01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 22, 2006

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

TORONTO -- Ask Lenny DiNardo to imitate actor Robert De Niro and he'll gladly drop a "You talkin' to me?" line. Well, the Red Sox are asking the crafty left-hander to do a little more than impersonations of late.

When starter David Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 14 with a right-knee strain, DiNardo, 26, was yanked from the bullpen and placed into the starting rotation. The southpaw complied a solid outing against Seattle Monday, allowing just two runs on six hits through five innings.

He'll get another opportunity, against the Toronto Blue Jays today.

DiNardo will face Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay, who will make his third start of the season. Halladay missed his last start on April 9 because of tightness in his right forearm. It really doesn't matter to DiNardo who he opposes, he just wants to keep his club in the game.

"He's one of the best pitchers I've ever faced," said DiNardo of Halladay. "He's going to try to pitch his best game and I'm going to try to do the same. I'm not looking at the name on the back of his jersey, he's just a blank face just like the hitters."

DiNardo, along with catchers Jason Varitek and Josh Bard have put together a game plan for today's outing, and the left-hander plans on executing it to perfection. The start Monday was his first of the season, andhe said he felt better as it went along, so he's hoping for a more consistent effort today.

He split time between Boston and Pawtucket last season and he made the Sox out of spring training this year. Basically, he'll do anything to stick around the big leagues.

"I've been happy pitching out of the pen," he said. "It's not like I've been waiting in the wings, trying to jump in (the rotation). Whatever gets me to the big leagues, starting or relieving, it's never mattered to me, it's whatever keeps me up here."

He made 23 appearances (22 starts) for the PawSox last summer and posted a 6-3 record with a 3.15 E.R.A. In 108 2/3 innings, he struck out 93 and walked only 35. With Boston in 2005, DiNardo made eight appearances (one start) and had a 1.84 E.R.A.

Wells shows frustration

David Wells said Thursday he's frustrated with his situation, and if this series of Synvisc shots does not help his knee, he doesn't know what his future will look like. Red Sox manager Terry Francona responded to those comments yesterday by saying he thinks Wells was responding emotionally.

"If somebody says a quote in the paper I try not to hang my hat on it," said Francona, "because there are a number of things. A guy could be caught up in the moment and could be thinking about going to the shower and not the question, which happens all the time. But, I think he's frustrated. I think he thought he was going to feel good coming out of spring training, and then it kind of went south. I don't think he expected that."

Francona also believes Wells' feelings will subside once he begins to feel better.

"There's nothing worse than feeling you can't do what you want to do," said Francona. "But that can change."

Wells won 15 games for the Red Sox last season.

Papelbon keeping role

Jonathan Papelbon is off to a tremendous start as the closer, and doesn't think his situation will change soon. With a healthy overabundance of pitchers during spring training, and because of the uncertainty of Keith Foulke, Papelbon was shifted from the starting rotation to the bullpen and he has excelled.

"I'm not comfortable taking him out of that role," said Francona. "He's slamming the door. He's a huge weapon for us."

It's not like he hasn't worked out of the pen before. That was his job at Mississippi State. Already this season he has seven saves in seven chances.

"I enjoy it and get a lot of satisfaction out of it," said Papelbon. "It's the intense part of the ballgame. I thrive on pressure and thrive on those kinds of situations. Now, I'm just going out there when Tito gives me the ball and I'm just trying to do my job. I'm not worried about anything else."

He said he prepares the same way as a closer as he would if he was starting.

Great play by Lowell

The new-look Red Sox defense has been nothing but spectacular this season, and Mike Lowell added to the club's solid play last night. The third baseman turned in an otstanding play in the bottom of the third inning. Ranging to his left, he dove to knock down an Aaron Hill grounder, rolled to a sitting position and threw out Hill on a two-hopper to first.

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