Francona: Today not Clement's time

Red Sox manager Terry Francona threw a curve last night when he announced the pitching lineup for today's separate-admission doubleheader against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park.

Rookie David Pauley will start Game 2 (against former Boston righthander John Wasdin) as the Sox will bypass Matt Clement. In Game 1, Josh Beckett gets the nod for the Sox, opposed by Kevin Millwood.

``We didn't know we were going to have a doubleheader until pretty close to [last night's] game time," said Francona. ``We decided to back up Clement and throw a side day before his next start. We want to assure that he doesn't get out there and have that [shoulder] cramp up and lose a starting pitcher."

Pauley, who pitched 6 2/3 effective innings last Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, indicated he was ready for any decision but welcomes the chance to make another start.

Francona said Curt Schilling (who threw a side session during yesterday's 4-hour-47-minute rain delay) will take his regular turn Tuesday in Minnesota, but wasn't sure where Clement would be slotted back into the rotation. Tim Wakefield was scheduled to start Wednesday against the Twins, but he has been dealing with a sore back, which could affect that decision.

Francona said reliever Mike Timlin (right shoulder strain) felt fine after pitching in the bullpen during the delay. He'll go to Pawtucket for a rehab appearance today and if things go well, he could be activated Tuesday.

Lefthander Mike Holtz pitched two-thirds of an inning in a rehab appearance at Pawtucket last night. He allowed a run on two hits and walk with two strikeouts in the PawSox' 8-5 win over Richmond.

Francona said he wasn't concerned by Keith Foulke allowing a two-run homer to Hank Blalock in the ninth. It was Foulke's first appearance since May 31 at Toronto because of a sore back. Francona said Foulke normally handles Blalock well but left a cut fastball over the plate.

``It's tough to give up runs but we have to get him out there so he can start helping us again," Francona said.

Sox CEO Larry Lucchino apologized to fans for any inconvenience over the decision to postpone the nightcap of yesterday's day-night doubleheader. While e-mails poured into the Globe from fans north and west of Boston wondering whether they should make the trip to the park, the team wasn't able to make the announcement of the postponement until around 5 p.m.

The Sox, who have been criticized recently for not calling off games in a more timely fashion, had their hands tied by weather forecasts that had the rain moving out of the area around 2 p.m. In actuality, it didn't leave the area until closer to 6, according to Mike Dee, the team's chief operating officer.

Dee said there was early consideration to moving the start of the second game to approximately 9 p.m., but once the rain lingered, Dee said, ``We were looking at a 10:30 p.m. or 11 p.m. start, and we didn't think that was good for anybody."

Dee said the decision had nothing to do with rescheduling the game as part of a doubleheader today at noon and 5 p.m.

``The process was the collaboration of a lot of things having to come together and a lot of people working hard," Dee said.

Dee said Katie Feeney represented Major League Baseball in the rescheduling process, while player representatives Trot Nixon of the Sox and Mark Teixeira of the Rangers were kept apprised. Players Association counsel Gene Orza was also involved, making sure the result was OK with the players.

``We apologize for the inconvenience that these schedule changes mean to our fans," Lucchino said.

``With the rain of recent days still in the area, it became apparent to Major League Baseball and the umpiring crew that we would be unable to play two full games today."

The Sox announced that tickets for yesterday's postponed game will be honored at today's noon contest, and today's originally scheduled game has been pushed back to 5 p.m.

The Sox were pushing for a doubleheader today early in the process, but also being discussed was the possibility of playing the Rangers July 20 or Sept. 11, offdays for both teams. But that would have meant the Rangers making a separate trip to Boston.

Because of the length of the rain delay, Fox, which was scheduled to broadcast Game 1 yesterday, bailed out, pressing NESN's crew into action. The Sox also announced during the game that it was ``Free Hot Dog Night," with each fan being given a hot dog for waiting out the delay.

Outfielder Wily Mo Peña seemed optimistic he could return to the lineup around the All-Star break after having surgery June 1 to remove the hamate bone in his left hand.

Peña will have the stitches removed Tuesday.

``I can do everything but swing a bat right now," he said. ``I hope I can come back in four weeks, maybe get some at-bats in the minor leagues, and then come back here and not worry about anything anymore."

While David Ortiz has said it took him about a year to get his power back after he had the same surgery, Peña is hoping that his case is different.

``I just go up there and swing the bat. I don't look to hit home runs anyway," Peña said. ``If home runs come, they come. I just want to get healthy and start playing again. I think I'm doing good. I'm going to get better and better."

San Diego orthopedist Jan Fronek confirmed Sox physician Thomas Gill's diagnosis that David Wells has a deep bone contusion on his right knee, but no structural damage.

``He's got some issues with his knee, though," said Francona. ``It's just going to be up to Boomer when he can tolerate it. He's going to take some time off and then decide what he can tolerate and when. There's no damage to ligaments. His knee hurts. He'll probably come back [to Boston] after this road trip. We're gone for six days. This will give him some time to catch his breath."

Francona was then asked if he thought the 43-year-old Wells would opt instead to retire. ``Because he threw the ball really well, I'm sure he's going to stick with it," Francona said.

Wells had tested the knee by throwing off flat ground last week. He then tried to pedal a stationary bike, and wasn't able to tolerate that either.

Francona admitted he's pulled a Dick Vermeil and slept at the ballpark when there's been a quick turnaround from night game to day game. ``I used to do it all the time in Philadelphia," he said. ``If it was a night game or a day game during the week, trying not to contend with the traffic, I'd just stay there. We'd set up an inflatable mattress. I did it here one time last year where it was after a game and I was scuffling. I took a shower and then I just laid down on the couch." . . . Francona said it was tough to see Craig Hansen go back to Pawtucket. Hansen, who was sent back to Triple A yesterday when the Sox activated lefthander Jon Lester to make his major league debut, had been told his stay was for emergency reasons only, but Francona is impressed with the young righthander. ``There isn't anybody here, me included, who doesn't think he won't help us," said Francona. ``When you start pitching in the eighth inning this early [as he did in Friday night's 4-3 win over the Rangers], that's a sign he's going to help this team." . . . Manny Ramírez's eighth-inning home run was the 450th of his career . . . Coco Crisp is 7 for 14 in his last three games after a 2-for-18 slump . . . Rangers manager Buck Showalter on the rain delay: ``We had about four false starts and the last time I went in there and told them what time they were going to start, they all looked at me like, `Yeah, right!' I was losing a lot of credibility. But I've been here since 8-8:30 a.m., like most of them, and it was a real good win for us."