Pitching to the shortstop

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox will make a concerted attempt between now and the start of the season to strike a long-term deal with shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, industry sources indicated yesterday. Garciaparra is recovering from tendinitis in his right Achilles' heel and sports a boot to keep the area stabilized, but the team and Garciaparra anticipate the All-Star should be ready for Opening Day at Baltimore.

Garciaparra turned down a recent proposal by the Red Sox, but the counteroffer submitted by agent Arn Tellum was not immediately answered, though there's evidence the team is trying to find a way to complete a multiyear deal so it can move on to the next order of business.

That could be Pedro Martinez.

Martinez's agent, Fernando Cuza, has continued preliminary talks with the Sox, but there's very little substance to the discussions at this juncture. However, the Sox and Cuza want to keep the lines of communication open as Martinez heads into the final season of his contract, which will pay him $17.5 million.

Stretch for Foulke

Sox closer Keith Foulke pitched two innings for the first time this spring in a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before 7,568 at City of Palms Park. Foulke allowed one hit and one fly ball and four ground ball outs. Foulke, who pitched 86 2/3 innings and worked more than one inning in 21 of his 72 appearances in accumulating his league-leading 43 saves for Oakland last season, feels he may have fewer opportunities for multi-inning saves with the Sox. "The bullpens I've been in before haven't been nearly as strong as this one," Foulke said. "That's why I think I'll have a lot less this year. I take care of myself so I know when I get tired and need a day off. When that happens I know it's going to be a lot easier doing that knowing we have somebody else who can step in and do the job." Foulke said his arm felt great and felt he was able to throw his new split-fingered pitch effectively on at least three occasions.

Easy does it for Lowe

Derek Lowe had what you might call too efficient of an outing, throwing 70 pitches over six innings. Lowe, who has a 0.98 ERA in spring training, allowed three hits, no walks and struck out four, facing 21 batters while getting 10 outs on ground balls. Manager Terry Francona had to give other pitchers some work or Lowe might have gone longer. "The next time I really have to get up to about 95 pitches good or bad and then ease down to about 50 pitches in my final start," said Lowe, who averaged 15.5 pitches per inning last season. "But that's a good problem to have." Lowe, who has won more games than anyone in the American League the past two years (38) except for Toronto's Roy Halladay (41), feels it's important to have a good spring training, which usually bodes well for him at the start of the season. Last year, Lowe was 1-0 with a 5.85 ERA in spring training after returning from skin cancer in the offseason and went 17-7, but the year before he won 21 games, going 2-1 in spring training with an ERA under 4.

Union session

Representatives from the Players Association briefed the Red Sox in a 2 1/2-hour session yesterday. Interestingly, Francona was in the clubhouse during the meeting. Managers pay union dues and share in licensing money and have the same benefits as the players, even though they also act as management . . . Byung Hyun Kim continues to make strides in his throwing program. He has stretched out to nine minutes at 80 feet and seems on pace for a mid-April return to the big league team after he pitches in extended spring training . . . According to Tony Cloninger, who was with the Yankees when Ramiro Mendoza was there, it's not the first time Mendoza has sliced his finger while throwing a baseball. Mendoza was scratched from Monday's game in Vero Beach when he cut his middle finger on his right hand on the seam of the ball. Francona wondered if there was a fingernail involved. What's known is time is quickly running out on Mendoza's chances of making the team . . . Terry Shumpert's hamstring strain isn't bad, just untimely. Shumpert seems to be in a battle with Dave McCarty for the final roster spot. "It's going to be sore for a while, whether it's a cramp or worse," Francona said . . . Former Sox reliever Todd Jones is going to find out by today whether he's made the Devil Rays. Jones feels he has a good chance, and must know his fate for two reasons: he has an out clause in his contract and the Rays are flying to Japan today in preparation for their Opening Day game vs. the Yankees . . . Former Sox second baseman Rey Sanchez had the bat slip out of his hands during an at-bat in the third inning, striking a 13-year-old Fort Myers girl here on a field trip . . . Ellis Burks went 2 for 4, including a three-run homer, and knocked in four runs yesterday. Francona said he still hasn't worked out a game plan for how Burks will be used, "but we'll play him a lot." Burks has been working on his throwing program, which should accelerate his return to the outfield. Francona reiterated there's no timetable and that Burks will play the field when he's ready . . . Bill Mueller is expected to start at third base tonight against the Yankees, after missing the past two games with a sore elbow.

Gordon Edes of the Globe staff contributed to this report.