Nixon making noise with some healthy cuts

It may feel as though Trot Nixon's power is down and that he's been solid but unspectacular. But project his totals through 58 team games over a full season and you come up with this: 148 games, .318, 17 HRs, 92 RBIs.

The games played total would be Nixon's most since 2002 and would tie for the second most in his career. The batting average would be the best of his career (he's hit .300 or better only twice and is a .281 lifetime hitter). The homer total would be his highest since hitting 28 in 2003. The RBIs would be his most since he knocked in a career-high 94 in 2002.

Last night, the 32-year-old Nixon, who is playing for a contract with the Sox or another team next season, matched his career high with four hits, raising his average 16 points to .318. In the first inning, with two on and two out, he homered, providing a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 win. In the third, he doubled to left. And in the sixth and eighth, he singled to right. The eighth-inning single advanced Manny Ramírez to third and preceded Mike Lowell's game-deciding sacrifice fly.

The key, of course, is health. Nixon, in the two previous seasons , played a total of just 172 games. Some pitches that found flesh in recent weeks have left him with some nasty cuts and bruises -- one on his right side and another on his right elbow. But, structurally, he gives the appearance of holding together rather well.

``I feel fine," he said. ``I don't have any real significant bumps or bruises. I've been blessed to be healthy so far this year. And I've been given a lot of opportunity to play, whether it's been [against] lefties or righties. I'm very thankful for that."

Nixon, though, continues to struggle against lefties. He's hitting a robust .353 (47 for 133) off righties and just .209 (9 for 43) off lefties.

Asked, though, if the only goal he set before the season was in the games played category, the right fielder said, ``Yeah, you could say that. When you set your personal goals, a lot of players put the health of a season at the top."

If he stays healthy, the numbers, it seems, will follow.

Keith Foulke was scheduled to throw a side session yesterday and may see action today. ``I'm hopeful he'll be available [today]," manager Terry Francona said after the game. ``One thing I did tell him is if he's not ready, we won't use him." Foulke hasn't pitched since May 31 because of back stiffness. There remained a chance he could have gone on the disabled today when Jon Lester was activated for his major league debut, but given that the club has gone this long with him on the roster, the Sox probably believe he can pitch any day now. In fact, after the game, Francona said Craig Hansen, who went two-thirds of an inning last night, would be sent back to Pawtucket to make room for Lester. David Pauley will stick on the roster because he could pitch in long relief today, if needed . . . Mike Timlin, meanwhile, is eligible to come off the DL today. But Timlin, who has been nursing a strained rotator cuff, probably won't be activated until the Sox visit Minnesota for a three-game series beginning Tuesday. ``That's a pretty good guess," Francona said about Timlin's timetable. ``How we get to that will be a little more interesting. We'd like him to face some hitters. We need to get him on the mound a few times before we activate him." . . . As many eyes as there will be on Lester today, there should be an equal number on Josh Beckett, who will pitch the nightcap. Beckett has lasted only six innings combined in his last two starts, allowing 14 earned runs on 17 hits, six of them home runs. ``Beckett just got into a mode where he was throwing hard, hard, harder, guys started to cheat a little bit," Francona said. ``He threw a couple good pitches, but guys were gearing up for one speed and they got to it. He's got to throw something else for a strike."

Kevin Youkilis was in the lineup and said he was fine, despite taking a Scott Erickson fastball off his left elbow Thursday night in New York. ``He's got a pretty good bruise," Francona said. The manager also said that Youkilis, because of his stance and tendency to dive toward the plate, is ``just a big target. The way he hits, he's got a little bit of the [Derek ] Jeter approach where he's got a lot of movement into the plate. He's a good hitter, so [pitchers] want to get in, and he's taken some pretty good shots." Youkilis, who wore an elbow pad last night, doubled, singled, and walked in four plate appearances, upping his average in his last 30 games to .348 (40 for 115) . . . Nixon's homer moved him past Mike Greenwell into a tie for 17th on the Sox' all-time list with Frank Malzone with 131 . . . Coco Crisp's three hits gave him five in his last two games. He was 2 for 18 (.111) in four games before that . . . David Wells was scheduled to meet yesterday with Dr. Jan Fronek, the San-Diego based surgeon who operated in the offseason on Wells's right knee. Francona, though, was unable to provide any update . . . Athletic fields along the Charles River near the Longfellow Bridge that were restored over the last year and a half will be dedicated at 11 a.m. today as Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields. The fields are named in honor of Ebersol, who died at age 14 in a November 2004 plane crash.

The Yankees announced that Wednesday's rainout against the Sox will be made up Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8:05 p.m. as part of a day-night doubleheader. That brings the Sox' season total for doubleheaders to three: today vs. Texas, Aug. 18 vs. New York, and Sept. 16 at New York . . . The Portland Sea Dogs were rained out for the third consecutive night, again postponing Gabe Kapler's debut with the team. The Sea Dogs have played four doubleheaders to date. They have five more scheduled. Two other games, according to public relations executive Chris Cameron, were canceled but will not be made up. The team has had 11 rainouts, including six at home. ``The weather," Cameron pointed out last night, ``is questionable for [today] and [tomorrow], too." . . . Doug Mirabelli will catch Beckett in today's nightcap . . . The Rangers called up righthander Bryan Corey from Triple A Oklahoma and designated righthander Antonio Alfonseca for assignment.