BOSTON –– Atlanta Braves pitcher Derek Lowe returned to Fenway Park Friday for the first time since he received his 2004 World Series ring on Opening Day in 2005.

The right-hander was sitting by himself in the visitors’ dugout early Friday afternoon, remembering what it was like to play for the Red Sox.

“It’s an exciting time,” Lowe said. “Being with the Dodgers the last four years, I haven’t been here. It’s exciting, but there aren’t a lot of guys left from the ’04 team. You try to enjoy the moment, but you are here to play baseball, and I look forward to tomorrow night.”

Lowe will face Josh Beckett Saturday night in his first start at Fenway since Game Four of the ALCS against the Yankees in 2004.

He’ll be remembered for a lot of things during his eight years in Boston, especially how he became a member of the Red Sox.

At the trade deadline on July 31, 1997, the Red Sox acquired Lowe and Jason Varitek from Seattle for relief pitcher Heathcliff Slocumb. Lowe left Boston a champion after the 2004 title and signed with Los Angeles, where he remained until he signed with the Braves last offseason.

“I’m surprised (the Red Sox) have ever won a game without me,” he said with a laugh. “I was talking about this with a few people today. They do a great job through the draft. Not only do they have the resources to go out and sign free agents, a lot of these guys they have is through the draft, and that’s where they’ve made their mark. They’ve been competitive for a long time and they’ll continue to be.”

Lowe was the pitcher of record when the Sox clinched the ALDS against the Angels, the ALCS against the Yankees and the World Series against the Cardinals in 2004.

“You don’t think about it too much. You’re four years removed and you have fond memories. No one can ever take those memories away. It was a special time, but they’ve won another World Series since then and they continue to contend every year,” he added.

Lowe is coming off his worst start of the season, in which Lowe is coming off his worst start of the year after he allowed seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of work against the Orioles on June 14. He was thinking about that start in the dugout at Fenway Friday afternoon, but promised it won't be on his mind when he takes the mound Saturday.

        Times weren't always good in Boston for Lowe. Even though he was a major part of the club's first title in 86 years, he knew when it was time to leave.

        "I think it was time to go," he said. "But it was a perfect time to go. We won a World Series and the team was about to break up, so it was a perfect time to go somewhere else. . . This is still my favorite place to pitch. I've never been on the visiting side of pitching here and I know how loud it can get and intimidating. I really look forward to it."

           Terry Francona made his Red Sox managerial debut in 2004 and towards the end of that season he experienced a not-so-pleasant moment with Lowe.

        During the last weekend of the season in Baltimore, Francona told Lowe he would not be in the starting rotation for the postseason, which infuriated Lowe.

        "He was not very happy with me, or anybody that day," recalled Francona. "And I remember telling him, you're going to have a big outcome in this series. Giving him that manager talk, where it's 'please get out of my office without kicking my [butt].' And it came true. He had as much to say about that series as anybody."

        Lowe came on in relief in the top of the 10th inning in Game Three against the Angels and finished as the winning pitcher, sending the Sox to the ALCS against the Yankees.

             "I don't think it was very easy for him to accept. We're obviously trying to make good decisions. I don't apologize for that. And I understand why guys care -- he's been pitching all year, and he wanted to keep pitching. But rather than pout, he went and pitched as good as he can -- long rest, short rest, he did everything," said Francona.

        Lowell was instrumental in his Game Four and Seven starts against the Yankees in the ALCS before clinching the World Series sweep of the Cardinals.

        Francona said Friday night that there're no hard feelings between the two.

           "The guys who come through here and then leave, that doesn't mean they're not great guys," he said. "Or, that they were good guys when they were here, and now that they've left and put on another uniform, they're not great guys. There's a lot that comes into it.  It's big contracts –– that stuff happens. That doesn't mean that because they go somewhere else, we're not fond of them."

              Because of his success in Boston, especially in '04, it's a safe bet the fans at Fenway will give him a nice ovation when he takes the mound Saturday night.

         "To be honest, I have put zero thought into it," he said. "You're trying to prepare like any other game and I think it's okay to say my emotions will be a little higher than other games, but either way you have to embrace it. At the same time, come pitch one you have to find a way to put all that stuff behind you."

             There was talk during last winter that Lowe, a free agent, would return to Boston. He eventually inked a four-year deal worth $60 million with the Braves.

        "I've always enjoyed playing here. I've had a lot of good games here, and also on the flip side, a lot of bad games. The fans have always been there. It is unique and special. This place either makes you better or worse. You don't stay the same and that's one beauty of playing here. It's going to be a tough challenge facing these guys, but it's going to be fun," he said.