BOSTON –– Clay Buchholz will make a rehab start for the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy Stadium on Sunday. The right-hander, who has been on the disabled list since May 15 because of a torn fingernail on his throwing hand, will work four innings or 65 pitches against Rochester.

He injured his hand during his last start in Minnesota on June 12. He went three or four days without throwing a baseball, according to manager Terry Francona.

Buchholz will be evaluated again on Monday before a decision is made. Not only don't the Red Sox want to rush him but, with Bartolo Colon making an impressive debut with the club on Wednesday night, it’s possible Buchholz could be assigned to Pawtucket when he's ready to be activated.

Francona said he was very impressed with the way Buchholz handled the situation during his last start against the Twins. Even though he was struggling, he never told the manager of his injured finger until after the game.

"He didn’t show us his nail," said Francona. "And, it didn’t look like he was gripping the ball any different. To his credit, he didn’t show it. It’s not like he came out of the game holding his hand. He sucked it up and just pitched. He didn’t pitch real well, but he took it and tried to give us as many innings as he could. It’s a hard thing not to admire."

The rookie is 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA in eight starts this season.

Day off for the captain

Interestingly, Jason Varitek was given yesterday off. Francona said the facts that the Sox were playing a day game after a night game, and then had a cross-country flight to Oakland Thursday night, was behind the decision. Tim Wakefield is pitching Friday, so this will give Varitek two days off.

“I [almost played Varitek on Thursday] because Wake is pitching (Friday),” said the manager. “But he’s been catching a lot and we’re flying to the Coast. We won’t start him and let [Kevin Cash ] catch, and we feel good about that. In the next two days if we have to use Jason off the bench then I’m a little more comfortable doing that.

"He’s not really crazy about the two days in a row, but I think sometimes I just think you need to step in and do what’s right. We don’t want to wear him down.”

In the last six games Varitek has been on an offensive tear. He’s had two hits in five of the last six games, raising his average from .255 to .295. In that stretch he’s posted three homers, three doubles and four RBI.

Here and there

In his first 14 games this month, totaling 45 at-bats, J.D. Drew knocked in only five runs. Thursday, on one swing in the second inning, he produced four RBI . . . Manny Ramirez, who has been stuck on 498 homers since May 12, went 3-for-22 (.136) on the homestand with zero extra-base hits and only one RBI –– on a bases-loaded walk. His average dropped from .308 to .287 . . . It was a mixed bag for the relief corps. After Javier Lopez fanned the only batter he faced, Craig Hansen served up a two-run homer to Jose Guillen in the seventh and David Aardsma was touched for a three-run homer by Miguel Olivo in the eighth. But at least they set up Jonathan Papelbon for a save and, after giving up a pair of two-singles, the right-hander nailed down the win in earning his 14th save.

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

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