01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, June 20, 2006

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG and STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- There's no more Snow in the forecast for the Red Sox this season.

Boston designated first baseman J.T. Snow for assignment yesterday to make room on the roster for last night's starter, Kyle Snyder , whom the Red Sox had claimed on waivers from the Royals a few days earlier.

A pitcher-for-pitcher roster swap was contemplated, but because Boston's bullpen had been taxed so much recently, and because the Red Sox really didn't know what to expect from Snyder, it was decided to let Snow go.

Snow, 38, never found a home on the Sox because of the consistently solid offensive and defensive play of Kevin Youkilis , in his first year at first base. Snow was signed as a free agent during the offseason to provide late-inning defense and possinly platoon with Youkilis, a right-handed hitter, but he wasn't necessary.

"Youk jumped in and grabbed the job," said manager Terry Francona .

Snow, a 13-year big-league veteran, batted .205 with four RBI in 38 games. The Sox have 10 days to trade him, reassign him (if Snow agrees) or release him.

After the game, the Red Sox made a move but it didn't involve Snyder. The Red Sox sent Jermaine Van Buren to Pawtucket and recalled right-hander Craig Hansen.

Other pitching news

On the disabled-list pitcher front:

Left-hander David Wells (right knee bruise) has remained in San Diego, receiving therapy at the Scripps Clinic. Epstein said Wells still was having trouble putting weight on his balky knee, which was surgically cleaned up last winter.

Epstein and Francona said Wells wouldn't be returning to Boston until he's getting closer to being able to get his arm in shape.

Right-hander Matt Clement had another exam on his tired right arm/shoulder, and the good news was that no structural damage was found. When that will translate into Clement being able to throw again isn't known.

Francona said Clement will begin a strengthening program similar to the one followed recently by Mike Timlin when he was on the disabled list, but that he didn't expect Clement to return as quickly as Timlin.

Pena progressing

Wily Mo Pena took some ground balls in the outfield for the first time since his surgery to have the hamate bone of his left hand removed on June 1.

Pena said he also has been hitting off a tee for two days, and yesterday he mixed in a little soft-toss workout, as well. He said he wasn't feeling any pain.

"When (the surgery was performed) they said eight weeks, and then they said six," said Pena. "I want to beat that. I'm working hard. I'm a little bit weak, not strong like I expected, but I'm getting there."

Kapler in right

Gabe Kapler was in the Red Sox' starting lineup for the first time since last Sept. 14, when he suffered a torn left Achilles while running the bases in the Rogers Centre in Toronto. It was his first appearance at Fenway Park since last Sept. 5.

Kapler was in right field, with Francona opting to give Trot Nixon a night off from the starting lineup. Kapler was given a standing ovation in some quarters and loud cheers when he was introduced for his first at-bat, in the second. He flied out to right, but still heard cheers as he went back to the dugout.

The cheers were even louder when he lofted an RBI double off the wall, tying the score at 3-3 in the fourth.

Around the bases

Dominant rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon , who saved all three games in Atlanta over the weekend, was not available last night. . . . Providence native, All-Star second baseman and former big-league manager Davey Lopes is the first-base coach for the Nationals. . . . Alex Cora racked up his first sacrifice bunt of the year and the Sox' eighth this season. Alex Gonzalez leads the team with five. . . . The double for Manny Ramirez in the seventh was only his fourth hit in nine games since June 8. The other three were home runs. He hasn't had a single since that June 8 game in New York, when he had two singles in three at-bats. . . . Ramirez gets paid to hit homers, though, which is what he did in the eighth inning, a shot over the Monster Seats. It was his 18th homer of the year and the 453rd of his career, tying him with Gary Sheffield for 28th on the all-time list. . . . Cora, who had five RBI in his first 73 at-bats this season, has knocked in three runs in his last five plate appearances, including an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk last night . . . Mike Lowell has had at least one RBI in four of his last five games.

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

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