01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 13, 2006

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Wily Mo Pena was among a group of Red Sox players taking extra batting practice yesterday afternoon. It paid off.

Pena, who already has become something of a lightning rod among Fenway fans, ripped a line-drive home run into the camera booth in the bleachers in dead center field in the sixth.

In his first at-bat in the second, after being greeted by a mixed reaction from the fans, Pena narrowly missed a home run with a wicked line drive that went a few feet to the wrong side of the left-field foul pole. He eventually lined a single to right.

"When I get an opportunity, I have to be ready. Today was another day, I have to do what I do," Pena said.

Pena also is taking extra work in right field to familiarize himself with the nuances of that position at Fenway. Manager Terry Francona said before the game that he watched replays about 10 times of the drive hit by Frank Catalanotto in the home opener that went off Pena's glove and into the Jays' bullpen. That was "anything but routine," Francona said.

Once Pena becomes more familiar with Fenway it is a play he is likely to make, the manager said.

"Now I feel more comfortable. [Tuesday] was my first game here, [last night] my second," he said. "I'm more relaxed because I played the whole game. I can get more comfortable at home plate. You can see more pitches and take a walk (as he did in the fourth inning). I don't do that that much."

Nixon likely out all week

After further examination, the news on Trot Nixon was much the same as it was after Nixon injured his groin in Tuesday's home opener.

"Initially I was hoping it would be only a day or two, but I think it's more likely to be four, five or six days," Francona said. "He's tender, which I think is not a bad sign. When he does a certain move, it can make him feel it. It's there."

Francona said he asked if there was a chance it was bad enough Nixon would have to be placed on the disabled list.

"I asked that," he said, "and got no both times. . . . This isn't going to cost him his season. Trot's one who probably doesn't have the mentality of running through the wall as much as maybe he used to. He knows he's got to be a little smarter. We appreciate his mentality, but it's not as hard to replace him.

"I don't know you want to play your whole season without your main guys, but I think we're in a situation where we can withstand some things like this," the manager added.

Riske the odd man out

The Sox placed reliever David Riske on the disabled list because of a strained lower back to make room for David Wells on the roster.

Riske, who appeared in 58, 72 and 68 games over the last three seasons with Cleveland, has had back problems going back to spring training. He had appeared in only one game, allowing two runs in one inning on April 4 in Texas. Because he has not pitched since, his time on the DL is retroactive to April 5.

The bullpen has more help on the way. Last night's game completed the suspension of right-hander Julian Tavares, the result of his punching Joey Gathright of Tampa Bay in a play at the plate in a spring training game.

"It hasn't cost us, but if you go a long time a pitcher short, it's going to get in the way," Francona said.

Tavares can fill a number of roles in the pen.

"He's a nice bridge at times," Francona said. "He can get righties out. . . . He brings a lot of positives." The manager added, "If we can just keep him from slugging guys . . ."

All is well

One of the highlights of the opener for Francona was the chance to see pitching coach Dave Wallace, who is out after hip surgery.

"I'm so glad he showed up. I thought he looked great," Francona said. Francona said Wallace and interim pitching coach Al Nipper have spoken.

"It's not a forced issue," Francona said. "There's a lot of comfort there."

Around the bases

Dustan Mohr got the start in center field and hit seventh in the lineup. His home run in the fourth, on the first pitch he saw from Toronto starter Gustavo Chacin, was a massive one, over everything in left. . . . The home run David Ortiz hit inside the Pesky Pole in the fifth was the 21st of his career against Toronto, the most he has against any team. . . . With the added seating capacity this year, the game drew 36,378 fans, the second largest crowd at Fenway in the last 60 years.

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