01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, June 10, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Amid as much fanfare and interest as can be remembered for a rookie, lefty Jon Lester will make his major-league debut this afternoon in the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.

Lester will be the second starter to make his major-league debut in the last two weeks, following quickly on the heels of David Pauley.

Lester pitched poorly in a number of Grapefruit League appearances this spring, but manager Terry Francona understood.

"I don't think he showed, even remotely, what he can do," said Francona of Lester.

Unlike Pauley, who had the benefit of pitching an exhibition game in a major-league setting in Philadelphia on the first weekend in April, Lester has had no such exposure.

"This is a pretty good jump," said Francona of the leap between Triple A and the big leagues. "This is the major leagues -- he's going to be nervous. But you've got to start sometime. The player-development people say he's ready."

Lester's name is well known by most Red Sox fans, who have been anticipating his promotion to Boston for a while.

"This is the only place where when guys get called up, people know who you are," said Francona. "He's coming into a lot of hoopla."

Lester is 3-4 with a 2.70 E.R.A. in 11 starts. After an 0-4, 6.94 start in four outings in April, Lester hasn't lost, going 3-0 with a 1.29 E.R.A. in May and June.

Hansen demoted

To make room for Lester's promotion, the Sox returned Craig Hansen to Pawtucket after the game.

That came not long after Hansen pitched the eighth inning and was charged with a run on two hits, his only appearance since being summoned Tuesday when the Sox needed bullpen reinforcements.

Francona said Hansen will return to relief duty in Triple A. He had been starting games prior to his promotion.

"He's done his development stint with extended innings," said Francona, "and he's thrown all of his pitches. Now we're going to let him go back to the bullpen and get ready to come up and help us."

Reinforcements?

The Sox are hopeful that two bullpen stalwarts will be available soon.

Keith Foulke, who has been battling a sore back, threw a bullpen session yesterday afternoon and could be available today. He hasn't pitched since May 31 at Toronto.

Meanwhile, Mike Timlin, on the DL with a right shoulder strain since May 26, is eligible to be activated. But the Sox yesterday were thinking about sending Timlin out for for some work with a minor-league affiliate before activating him.

"We'd like him to face hitters," Francona said. "We'll see how it goes.

When Timlin is activated, the Sox will need to make another roster trim, sending either Pauley or Manny Delcarmen to Triple A.

Mixing and matching

Francona has just 13 position players at his disposal for today's doubleheader, limiting how much he can change lineups.

After Doug Mirabelli caught Wakefield last night, Jason Varitek will catch Lester in the afternoon, with Mirabelli coming back tonight to handle Josh Beckett in the nightcap.

Expect that Alex Gonzalez and Alex Cora will split the games at short, with third baseman Mike Lowell likely getting one of the two games off.

"We'll mix and match a little bit," said Francona.

Around the bases

Heading into last night, the Sox had committed just 21 errors in their first 57 games, the lowest total for that number of games through June 8 since 1994, when the San Francisco Giants made only 21 miscues in their first 59 games.. . . In their last 36 day-night doubleheaders at Fenway, the Sox have swept 14, been swept seven times and split 17 times.. . . Mirabelli had a rough night at the plate, fanning in each of his three at-bats. . . . Manny Ramirez drew the 1,000th walk of his career to start the eighth. . . . Trot Nixon enjoyed his ninth career four-hit game. . . . Wednesday's rainout in New York has officially been rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, Sept. 16. The regularly scheduled game will start at 1:20 p.m., with the makeup game slated for 8:05 p.m.

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