BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay were not the only guys coming up with key plays Sunday as the Sox played a sound fundamental game. Mike Lowell was huge on defense with several nice plays, the biggest of which came one batter after the Overbay out at second.

Scott Rolen hit a slow roller to third. Lowell charged in, gloved it and threw on the run, barely getting Rolen on another very close play.

“I’m not saying it’s a routine play, but I’ve got no other choice. It’s do or die,” he said. “You’re charging. You have to make the throw on the run.”

How much Lowell plays over the final two weeks could be directly related to how many games the Sox win. Terry Francona made it clear yesterday that he would like to get Lowell some rest because the third baseman is playing even though he is not fully healthy.

“I see him hobbling a little bit,” Francona said. “But he’ll play. That’s not an issue with him. It never is.”

Lowell is still being plagued by the strained right oblique that forced him to the disabled list last month. He was taken out of Saturday’s doubleheader when the Sox fell behind by 8-0 to give him some rest. Kevin Cash played third for the first time in the majors. A longer rest would benefit Lowell, but he does not want to take it until the Sox have clinched a playoff spot.

-PAUL KENYON