the suspended pitcher's remarks were the talk of baseball officials.

Selig, who declined Monday to comment about the more controversial aspects of Wells' charges, including his assertion that Selig had a "vendetta" against him, did discuss Wells with other high-ranking baseball officials, sources said.

As of last night, however, there were no plans to have Wells meet with Selig. It's possible that the controversial lefty could be asked to speak to MLB President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy, or Rob Manfred, Executive Vice President of Labor Relations.

Manfred issued a statement Monday night refuting Wells' assertion that MLB purposefully dragged out the appeal process for Baltimore Orioles slugger Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for steroid use earlier this month.

Wells, sitting out the second game of a six-game suspension, was at the ballpark early for a workout and left before the media arrived, Francona said.

"David was under control; he just was bitter. We'll get past this. This too shall pass," said Francona about Wells' remarks on Monday.

Bellhorn's in pinstripes

Mark Bellhorn officially joined the Evil Empire yesterday, signing a contract with the Yankees a little more than a week after having been designated for assignment by the Red Sox. He started last night at third base for New York in place of Alex Rodriguez.

"We respect him a lot," said Francona of Bellhorn, who last year helped the Sox win the world championship before struggling badly at the plate this year.

"But I hope he never gets a hit against us. That's just the way the game is," said Francona.

Bellhorn was booed loudly by Red Sox fans over his last two months in Boston. Francona, who called Bellhorn one of the most mentally tough players he knew, didn't think that affected the second baseman. But he did profess to be surprised by the fans' reactions to Bellhorn.

"As big a part as he was of us winning, I just don't understand that. I don't think that helps your team. But that's the way it is. You deal with it, and our guys deal with it very well," said Francona.

Handled with care

Prize prospect Craig Hansen, potentially the Sox' closer of the future after being selected in the first round of this year's draft, has been shut down because of a tired right arm.

Hansen, an All-American at St. John's University, will be kept off the mound for 5-10 days, said general manager Theo Epstein yesterday.

Hansen didn't sign until about a month ago, making a belated professional debut, most recently assigned to Double-A Portland with a big-league call-up seemingly on tap after the rosters expand tomorrow.

Epstein likened Hansen's struggles to the "dead-arm" stage that most pitchers go through at some point in spring training as they build up arm strength. If that's all it is, Hansen likely will resume pitching. If it's more serious, the Sox' plans for the right-hander this year, of course, would change.

Around the bases

The Sox, needing to stock their bullpen with a fresh arm behind Curt Schilling last night, optioned left-hander Abe Alvarez to Pawtucket and recalled right-hander Manny Delcarmen from the PawSox. . . . Right-hander Chad Harville, claimed off waivers from Houston on Monday, will join the team tomorrow. . . . Bill Mueller's third-inning double extended his hitting streak to 13 games. . . . Schilling's strikeout of Jonny Gomes in the third inning was the 2,800th whiff of his career, making him the 18th pitcher in big-league history to attain that milestone. . . . Keith Foulke allowed two runs on four hits in one inning in his third rehab outing for Lowell last night. He struck out three. Foulke will be evaluated today. The initial plan was to activate him tomorrow. . . . Ramirez was 0-for-13 off Kazmir before dunking a single to left in the fifth. . . . The Sox have scored at least seven runs in each of their last 12 games at Fenway.