01:00 AM EST on Sunday, March 26, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- After facing minor-league hitters Friday, Keith Foulke tried his luck against major leaguers yesterday and found the results every bit as satisfying.

Foulke struck out the side against the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx Friday on 13 pitches. Yesterday, he pitched a perfect inning against the Toronto Blue Jays, getting Alex Rios and Aaron Hill to fly out and Russ Adams to pop out. Again, he needed just 13 pitches to get through the inning.

"It feels good to feel good again," said Foulke after the outing. "I still feel like I'm rushing a bit. But it feels good to be out there. I'm still rushing to the plate. I need to slow it down."

Foulke again had good action on his changeup and located his fastball well. He threw one split-finger fastball and one slider to mix in among his repertoire.

He expects to appear in four more games before Opening Day, starting with an inning against Tampa Bay tomorrow and culminating with an appearance Saturday in Philadelphia.

"We've got to put Sox Nation at ease and get people out (in games)," said a smiling Foulke.

Wakefield makes mistakes

After going unscored upon in his first three Grapefruit League outings, Tim Wakefield was hit around for four runs on 10 hits yesterday in the Red Sox' 5-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The big blows were homers to Eric Hinske (solo) and Adams (two-run blast), both in the fourth inning.

"It was a little dry and the ball was kind of slick," Wakefield said. "I made my pitches, but I made two mistakes."

A new addition from L.A.

Hee-Seop Choi arrived yesterday morning and joined the Red Sox, a day after being claimed on waivers from the Dodgers.

"This will be good for me," said Choi. "Better than the Dodgers."

Choi spoke by phone with fellow countryman -- and former Red Sox pitcher -- Byung-Hyun Kim, who told Choi that he was joining "a nice city, a good team."

Choi repeatedly said that he wanted to make the Sox for Opening Day, but barring a further move, that seems highly unlikely. He has options remaining, enabling the Sox to send him to Pawtucket to start the season.

Choi got into the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and grounded out in his only at-bat.

Numbers game

Josh Bard changed his uniform number from 28 to 77.

Bard has always worn the No. 7, but that's issued here to Trot Nixon. The "77" is a double 7, while also a nod toward Bard's upbringing in Denver.

Perennial Pro Bowler Kyle Mecklenberg wore No. 77 for the Denver Broncos, and former Bruin Raymond Bourque wore No. 77 while winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.

Around the horn

Craig Hansen has appeared in nine Grapefruit League games, covering 8 2/3 innings, and has yet to be scored upon . . . Manny Delcarmen looked sharp with two innings of one-hit relief . . . The loss dropped the Sox to 6-16-1. They haven't won in a week. . . . Josh Beckett makes his final spring start today, facing the Phillies in Clearwater . . . Coco Crisp stole two bases, giving him six for the spring . . . David Ortiz and Trot Nixon each had hit two hits.

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