01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 4, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A month ago, the Red Sox were expressing private doubts about third baseman Mike Lowell . Today, those doubts seem unfounded.

Continuing a strong finish in spring training, Lowell got his regular season off to a good start yesterday with a solo homer to left in the eighth inning, the finishing touch on the Red Sox' 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Opening Day.

"Today was the official beginning, so it felt good," said Lowell. "First hit, first homer and first win."

After a 3-for-21 start in Grapefruit League play, Lowell was 14-for-31 after that, and the groove he found at the plate in the final weeks continued yesterday.

"I feel like I'm swinging the bat well," he said. "I'm seeing every pitch and taking advantage. I'm happy."

Lowell had never before hit a homer on Opening Day, and hitting one for his new team was rewarding. But he never got too concerned when he began spring slowly.

"I knew that if I play up to my ability, I would be fine," he said. "I said many times, I believe I'm the player (who had six good seasons in the big leagues), not the player I was last year (when he hit just .236 with 8 homers and 58 RBI)."

"Getting him off on the right foot is important," added manager Terry Francona . "He's going to be part of our success, so it's nice to see him get going."

Foulke shaky

If the reviews on Curt Schilling were good, the same couldn't be said of closer Keith Foulke .

Foulke pitched the ninth with the Sox leading, 7-2, and was shelled by the Rangers, allowing a one-out single to Hank Blalock , a hard-hit double off the wall in left by Kevin Mench and a 395-foot sacrifice fly ball to straightaway center to Laynce Nix .

"I thought his velocity was good," said Francona, noting that Foulke hit 89 mph with his fastball. "The problem was location. But we got that one out of the way."

Catcher Jason Varitek noted that Foulke, inheriting a five-run lead, challenged hitters with his fastball without mixing in his best pitch, the changeup.

"He was in a situation where he was going after guys," said Varitek. "He gave up some hits -- no big deal."

They see no conflict

Red Sox principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner attended yesterday's contest, each briefly renewing acquaintances with Roger Clemens before the game. Werner and Henry were part of a Red Sox contingent that flew to Houston over the winter to meet with Clemens.

Both Henry and Werner said they saw no conflict in former Senate majority leader George Mitchell heading Major League Baseball's investigation into steroid use. Mitchell is on the Red Sox' board of directors.

Mitchell cleared the assignment with them both before accepting.

"He did come to us," confirmed Werner. "As far as I'm concerned, his credentials are impeccable."

MLB has come under criticism for appointing Mitchell, both for his ties to the Red Sox and his position as chairman of Disney, the parent company of ESPN, which is a broadcast partner with MLB.

Dubious streak ends

Yesterday's win snapped an Opening Day losing streak for the Sox, who had dropped their previous five openers. That was the longest such streak in the big leagues and the longest for the Sox since 1922-27 and 1958-63.

The Sox now have defeated all except one American League team on Opening Day. They have yet to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, to whom they lost in their only Opening Day matchup in 2003.

Around the bases

Newcomer Alex Gonzalez had two hits in four trips to the plate, but made a baserunning error in the seventh when he was doubled off second on a flyout to center by Mark Loretta . When Curt Schilling struck out Brad Wilkerson in the bottom of the first, he moved into 16th place on the all-time strikeout list, ahead of Mickey Lolich . Schilling finished with five strikeouts and now has 2,837 in his career . . . The crowd of 51,541 was the largest in the history of The Ballpark in Arlington/Ameriquest Field. Previously, the biggest crowd was for the 1995 All-Star Game.

Loretta became the 12th different Red Sox second baseman in the last 13 Opening Days. Last year, Mark Bellhorn became the first player to start at the position in consecutive openers since 1993-94, when Scott Fletcher opened the season at second for two straight years.

Before yesterday, the Sox had opened a season here only once -- in 1996 . . . David Ortiz 's homer was his third Opening Day belt, but first in a Red Sox uniform . . . Mack Brown , the head football coach at the University of Texas, took part in the Opening Day ceremony and threw out the first pitch, celebrating the Longhorns' national championship victory last January. Rangers owner Tom Hicks also is a Texas alumnus.

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