Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo makes a sliding catch of a popup off the bat of the Angels’ Casey Kotchman in yesterday’s game.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON — A bad day could have been worse for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the first inning.

Right after Orlando Cabrera’s one-out solo homer, All-Star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero was hit on the right wrist by a pitch from Josh Beckett. Guerrero left the game and was replaced by Reggie Willits.

X-rays taken later were negative, showing just a soft tissue contusion.

“With any player, it’s scary,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “Hopefully, it’ll be something that won’t keep him out of the lineup.”

Home plate umpire Rick Reed immedidately warned both benches after Guerrero was hit.

“I was a little surpised,” said Scioscia. “I don’t know if there’s a policy that they automatically institute a warning (right after a home run). I just wanted to make sure that he knew that we had the right to pitch inside and we had to use both sides of the plate.”

“I know it hit him good,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, “but that ball just ran in. If anybody looks at it, there was no intent except trying to get inside on a good hitter.”

Francona was, however, surprised that Scioscia was able to come out of the dugout and ask Reed for a clarification. It was Francona’s understanding, based on spring training briefings, that such a visit after a warning would result in the manager’s automatic ejection.

August doubleheader

The Red Sox announced that they will make up Sunday’s rainout as part of a day-night doubleheader when the Angels return here in August.

The teams will play two on Friday, Aug. 17, with the makeup game at 1:05 and the regularly scheduled game at 7:05 p.m.

Fans holding tickets to the April 15 rainout may use their tickets for the 1:05 game on Aug. 17.

The Sox also announced that they will move last Sunday’s Jackie Robinson tribute to this Sunday, when the Sox host the Yankees in an 8:05 game at Fenway.

Worth every penny

Julio Lugo came to Boston highly recommended when the Red Sox signed the shortstop to a four-year, $36-million contract last December.

Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli, Lugo’s former teammate for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, said the newest addition to the Red Sox lineup never takes a day off. He plays with intensity. He’ll lead by example and prepares exceptionally well for every game.

The season is only 11 games young and Lugo, so far, is everything and a little bit more.

Replacing Alex Gonzalez, one of the best defensive shortstops in the league, wasn’t going to be easy for Lugo. It’s still early, but he proved yesterday just how good he can play defensively and offensively. He made two tremendous plays that impressed his teammates and the 35,424 fans in attendance.

With one out and a runner on second in the top of the fourth inning, the Angels’ Casey Kotchman lifted a high fly ball to shallow center field. In an all-out sprint, Lugo made a spectacular over-the-shoulder-sliding grab for the out.

He followed that up with another fabulous play with two outs and two on in the fifth inning. The runners were in motion as Willits lined a hard grounder to the left side of the infield. Lugo ranged to his right in the hole, snared the ball with his backhand, planted and threw a strike across the diamond for the out.

“We played good all the way around,” he said. “Fortunately I came out with some good plays, and I feel like I made a difference.”

Coming into the season it was obvious the natural leadoff man was an offensive threat, but how would he be able to replace the glove of Gonzalez?

“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” said Lugo. “A lot of people say I’m a better offensive player than defensive player, but we’re just going to have to see.”

His teammates won’t have to wait to see what type of player he is on the field or what kind of energy he brings into the clubhouse.

“He was phenomenal in the field today and he had some good at-bats, too,” said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.

At the plate, Lugo went 2-for-4 and now has multiple hits in five of his last nine games, while scoring seven runs.

“He made two unbelievable plays behind me,” said Beckett. “On one of them he saved me a run, and on the other he saved me from throwing more pitches. … I played with Gonzo for so long, I think sometimes I took for granted the things he did for me. I can’t complain right now. Lugo made one of the best plays I ever had made behind me with that sliding catch in center field. He’s such a great athlete. He’s awesome and he can hit.”

A change of pace

While the Matsuzaka Media Mafia has to wait until tonight in Toronto to see its national hero take the mound against the Blue Jays, the Japanese media and Red Sox fans were treated to a solid relief outing by Dice-K’s fellow countryman, Hideki Okajima. The lefty reliever worked a 1- 2-3 seventh inning with two strikeouts.

“His changeup is becoming very effective against right-hand hitters,” said Francona. “It’s something he’s working on, and it’s something that’s getting better.”

The skipper said Okajima came here with the reputation of having a solid breaking ball, but his changeup is becoming trouble for the opposition.

“It’s got a little fade to it,” said Francona. “You won’t see us hesitate to use him against right-handed hitters.”

The southpaw has worked four scoreless innings in his last four games and has not surrendered a hit during that stretch.

Roundup

Mike Lowell had a double, too, giving him six for the season. Last year, Lowell had 11 in April. ... Over the last six games, Red Sox starters have a combined 1.50 ERA. For the season, starters have a 2.11 ERA. ... The Sox have outscored their opponents, 17-4, in the first inning. ... When Cabrera launched his solo homer in the first, it was the first for the Angels in 65 innings, covering eight games. Meanwhile, the homer snapped a string of 14 consecutive scoreless innings for the Boston pitching staff.

smcadam@projo.com