Wells is due up, so Meredith will be sent down

Page 2 of 2 -- An episode of 'lost'

Before his loss Monday, lefthander Mike Myers (1-1) hadn't lost in 79 appearances dating to April 21, 2004, also against Oakland. The only active streak in the majors longer than Myers's belongs to Houston's Mike Gallo (101 appearances between 2003-04). Gallo is currently pitching for the Astros' Triple A team . . . Under the heading ''Today in Red Sox History," Sox PR guru Peter Chase unleashed this beauty: ''On May 17, 1947, a seagull flew over Fenway Park and pelted St. Louis Browns pitcher Ellis Kinder with a three-pound smelt. The unflappable Kinder held on to top the Red Sox, 4-2." . . . By making his sixth start of the season today, Wells can continue pitching his way toward some steep bonuses that don't so much weigh performance as they do health. Wells, who received a $3 million signing bonus, will make $2.5 million in base salary this season and next season. He'll also make $200,000 per start for his 11th to 20th starts and $300,000 per start for starts 21 to 30 . . . If you're headed to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame game between the Sox and Tigers, and you head out a couple days early, you'll have the chance to meet Sox legend Bobby Doerr. The Hall of Fame second baseman, now 87, will be signing the Hall of Fame's book, ''Baseball as America," inside the museum at 3 p.m. Saturday. He'll be joined by Robin Roberts, the 78-year-old Hall of Fame righthander. Monday's game, scheduled for 1 p.m., is sold out. Though the Sox will pitch all minor leaguers, Francona said he'll play most of his starting lineup. But it's highly unlikely that Jason Varitek or Manny Ramirez will play, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yankee ingenuity?

Yesterday's Newark Star-Ledger reported that the Yankees may tinker with their rotation so that Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, and Mike Mussina would pitch the Memorial Day series against the Sox at Yankee Stadium . . . Atlanta announced its probables for this weekend, and it's about as good as it gets: Mike Hampton (4-1, 1.96) Friday vs. Miller; Tim Hudson (4-2, 3.18) Saturday vs. Wakefield; and John Smoltz (3-3, 2.83) Sunday vs. Clement . . . June 4 will be Western Massachusetts Day at Fenway Park. Fans who live in Hamden, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Franklin counties can register online beginning tomorrow at noon for the chance to buy tickets for the game vs. Anaheim, which begins at 1:20 p.m. Registration ends Monday at noon.