01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, May 7, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- After withholding his scheduled starters for the upcoming series with the New York Yankees, manager Terry Francona set his rotation for New York, skipping Matt Clement in the process.

Josh Beckett will pitch Tuesday, followed by Curt Schilling on Wednesday and Tim Wakefield in the finale on Thursday. The Yankees will pitch Randy Johnson on Tuesday, Mike Mussina on Wednesday and Shawn Chacon on Thursday.

That means Clement will next pitch Friday here against Texas after a seven-day layoff. With tomorrow's off day, the Sox have the flexibility to alter the rotation.

Clement struggled against the Yankees last year, going 1-1 with a 5.54 E.R.A. He lasted just 13 innings over three starts, in part because the Yanks succeeded in driving his pitch count up early in games.

Even in his last outing, Thursday against Toronto, Clement needed 105 pitches to get through five innings.

"This gives us a little flexibility," said Francona. "It fits us a little better. We don't (reconfigure the rotation) very often. But I just think it puts us in a better position, not only for the Yankee series, but following that also."

Reliever Julian Tavarez drilled Baltimore outfielder Luis Matos in the side with two outs and two strikes, leading to a brief -- but uneventful confrontation.

Matos was talking to Tavarez as he walked to first, and Tavarez, apparently unsure of what was being said, walked closer to him. As they neared, dugouts and bullpens emptied. The umpires warned both benches, but nothing else transpired.

"It was nothing," said Francona. "The first thing Julian said was 'I'm going out to left field because I can't get into any more trouble.'

"It was a misunderstanding," said Tavarez, who was suspended for 10 days after a fight with Tampa's Joey Gathright. "I tried to come in on a 1-and-2 pitch and the ball got away. (Matos) knows he wasn't trying to hit him. I can't afford to give up any more runs."

"It was nothing at all," agreed Matos.

Surprise: Nixon starts vs. lefty

In a surprise, Trot Nixon was in the lineup despite the presence of lefty Erik Bedard as the O's starter.

Francona said that few Red Sox hitters had many at-bats against Bedard and the potential replacement for Nixon, Dustan Mohr (2-for-21 over his last 10 games) had not been swinging the bat well.

"When guys aren't hot," said Francona, "sometimes it just makes sense to stay (with the regular)."

A slight adjustment was made in the batting order, with Nixon dropped to seventh and Mike Lowell (fifth) and Wily Mo Pena (sixth) moved up. Nixon had had two hits in two at-bats against Bedard.

Nixon, who used to bristle when he was out of the lineup against lefties, has become far more philosophical about the issue as he's gotten older.

"I've finally adjusted to the fact (that I'm going to sit sometimes)," he said. "I don't get upset. And I've learned now that it's not a trial, that when I get a chance, it's not "I'm going to prove them wrong,"

Trade talk involves Millar

Kevin Millar, the subject of trade rumors involving the Cubs, indicated last night he would have to think about approving a move to Chicago.

The Cubs are in the market for a right-handed hitting first baseman after Derrek Lee went down with a wrist injury. Lee will be out several months.

As a free agent who signed with the O's over the winter, Millar would have to give his permission to be dealt before June 15. All indications are, however, that the Cubs have more of an interest in Jeff Conine, who was Millar's teammate in Florida and, now, with the Orioles.

Lowell is double trouble

Lowell went into last night's game with 15 doubles. Since 1960, that's the most through May 5 by a Red Sox player. Jose Offerman had 13 doubles in 26 games in 1999 . . . David Wells (knee) and David Riske (back) are scheduled to throw off the mound today as they continue to work toward returning from the DL.

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