No heavy lifting for Damon

Johnny Damon said Monday he needed an extra off-day to rest his strained rotator cuff. He got a partial day off Wednesday against the Indians, when manager Terry Francona decided to rest his center fielder to start the game.
"I just told him he wasn't playing," Francona said. "He knew going into today."

Taking Damon's spot at the top of the lineup was Jay Payton, who was also penciled in to play center field. But with Boston trailing by two runs in the eighth inning, Damon pinch-ran for Kevin Millar, who singled off Cleveland's Bob Howry. Damon would eventually scamper home on Bill Mueller's single to center that tied the game at 4-4.

Damon remained in the game defensively, taking over his normal spot and pushing Payton over to right field.

However, it was only a cameo performance. When Damon's spot came up in the ninth inning against Bob Wickman and the Sox ahead, Trot Nixon pinch-hit for Damon, who was 7-for-11 against the Indians closer.

Nixon, who started the night on the bench because he was 0-for-3 lifetime against Cleveland lefty Cliff Lee, lined out to second on the first pitch he saw from Wickman for the inning's second out.

In the bottom half of the frame, Payton returned to center and Nixon reclaimed his right field position.

Nixon's early absence created an opening in right that Millar filled. And John Olerud filled Millar's spot at first base.

Olerud made the most of his opportunity, going 3-for-4 and belting his first homer in a Boston uniform.

Homecoming for Francona: Francona will be managing in Philadelphia this weekend for the first time since 2000, when he was dismissed after guiding the Phillies to a 65-97 mark that season. In four seasons managing the Phillies, Francona was 285-363 (.440). And his Phillies teams never finished higher than third in the National League East.

"They love me there," Francona joked.

Maybe not so much. However, Francona is looking forward to meeting some old friends.

Pedroia promoted: The Red Sox promoted infielder Dustin Pedroia, the club's top pick (65th overall) in 2004, to Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday.

In 66 games at Double-A Portland, Pedroia was hitting .324 with eight home runs, 40 RBIs and seven stolen bases. Pedroia is rated as the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America.

Pedroia went 1-for-4 with a double in his Pawtucket debut and scored a run as the PawSox defeated Durham Bulls, 4-3, at McCoy Stadium.

One to go: The World Series trophy has made its way to 350 cities in Massachusetts, just as club president/CEO Larry Lucchino pledged when he announced the World Series Trophy Tour.

On Friday, the trophy will make its final stop in Gosnold (population 86), the state's smallest town in the Elizabeth Islands at the southwestern tip of Cape Cod.

Curt Schilling / P
Born: 11/14/66
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 235 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

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Schilling update: Right-hander Curt Schilling threw his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday at Jacobs Field. He'll throw a second simulated game Friday at 2 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.

The outing could involve a little bit more for Schilling.

"He could go out an extra inning," Francona said. "[Pitching coach David] Wallace will decide that."

All-Star announcements: Francona named A's manager Ken Macha and Tigers manager Alan Trammel as his American League coaches for the 76th All-Star Game to be played on July 12 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Selecting Trammel and Macha was a "no-brainer," said Francona.

"I coached Detroit in Tram's last year as a player," Francona said. "The guy's an All-Star shortstop, a Hall of Fame candidate and it's his home ballpark. It's a natural.

"Macha hired me as his bench coach in Oakland, and that sort of re-energized my career. He was generous with his knowledge about managing and being with him in Oakland gave me the itch to manage again. I wanted to honor him and thank him for all he did."

Francona, whose father Tito was an All-Star in the 1961 Midsummer Classic at Fenway Park, has asked his Red Sox coaches to join him in Detroit. Brad Mills, Dave Wallace, Ron Jackson, Dale Sveum, Lynn Jones, and Bill Haselman will handle batting practice and other field duties.

Coach Burks? Ellis Burks, who retired as a member of the Red Sox after last season, popped into the Sox clubhouse Wednesday afternoon.

"I miss being around the [guys]," Burks said.

Burks misses being around his teammates so much that he's considering a career in coaching. But not without a little time to rest and spend with his family.

"I want to take a few years off and relax," Burks said.

After those few years, Francona said Burks could find a place anywhere he wanted in baseball.

"He could be a hitting instructor, work in the front office, work with kids," Francona said.

Question, please: Jason Varitek is featured in Sports Illustrated this week as its subject in "The Questions with SI Players" section.

The issue hit newsstands Wednesday.

Here's the question: Who earned the first victory in Red Sox history? (See answer below.)

Did you know: Right-hander Wade Miller struck out a career-high 14 batters on May 30, 2003, against the Cubs. Pitching for the Astros at the time, Miller threw a career-best two-hitter in his 9-1 win at Wrigley Field.

On this date: In 1983, rookie Wade Boggs hit his first career home run in the bottom of the 11th to give the Red Sox a 5-4 win against the Tigers. The next day, Carney Lansford severely sprained his ankle, which moved Boggs into the starting lineup permanently.

And here's the answer: Hall of Famer Cy Young won the first game in Red Sox history, 8-6, on April 30, 1901, at Philadelphia. Young, who went 33-10 that season, also earned the 100th victory in franchise history the next season at Cleveland.

On deck: After an off-day Thursday, the Sox start a three-game series Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET against the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Tim Wakefield (5-6, 4.41 ERA) takes the mound in the series opener against Phillies right-hander Jon Lieber (8-6, 4.63 ERA).

The Sox return to Fenway Park on Monday, when they begin a six-game homestand against the Indians and Blue Jays.

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/