PHOENIX — Sneaky Julio Lugo successfully pulled off the hidden-ball trick in the third inning, helping Josh Beckett out of a budding jam.

Alberto Callaspo was at first base with none out when Chris Snyder chopped a single through the right side. The speedy Callaspo charged hard around second base, thinking of going to third, but a few strides past the bag, he stopped.

Right fielder J.D. Drew, meanwhile, had fielded the ball and, seeing Callaspo off the bag, gunned a throw to Lugo, the Sox’ shortstop. Had he made a good throw, Callaspo would have been out. But the throw was a tad on the first-base side, so Lugo had to catch and bring the tag back to the bag, a second or two that allowed Callaspo to scramble back safely with a headfirst slide. Lugo held onto the ball and walked behind Callaspo. The Diamondbacks’ third baseman did not request time from second-base umpire Chris Guccione. So when he picked up his left hand off the base as he began to stand up, Lugo, with the ball in his glove, slapped the tag on him.

Guccione was alert, too, quickly calling the embarrassed Callaspo out.

It was the sixth time since 1984 that a member of the Sox’ infield had successfully caught a baserunner napping with the hidden-ball play. Steve Lyons was the last to do it, surprising the White Sox’ Ozzie Guillen at home on May 13, 1991.

Second baseman Marty Barrett was the master at the play, flipping to Jody Reed to nail Baltimore’s Jim Traber on Sept. 5, 1988; flipping to Glenn Hoffman to get Baltimore’s Doug DeCinces on July 21, 1985, and tagging out Baltimore’s Bobby Grich on July 7, 1985. Jackie Guttierez shocked Minnesota’s Tim Teufel on Aug. 17, 1984.

Boston third baseman Mike Lowell, then playing for the Florida Marlins, pulled it on Arizona’s Luis Terrero on Aug. 10, 2004.

Timlin is back with Sox

Veteran reliever Mike Timlin walked back into the Red Sox’ clubhouse yesterday afternoon, equipment bag in hand and locker waiting for him. Timlin, who threw an inning for Pawtucket Thursday night in his rehabilitation stint, is expected to be activated in time for tonight’s game.

The right-hander hasn’t pitched for Boston since May 2, one inning at home against Oakland in which he gave up two hits and a run. The next day he was placed on the disabled list because of right shoulder tendinitis.

“I feel good,” said Timlin, who had two rehab outings for the PawSox this past week because the Boston brass didn’t want to activate him prematurely.

“This is where I should be,” he said. “But you have to take time to make sure I’m right. I just want to consistently throw strikes. Nothing’s changed.”

One thing that will change is the Sox’ roster tomorrow when general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona have to make room for Timlin.

The obvious choice would be to send Javier Lopez back to Pawtucket because the sidearming left-hander has options. Lopez generally has been effective since being called up on May 11, but has surrendered four hits and a run over his last three outings, totaling 2 1/3 innings.

Otherwise, the Sox would either have to eat the contract of another reliever (J.C. Romero? Joel Pineiro?) or suddenly discover a reliever who needs to be placed on the disabled list.

Familiar faces

There are several familiar faces on the other side of the field from the Red Sox in this series.

The Diamondbacks’ general manager is Josh Byrnes, and their assistant GM is Peter Woodfork, each of whom worked under Boston general manager Theo Epstein.

Francona had nothing but good things to say about the duo.

“I was thrilled to see them get this opportunity, but not happy to see them leave,” said Francona. “They’re so special. They’re awesome.”

Arizona’s manager Bob Melvin caught briefly for the Red Sox in 1993; one of their coaches, Lee Tinsley, spent time with Boston as an outfielder from 1994-96, and Diamondbacks first baseman Tony Clark was a member of the Sox in 2002.

skrasner@projo.com