Wells pronounces himself set to go

MOOSIC, Pa. -- David Wells said he's ready, that five innings yesterday in Pennsylvania were enough to prove his right knee is healthy enough to rejoin the Red Sox rotation.

Making his second rehabilitation start for Triple A Pawtucket -- and first since April 7 -- Wells gave up two runs on four hits and was the winning pitcher in a 9-3 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He walked one, struck out three, and came off the mound twice to make plays.

Should that be the final step of his rehab?

''Absolutely," Wells said. ''I don't think there's much to prove after 50 bullpens, simulated games, and a lot of rain. I think I'm long overdue. This was a big test today, to be able to go out there and do it, and I did, so hopefully they'll reason with me and that will be it."

After offseason knee surgery, Wells started the year on the disabled list. He made one bad rehab start in Pawtucket before an even worse start in Boston April 12, which landed him back on the DL with a sprained right knee.

Yesterday was his first game action since.

Through five innings, Wells threw 65 pitches, 43 for strikes. His only trouble came in the second, when a double and single put runners at first and third with one out. Two close pitches to Bobby Scales were called balls before Wells threw a 3-2 fastball that Scales hit for a two-run double.

''I have to throw the ball down the middle," Wells said. ''I don't want to walk the guy with a man on first and [third]. That's the only problem I had was not getting the call."

Wells struck out the next two batters to get out of the second. He got all but one out on the ground through his final three innings.

It was a much more effective outing than his first rehab start April 7, when Wells gave up seven earned runs on six hits through five innings. It was also much better than his first start for the Red Sox, when Wells gave up seven earned runs in four innings.

Since then, Wells had a series of simulated games and bullpen sessions. He now could rejoin the Red Sox in time to start Friday.

''If I can hit my spots like I did today, then I'm going to have some fun up there," he said.

He fielded the two balls cleanly and never appeared to be in any pain.

After the game, Wells elected not to ice down; he showered and left Lackawanna County Stadium as quickly as possible. He said the knee won't require any extra ice or special treatment today.

''I'll just do my everyday work that I normally do," Wells said. ''I'll be stiff, because I'm not icing today because it's time to get out of here."