01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 12, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER, JOE McDONALD and PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- Oft-injured Trot Nixon had to leave yesterday's game after he batted in the third inning.

This time it's a strained left groin that is going to sideline the Sox' right fielder, but he was hopeful he'd only be out for five to seven days after talking with Boston's rehabilitation coordinator Scott Waugh.

Nixon said he suffered the injury in a failed attempt to catch Aaron Hill's looping fly ball in the second. The ball, knocked down by the wind, fell in front of Nixon, who dived and landed awkwardly in a vain attempt to corral the ball, which bounded a bit past him.

"I didn't feel it at the time, but as I was running off the field I kind of felt it in my groin area. I don't think it's major at all."

He said he felt a twinge in the groin area in the bottom of the inning after walking, moving to second on a single by Jason Varitek and scoring on a double by Mike Lowell.

After stumbling a bit out of the batter's box when he grounded to first base in the third, Nixon came out of the game.

"I thought it was the smart thing to do," said Nixon. "I thought if I kept playing it would get worse. It's encouraging because it should only be five to seven days, but it's frustrating, too, because it seems like I'm always injured or people are talking about my injuries."

"It just came on I think when I went to the plate. . . . It wasn't painful, it was nagging. . . . I didn't think it was smart to go out there and make it even worse."

"Sometimes you're body isn't going the way you want it to. The only thing I can control is being ready for the game mentally and physically, stretching and doing all that stuff and getting in the work I need. That's the only thing I can control. I can't control whether I'm going to get hurt or not. I'm just going to go out there and play the same."

Stern has good start

Adam Stern is going to get more playing time than expected because of Coco Crisp's injury, but the outfielder, a 2005 Rule V draftee who has to be in the big leagues this year until at least April 20, still is ticketed for the minors before too long, depending on roster circumstances.

The Red Sox want him to get regular playing time to speed up his development, and that isn't likely to come at the big-league level right now.

"The biggest disservice we can do to Stern is not play him," said manager Terry Francona yesterday. "He has the ability to be an everyday major-league player. He needs to play. We don't want to short-change him or short-change us."

Stern, who started in center field yesterday, was taking things as they come.

"Whatever happens, happens," said the affable Stern, 26. "I like to start. It's exciting. I just want to go out and play and let it rip."

Stern delivered a two-run double, stole a base and scored a run in a 1-for-4 performance yesterday.

A view from the bench

Crisp spent the home-opener watching from the bench. He suffered a fracture on the base of his left index finger sliding into third base on Saturday in Baltimore, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. The outgoing center fielder had been waiting for his debut here, and admitted he was disappointed.

"As soon as possible," when asked about when he'd return. "I didn't know I broke it. I knew I hurt it, but I didn't know how bad because it takes time for the swelling to come in. I continued to play, I knew I hurt it but I didn't hear anything pop. Last year when hurt my other finger I heard something pop, so I knew right away something was wrong. I didn't think this one was that bad."

He had x-rays taken on Monday in Boston and doctors found the fracture. He was sporting a splint yesterday.

"He's a quick healer," said Francona. "At least he has been in the past. . . . We wouldn't want to lose him for the year, but in the short term we can handle this."

In the meantime, he was lounging in the dugout during the home-opener as some of the veteran players were teasing him about being a cheerleader.

"Some of them brought me some pom-poms, so I'll put on a little skirt," he said. "It might be a little cold, so I'll put some tights on."

Kapler sightings

At 9:15 yesterday morning, outfielder Gabe Kapler was on the field with Waugh, continuing his rehab from the ruptured left Achilles tendon he suffered last season. Kapler jogged around the outfield, ran some sprints and also did a few agility drills. He also took ground balls in the outfield, charging them and making throws to third base from center field.

Kapler still is at least a couple of months away from being able to play for Boston. He was given a warm ovation when he was introduced with the rest of the Red Sox during the pregame ceremonies.

Pena has his problems

Wily Mo Pena has had his troubles at Fenway Park in his four appearances, now totaling seven strikeouts in 12 at-bats and two fly balls lost into the visitors' bullpen for homers.

Pena had Frank Catalanotto's long, drifting fly ball squirt out of his glove and land in the bullpen yesterday, reminiscent of what happened to him on June 13 last year when, as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, a similar thing happened on a ball hit by Manny Ramirez, resulting in Ramirez's 13th homer of the year.

The low wall has contributed to his troubles, he said.

"I just went back, back, back. I hit the wall and my back bent and I fell back and the ball just went through the glove," said Pena.

Wells is a go

Veteran left-hander David Wells will make his first Boston start of the year tonight.

Wells, who will turn 43 next month, didn't have good results in a rehab outing for Pawtucket at McCoy Stadium last Friday.

While he said he wasn't stiff during that performance, Wells acknowledged yesterday that his body had been stiff for a couple of days after the start. But he said he is ready to pitch tonight. The Red Sox will have to make a roster move to accommodate Wells' addition, likely sending Lenny DiNardo to Pawtucket.

Youkilis adapting well

Kevin Youkilis, a third baseman by nature, has switched corner positions this season and proved yesterday he can handle the right side of the infield. In the top of the fourth inning, the Jays' Shea Hillenbrand lifted a shallow popup in foul territory near the photographers' well next to the Sox' dugout. Youkilis tracked it down and made a running basket catch to record the out.

Downplaying his role

Fireballing Jonathan Papelbon picked up his fourth save in as many opportunities by working a perfect ninth inning. While he is intense on the mound, Papelbon obviously likes to play down his new role of closing out games.

"I did my adjusting in spring training, basically just honing down on getting ready quicker, things of that nature. At this point in time, I'm pretty much set in my ways," he said.

"As a starter you're doing you're mental adjustments before the game, getting ready. As a closer you're doing it during the game. There's not much difference, though. . . . I'm throwing all my pitches."

Papelbon said he is not thinking about whether his closer role will be permanent.

"Not really," he said. "As a bullpen staff, we're going out trying to hold games, trying to win games. I don't think any of us are going out thinking about, 'What am I going to doing today or what I'm going to do tomorrow.' Our whole goal is being focused on winning the game."

The best part of yesterday, he said, was getting to enjoy the excitement of opening day at Fenway.

"It's giving back to home crowd. To play in front of all these people it's really intense. But fun," he said. "My first opening day was awesome. It's awesome to play in front of these fans who live and die for you. It's good to give back to them."

Around the bases

Francona commented on David Ortiz's new four-year contract yesterday, saying it's a win-win situation for both Ortiz and the ballclub. The skipper said he doesn't like to discuss contracts with players, but acknowledged that he spoke with Big Papi a couple of times during spring training about staying in Boston. . . . Reliever Julian Tavarez, who is serving a 10-day suspension for his actions in a spring-training game, threw 25 pitches off the mound yesterday and faced some hitters. Francona said he will be activated tomorrow. "He's a strike thrower and I'm looking forward to getting him back," said the skipper. . . . Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace visited with Francona and the Sox before yesterday's game. He was aided by crutches as he's still waiting for a hip replacement. . . . The Red Sox posted their 227th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park yesterday with 35,491 in attendance. In fact, it was the largest home-opener at the storied ballpark since Apirl 14, 1969, when 35,343 watched the Sox host the Baltimore Orioles.

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

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

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