BOSTON - Following a week of debate about whether to start Pawtucket Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz or Julian Tavarez in this weekend's series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Red Sox will now do both.

The plan is for Buchholz to start tomorrow's first game of the day-night doubleheader, while Tavarez will draw the Sunday start, originally slated for Tim Wakefield.

Tavarez pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief yesterday against Tampa Bay in Boston's 6-5 loss.

The move allows Wakefield to get an extra day of rest.

Buchholz will be added to the 25-man roster when the Sox move outfielder Wily Mo Pena. There seems little chance of a trade between now and tomorrow, so the club will likely designate the outfielder for assignment, giving them 10 days to either deal him or give him his release.

Replacing Pena with Buchholz will give the Red Sox just 12 position players for the first game of the doubleheader, but only temporarily. After the first game, the Sox will option Buchholz back to Pawtucket and replace him with outfielder Bobby Kielty.

Kielty signed a minor-league deal with the Sox that featured a provision that he could opt for free agency if the club didn't promote him to the major leagues by yesterday. But Kielty was informed that his promotion would be delayed by 48 hours and agreed to remain in the organization until then.

Buchholz, the team's third pick in the 2005 draft, is 1-1 in six starts at Pawtucket with a 3.26 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.

Pena: 'I want to stay here'

Pena stood quietly at his corner stall in the Red Sox clubhouse following yesterday's 6-5 loss to the Devil Rays. It seemed like he was almost soaking in the atmosphere because it just might have been his last day in a Sox uniform.

"I'm still here," said Pena last night. "I want to stay here, but whatever happens Friday happens. I don't know what's going to happen, but you have to stay ready. I want to be here. I want to be a part of this team and win a championship. It's not up to me. It's up to [management]. I really want to stay here."

Pena was acquired in a trade from Cincinnati in exchange for pitcher and fan favorite Bronson Arroyo on March 20, 2006. Pena, who is well liked in the clubhouse, has been a disappointment this season both at the plate and in the field for the Red Sox. He's hitting .218 with 5 homers and 17 RBI.

Long time between homers

Catcher Jason Varitek's seventh-inning homer was his first since July 14 against Toronto. His 10th homer came after a drought of 22 games and 74 at-bats. He now has six straight seasons with double-digits in that category.

Around the bases

Third baseman Mike Lowell has hit safely in five straight games (8-for-20). ... Sox reliever Mike Timlin continues to dominate and with his stint yesterday (1 1/3 scoreless innings without a hit) the veteran right-hander has allowed only two earned runs in his last 22 1/3 innings of work for an 0.81 ERA. ... Warwick native and Tampa reliever Dan Wheeler worked his second straight game yesterday. The righty allowed one run on one hit with two walks in the eighth.