01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 28, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER and SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- Pitching coach Dave Wallace, recovering from hip replacement surgery, was at his locker in the Red Sox clubhouse before batting practice, preparing for some physical therapy.

Wallace's recovery took a step forward yesterday. He was able to discard one of his crutches, leaving him to make his way on only one crutch.

"That doesn't seem like much, but it is," said Wallace.

Al Nipper has been serving as the Red Sox' interim pitching coach in Wallace's absence. Wallace has no idea when he'll be back.

"My timetable is just feeling better right now," said Wallace.

First for Hansen

Lost in the euphoria of the Sox' 12-inning win on Monday was the fact that rookie right-hander Craig Hansen was credited with his first major league win. Hansen had been nicked for a tie-breaking hit in the top of the inning, but became a winner on David Ortiz's single.

"I vultured a win," said Hansen, the Sox' number one draft pick last June.

He secured four baseballs that were used in the game to keep as souvenirs.

Injury update

Sox manager Terry Francona gave his daily injury update yesterday.

Reliever Keith Foulke (elbow tendonitis) will stay in Boston when the team heads to Florida on Friday. "He's up and down. He's not at the point where he needs to be," Francona said.

Wily Mo Pena (left hand surgery) hit on the field yesterday and will join Boston's single-A club Greenville, likely on Thursday, before heading to triple-A Pawtucket; Matt Clement (right shoulder strain) threw a side session yesterday; David Wells (right knee surgery) has been rehabbing in California and will join the team in Tampa next week; Lenny DiNardo (neck strain) is throwing but is still experiencing numbness in his fingers.

Good ol' days revisited

Before the game, there was an on-field ceremony to honor the 1986 American League champions. All of the players went out to their respective positions, and the obligatory highlight video was shown. The goat of that World Series -- against the team that's visiting here now, the Mets -- Bill Buckner, got a warm ovation when his name was announced, but Buckner was not present. Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs reprised his old routine, picking at the dirt around third.

Around the horn

Mark Loretta's double in the second inning upped his hit streak to 10 games . . . With the bullpen stretched thin after Monday's 12-inning game, Francona put recently acquired right-hander Jason Johnson in the pen for last night's game rather than have him throw his scheduled side session. "Maybe his side will be an inning or two," Francona quipped before the game. Johnson is scheduled to start Saturday's game against Florida . . . The Sox released first baseman J.T. Snow yesterday.

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

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