01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Fifteen games into the season, one major concern for Red Sox Nation has been assuaged: This new infield the team put together over the winter is working out fine. Actually, it is turning out even better than might have been expected.

While Curt Schilling stole the spotlight as the Sox toyed with Tampa Bay last night, it was business as usual for the new Boston infield. Which is to say it was another crisp, efficient night both at the plate and in the field.

The Sox' infielders combined for seven hits, five runs scored and five runs batted in. They also continued to play stellar defense.

The first time the ball was put in play all night, second baseman Mark Loretta set the tempo. He ranged behind second base, made a nifty backhanded stab of a hard grounder by Jorge Cantu and threw Cantu out. By the end of the night, third baseman Mike Lowell had made a nifty play on a ball that short-hopped him, and shortstop Alex Gonzalez had stabbed a hard liner by Ty Wigginton that appeared headed toward left.

While Tampa Bay was having all kinds of problems in the field, committing four errors, the Sox once again played flawlessly. The infield has helped the Sox move near the top of the American League standings in defense. The Sox have committed only five errors all season and are fielding at a .991 clip.

"I think that was one of our strengths going in, and I think we're proving it," Lowell said. "Mark Loretta is a tremendously underrated defensive player. He has great instincts. He can pick those tough balls. He's made some real tough plays and made them look routine in the last few days."

Kevin Youkilis has made the transition from third to first seamlessly. And the left side with Lowell and Gonzalez is first-rate. The two know each other well from their days in Florida.

"I'm very comfortable with him. This is the eighth year I've played with him," Lowell pointed out. "I know how much range he has. It allows me to position myself, especially with pull hitters, a couple of steps one way or the other because he can cover so much ground. We work well together. He's a guy that's a Gold Glove in waiting. He amazes you with the plays he can make."

The defense is so good that the offense the infielders produce almost seems like a bonus. But the offense, too, has been better than expected from the infielders. Last night was the best night yet for the infielders.

There, too, the tempo was set immediately. It was Youkilis leading the way in that department. The temporary leadoff hitter hit the third pitch of the night from Devil Rays starter Doug Waechter over everything in left for his first home run of the season.

By the time the third inning was over, Youkilis had tied his career-high in hits, with three. He had two hits in the third inning alone. He singled to center and then capped the seven-run inning with an RBI single to center.

Youkilis is rapidly developing into a huge fan favorite, and with good reason. He is hitting .386, with five doubles, 10 RBI and nine runs scored in his last 12 games. In his eight games as leadoff batter, he has a glittering on-base percentage of .486 (12 hits and six walks in 37 plate appearances).

Like the other infielders, his contributions go beyond the numbers. Early in the big third, he raced from first to third on Loretta's single to center. He dived head first as center fielder Joey Gathright's throw sailed high and one-hopped the fence, allowing Youkilis to get up and jog home and Loretta to end up on third.

Beyond the hustle, Youkilis had three straight plate appearances in which he worked the count full. It did not make a difference in a rout like last night's, but such patience is highly valued by the Sox.

Loretta continued a big week for him with his hit in the big third. It was his eighth double of the season, which leads the American League. Gonzalez worked a walk in the third and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Lowell had two more hits, the big one a two-run double in the third.

"I'll take it. Two outs with runners in scoring position. I'm very happy to come through in those situations," Lowell said. "I think those are momentum swings." Lowell is thrilled to be playing in Fenway, especially coming off perhaps the most disappointing offensive season of his career.

"I think this park helps me. I'm a right-handed pull hitter. Any right-handed pull hitter is going to welcome a fence that's closer," he said. "I enjoy it a lot.

"I do feel comfortable," he added. "When I get my pitch I'm putting it in play. Last year, I felt like I fouled that pitch off every time."

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