01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 15, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Bronson Arroyo's third appearance of the spring was no better than his first two.

Arroyo was pounded for five first-inning runs in the Red Sox' 9-7 loss to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday before settling down over his final two innings. In 6 2/3 innings this spring, Arroyo has been tagged for 13 earned runs and 13 hits.

Former Red Sox Scott Hatteberg delivered the big first-inning blow, a three-run homer. Felipe Lopez also contributed a two-run single.

"I guess I was missing with location," said Arroyo by way of explanation. "I felt decent, better than the last two starts. I guess I wasn't throwing the ball well. Today, I took it seriously, like a real game. I just couldn't get it done."

"He had a spring-training inning," said manager Terry Francona, "then he cleaned it up. He doesn't need to change things. He just needs to tighten up his breaking ball and locate his fastball and he'll be fine. Bronson's a good pitcher."

Slow start for Lowell

Through the first two weeks of spring training, Mike Lowell has yet to show that he's ready to rebound from last year's poor showing. Lowell, obtained along with Josh Beckett in the multi-player trade with the Florida Marlins, went 0-for-2 and is hitting just .143 (3-for-21) in Grapefruit League play.

The Sox believe Lowell may be pressing too much.

"He's a tremendous professional," said Francona, who spoke with Lowell yesterday morning. "I think he may be trying too hard to make a great first impression. We did our homework on this kid."

Vermilyea let go

After retaining Rule V Draft picks in each of the last two seasons (Lenny DiNardo in 2004; Adam Stern last season), the Sox won't make it three in a row.

Yesterday, they returned pitcher Jamie Vermilyea to the Toronto Blue Jays after selecting him in the Rule V Draft last December.

He made just one Grapefruit League appearance this spring, pitching two innings. It became apparent with the glut of pitchers that the Sox couldn't find a spot for Vermilyea. They would have been required to keep him on the 25-man major-league roster for the entire season, or failing that, get him through waivers and offer him back to the Jays before having the option of sending him to the minors.

"We liked him," Francona said. "He handled himself well. But it just didn't look like there was any room on the staff.

Around the horn

Outfielder Dustan Mohr, bidding to become the fourth outfielder and Trot Nixon's platoon partner in right, hit his third homer of the spring, tops on the team. . . . Nixon, meanwhile, continues to be one of the hottest hitters in camp. He had a single and two RBI and is hitting .429. . . . Catcher Ken Huckaby (knee) had hoped to be cleared to catch Tim Wakefield today in a simulated game, but has yet to be given the green light by the medical staff. Instead, Josh Bard will catch both Wakefield and Curt Schilling, who will pitch against one another. Wakefield and Schilling aren't pitching in Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles, both avoiding a long bus ride and an A.L. East opponent. Schilling, in particular, does not like to face teams from his own division in the spring. . . . The crowd of 8,147 at City of Palms Park set a ballpark record for the Sox, one day after another had been established Monday against the Dodgers. . . . The defeat was the fourth in a row for the Sox and sixth in the last seven games. Boston is just 3-9 this spring.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340