Lester to debut tomorrow

NEW YORK -- Once last night's game started, it was clear Jon Lester, the most celebrated Red Sox lefthanded prospect since Bruce Hurst, was going to make his major league debut in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.

Manager Terry Francona made the announcement with the caveat that last night's game didn't get rained out. Given the state of the Sox' rotation, with David Wells going to see a San Diego doctor this morning for a second opinion on his ailing right knee, it appears Lester's time has come.

Lester, 22, was 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 carefully crafted starts with Triple A Pawtucket as he gradually built up his arm strength. He pitched 11 2/3 innings in April, when he went 0-4 with a 6.94 ERA, but since May 1, he's gone 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

The Red Sox were careful with Lester, hoping to get the most out of him when it was time to get his feet wet in the majors.

``I'm very excited about it," said Francona. ``And to be honest, I saw him this spring when he wasn't pitching that well [6 innings, 12 hits, and 13 earned runs]. I see a lot of things in him to see why a lot of people are in love with him. He competes. He's lefthanded. He's got three or four different pitches that he commands. He's on his way to becoming a very solid major league pitcher.

``Hopefully, this will be a very good first step."

The 6-foot-3-inch Lester has four pitches: fastball, cut fastball, changeup, and curveball.

It appears 22-year-old righthander David Pauley will be sent back to the minors, but likely Pawtucket, rather than Double A Portland, to take Lester's spot. The Sox were encouraged by what they saw in Pauley Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium (one run over 6 2/3 innings). Pauley, according to Francona, will be bullpen-eligible tomorrow and likely will be used in relief if Lester struggles or is on a pitch count.

Once Mike Timlin comes off the disabled list, Pauley might be headed for Pawtucket.

``I'm here for the team," Pauley said. ``Anything they need, I'm here for. Whether it's in the bullpen, starting role, or whatever. My job here is to help the team. Tito talked to me and he felt with all the games and a doubleheader coming up that I'd be best-suited for the bullpen right now."

Pauley, who was informed of the decision yesterday afternoon, said what happens to him is ``completely up to them. I'll be here as long as they let me be here.

``I'll do whatever they ask me to do."

Francona indicated he doesn't believe Pauley can make 20 starts in the majors at this stage.

But Pauley will hold the Yankee experience dear, an experience he's learned a lot from.

``It's always going to be on my mind for the rest of my life," he said. ``I came into Yankee Stadium in just my second major league start and had some success. That's always going to be in the back of my mind whenever I get back out there."

Tim Wakefield returned to Boston to prepare for tonight's start against the Rangers. Francona is concerned about Wakefield's sore back and said he has Craig Hansen ``stretched out" in case Wakefield needs to be pulled early . . . The remainder of the weekend rotation: Josh Beckett in Game 2 of tomorrow's doubleheader, followed by Matt Clement Sunday. Clement gets two extra days of rest after a week trying to straighten out his recent woes. ``During the week he had had such a rigorous side session and trying to do some of his mechanics, he was getting almost like spasms when he'd get to a certain point," Francona said. ``And it made him feel real weak. The farther away he gets from that, every day he feels a lot better. We don't want him to go out there pitching with that, because if it happens in the third inning, we lose him for the rest of the game." . . . Keith Foulke had a huge ice pack on his sore back yesterday, but Francona said the reliever appears ready to return to his setup role . . . The Portland Sea Dogs were rained out last night, so Gabe Kapler did not get to make his first Double A rehab assignment . . . Pedro Martínez is in line to start against the Red Sox June 28, unless the Mets do not use a fifth starter after an offday that week. In that case, Martínez would face the Sox June 27 . . . Jonathan Papelbon said his younger brother, Josh (a submariner), taken by the Sox in the 48th round of this week's draft, will do just fine in the organization. ``He can really compete. He's always been one of the hardest workers. Nothing's ever come easy to him so he's worked for whatever he's accomplished and that will play out well here." Papelbon said when Chad Bradford was with the Red Sox, he had him work with his brother on his delivery. Meanwhile, Josh's twin, Jeremy, was drafted by the Cubs. ``He's got three or four pitches and he throws them for strikes," said Papelbon. ``He's also a competitor. It's in our blood."

The dedication of the new Teddy Ebersol Red Sox fields will take place tomorrow in a 1 p.m. ceremony along the Charles River. The fields are located in Lederman Park. Teddy Ebersol, the youngest son of Dick Ebersol and Susan St. James, died in a plane crash in November 2004. He was 14. Senator Ted Kennedy will lead a host of dignitaries on hand, including Sox owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner, and CEO Larry Lucchino . . . Kevin Youkilis will likely be very black and blue this morning after being hit by a Scott Erickson fastball in the seventh inning. Youkilis was clearly in pain, but stayed in to run the bases. Francona inserted J.T. Snow at first in the eighth so Youkilis could ice the elbow. Youkilis said he may give in and try an elbow pad. ``It's going to take some time to get used to it," said Youkilis, who was hit in the forearm by a pitch Sunday in Detroit . . . Papelbon got an inning of work in last night and retired the side, allowing one walk before fanning Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez to end the game.

IMAGES AND INFO. For a gallery of photos from last night's game and news updates heading into tonight's Red Sox-Rangers contest, go to www.boston.com/redsox.