01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 22, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After making his Grapefruit League debut yesterday, David Wells said he is resigned to his fate. He won't start the season on the 25-man roster, he won't pitch until mid-April, and is powerless to change it.

"I'm not happy with it, no," said Wells after allowing four runs in four innings in a 9-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. "But it is what it is. I've just got to deal with it."

The Sox want Wells to be held back at the start of the season, both to give him time to recover from offseason knee surgery and to give them some roster flexibility. Thanks to two off-days in the first eight days of the schedule, the Sox don't need a fifth starter until the middle of the month.

"It's a first for me," shrugged Wells. "It's just something I'm going to adapt to. There's nothing I can do about it. I'll just keep my mouth shut -- grin and bear it."

Wells will be with the team on the first road trip, to Texas and Baltimore, and will throw some simulated games and side sessions.

Yesterday, he gave up a solo homer to Ty Wigginton in the second, then was hit around in the fourth, when the Rays added three more runs. But he took some positives from the outing.

"I felt a lot better than the last time (when he pitched in a simulated game against minor leaguers)," he said, adding that his mechanics were smoother. "In that last inning, my ball was up, and that spells trouble. I just didn't get the ball down. But physically, I didn't feel tired."

Wells said his knee wasn't an issue.

"That's the most important thing, not the outing," he said.

Lineup takes shape

Yesterday's lineup featured a reasonable facsimile to the projected Opening Day lineup, with the exception of catcher. Josh Bard got the start over Jason Varitek, who returned over the weekend from the World Baseball Classic.

DH David Ortiz, who returned to town Monday, appeared in his first Grapefruit League contest. He was greeted with a long ovation when he came to the plate in the bottom of the first.

In the fourth inning, in his third at-bat, Ortiz launched a moon shot of a homer to right.

Manny Ramirez contributed a two-run shot an inning later, his second of the spring.

Keeping the faith

Lefty Jon Lester again was hit hard, racked for five runs over two innings. In three outings this spring, Lester has compiled a 19.50 E.R.A.

"We won't let a couple of shaky spring training outings (change our view)," said manager Terry Francona. "I'm still glad we had the chance to watch him pitch even though this was not the best we're going to see. I still think (the experience) is good for these guys."

Around the horn

Closer Keith Foulke will pitch Friday in a minor-league game, his first game appearance of the spring. If all goes well, he'll also pitch Saturday against Toronto, then again Monday against Tampa Bay . . . The Red Sox meet the Yankees for the only time this spring tonight in Tampa. Jonathan Papelbon will start for the Sox . . . Instead of going to Fort Lauderdale Friday to face the Orioles, a division rival, Curt Schilling will pitch in the same minor-league game as Foulke. Lenny DiNardo will pitch against Baltimore . . . Josh Beckett pitched six innings in a minor-league game, throwing 92 pitches . . . Varitek got six at-bats in the same game and got to catch Beckett for the first time.

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