01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 6, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas. -- Josh Bard wasn't in the starting lineup last night, but that didn't mean there wasn't work to do.

After his regular-season debut saw him charged with three passed balls on Tim Wakefield's knuckleballs, Bard studied videotape, comparing his work in spring training to Tuesday night.

"Watching some of the spring training games [on tape] compared to Tuesday night, my head was moving a little bit (more)," said Bard. "In spring training, I was a little further down and my head was staying still. (Tuesday) night, it was getting a little stood up, and as the pitch was coming, my head was sinking. I'll try to put that into play and work on it until my next start."

Bard has been in contact with former catcher Chris Bando, who used to catch former knuckleballer Tom Candiotti in Cleveland, looking for some helpful hints. But because Candiotti's knuckler was thrown far harder than Wakefield's, there's a limit to how much Bando can offer.

"I think the biggest thing," said Bard, "is to relax and catch the balls that are in the strike zone. If he throws one way out of the strike zone, you've got to just try to keep it in front of you. My expectation is to catch every ball, but obviously, that's not going to happen."

In the meantime, Bard will try to get more comfortable with his batterymate in between-start side sessions.

"The more I can (get familiar)," he said, "the better it will be. I don't think you can ever get enough practice. You want to be as (prepared) as you can."

Snow gets the nod

J.T. Snow got his first start at first base last night, with Kevin Youkilis sitting. Snow was hitless in four at-bats.

Youkilis was just 1-for-7 through the first two games of the year, including two called strikeouts.

"He has such a good eye," said manager Terry Francona of Youkilis. "Sometimes, guys just make (good) pitches."

Francona praised Youkilis for his improved glovework at first, a position he's still learning.

"He's made a lot of progress," said Francona. "I think our pitchers recognize that."

There's room for Hill

The Sox have an interest in catcher Koyie Hill, who has been designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The two teams spoke in early March after John Flaherty unexpectedly retired and Jason Varitek was out of camp at the World Baseball Classic, but the Sox deemed the asking price too high.

Hill, who is out of options, could provide some depth at catcher at Pawtucket.

Around the horn

Last year, it took the Sox 20 games before an opponent scored a run in the first inning. Tuesday night, the Rangers scored four runs in the first, or double the amount of first-inning runs scored against the Sox in their first 23 games of 2005.The Sox have their first off-day today, then begin a three-game weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox will face right-hander Daniel Cabrera tomorrow night, lefty Bruce Chen Saturday and longtime nemesis Rodrigo Lopez in the road trip finale.Hall of Famer Ernie Banks was in attendance last night at Ameriquest Field.When Manny Ramirez went down swinging in the fourth inning, it marked his fourth strikeout in his last six at-bats dating back to Tuesday night.The win improved the Sox to 10-3 in their last 13 games here.They haven't lost consecutive games here since 2004.Trot Nixon has hit safely in all three games to date.Ramirez earned an outfield assist when the Sox gunned dowm Mark Teixeira at the plate in the eighth. Ramirez led the majors with 17 outfield assists last season.

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