PAWTUCKET - Jonathan Van Every completed an unusual doubleheader yesterday.

Van Every was part of two games in two states in two leagues. He spent the first part with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. He did not get in the game. However, after the game, he was optioned to Pawtucket.

He did not have to go. Because major-league rosters are expanded after Sept. 1, he could have stayed with Boston. However, Pawtucket was in need of a centerfielder, the position Van Every played all year for the PawSox. He agreed to return to McCoy.

"I was excited to hear he wants to play,'' said manager Ron Johnson. "That says a lot about his character and his makeup.''

"I like it here, I enjoy this team," Van Every said. "I would not rather be anywhere else."

Van Every left Fenway about 5 p.m. and made it through the Boston traffic. He arrived at 6:40 for the 7:05 start. Van Every, who had 26 homers for the PawSox and played 119 games in center without an error, batted ninth most of the year, but was seventh last night.

Pitching rotation

Pawtucket had Charlie Zink, the International League's most valuable pitcher for this year, working in the series opener, but the pitching plans become much more complicated from here on.

Devern Hansack will start tonight. Hansack, 6-10 on the season, just came off the disabled list (forearm contusion). He pitched Saturday and threw 40 pitches.

"I don't see any reason, if he comes out and he's feeling good, that he couldn't go 75-80 pitches,'' Johnson said.

Adam Mills has been called up from Portland to start game three. Michael Bowden, who was sent back from Boston, will pitch two innings in relief of Mills.

Bartolo Colon, on rehab from Boston, is slated for game four and Edgar Martinez will work game five if it reaches that point.

One less pitcher

In addition to Van Every, Pawtucket also activated Sandy Madera.

"We're going to go with one less pitcher right now,'' Johnson said. "In a short series, we have more value with another bat, at least in our scenario here.''

Krasner on the mound

The first pitch last night was thrown out by colleague Steven Krasner. The former infielder for Cranston West and Columbia University will complete more than 30 years of covering sports, primarily baseball, for The Providence Journal when he leaves the job this month.