01:00 AM EDT on Friday, April 14, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Julian Tavarez, whose temper has been known to get the better of him, was activated yesterday after spending the first 10 days of the season serving a suspension for his part in a spring-training altercation with the Devil Rays.

The right-hander joined what in some ways has become a crowded bullpen. Mike Timlin, Keith Foulke and Jonathan Papelbon have been taking care of the final three innings of games, and they were ready for last night's action, leaving manager Terry Francona pondering how to use Tavarez.

Francona, though, had no doubt that Tavarez, a veteran setup man, would be physically ready whenever called upon. Tavarez threw side sessions during his banishment, including a workout Tuesday during which he faced hitters.

The opportunity to get Tavarez some work arose quickly last night after Matt Clement was knocked out in the fifth inning. Tavarez wound up working two innings, allowing one run on three hits.

Tavarez, who was hit hard, also let loose a breaking pitch that sailed behind the head of Vernon Wells after the reliever had been lit up for back-to-back doubles in the sixth.

The injury update

Trot Nixon continues to get treatment for the groin strain he suffered Tuesday. Francona said it's possible Nixon might be able to return to his spot in right field Monday or Tuesday, but if so, that return most likely would take place Tuesday night instead of 11 a.m. Monday for the annual Patriots' Day game.

In other injury-related news, Francona didn't seem overly optimistic that right-hander David Riske (back) would be able to pitch out of the bullpen next Thursday when he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

New adventures for Mohr

It takes a while to learn the vagaries of the Green Monster as new Red Sox center fielder Dustan Mohr found out in the second inning.

Mohr got a little too close to the wall when Gregg Zaun's drive crashed off the Monster in left-center. The ball bounded on an angle past Mohr toward center, and by the time left fielder Manny Ramirez was able to track it down, lumbering Eric Hinske was able to score from first on the double.

Hinske, though, would have scored anyway. Alex Rios followed Zaun's hit with a single.

Mohr showed his defensive ability in the fourth by robbing Russ Adams of a single by snagging a sinking liner with a dive just before it hit the grass. He also raced back to the center-field wall to haul in a long shot crushed by Vernon Wells.

Around the bases

The grand slam for Wells was the third of his career, and first since connecting in Anaheim on May 3, 2003 . . . It was the fifth grand slam allowed by Clement, but his first with the Sox. He was tagged for all four of his previous slams in 2000 while pitching for San Diego . . . Mark Loretta and Alex Gonzalez each collected his first Fenway hit as a member of the Sox -- a double by Loretta in the first and a single by Gonzalez in the third . . . Ramirez's fourth-inning single snapped an 0-for-12 drought . . . After a string of strong performances by the Sox' starting staff, there have been two straight clunkers, with neither David Wells nor Clement able to get an out in the fifth inning . . . The Jays' Ted Lilly fanned 10, the sixth double-digit strikeout game of his career, and his fourth against the Sox . . . A brief shower that sailed over Fenway at about 4:45 in the afternoon forced the teams to hit indoors.

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