Young guns are bolstering the bullpen

Four pitches. Four strikes. Three outs.

If Javier Lopez can replicate his performance from Saturday the rest of the season -- though improbable -- the Red Sox bullpen could be on its way to forgetting about the inconsistencies and inadequacies it's faced at times. With Rudy Seanez and Julian Tavarez often struggling and Keith Foulke just trying to get the swelling down in his right elbow, the bullpen's performance Saturday underscored dramatically the meeting manager Terry Francona had with his young relievers six days ago, when he indicated they were going to have some responsibility.

Four of the five pitchers in that meeting -- Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Jonathan Papelbon, and Lopez -- were involved in Saturday's game, taking over for Curt Schilling and, despite letting one inherited runner score, they kept the Sox in a position where David Ortiz could win it in the 10th with another mammoth game-ending drive.

``I think they're here and we're happy," Francona reiterated about the youngsters before yesterday's game against the Phillies was rained out. ``Having more responsibility, I think, is a given. Foulkie's not on the roster right now. Sixth and seventh inning, we're looking for help, and you can't use the same people every day."

Though the last 14 games haven't exactly been good for the bullpen's ERA -- it's 6.20 in that span, 31 earned runs in 45 innings -- Saturday's win was a prime example of what the youngsters (Delcarmen, Hansen, and Papelbon are all 25 or younger; Lopez will be 29 July 11) must do for the team to have success. Because no matter how well the starters pitch -- and that group has a 2.93 ERA over its last 11 games, in which no starter has allowed more than three earned runs -- if the bullpen gives it up, the team won't win.

Francona has learned from the Cla Meredith situation, it seems. After being brought up from Double A last May, the 21-year-old righthander was thrown into a 2-2 game against the Mariners with a man on, and after walking two to load the bases, gave up a grand slam to Richie Sexson. Not long after, Meredith was back in the minors, where his loss total and his ERA blew up. Meredith, who was sent to San Diego as part of the trade that brought back Doug Mirabelli, has turned into a cautionary tale for the stable of relievers in Boston now.

While Delcarmen has spent a good chunk of the early season with the Sox, he rarely has been allowed to founder in a game. The quick hook -- as it happened Saturday -- has been in place at any sign of trouble. After being placed in a bases-loaded, no-outs situation against the Phillies, Delcarmen got Shane Victorino to line to Alex Gonzalez at short before giving up a run-scoring single to Jimmy Rollins. And, immediately, he was removed for Lopez.

``It feels good knowing [Francona] has that confidence in me," said Delcarmen, who threw only five pitches, all fastballs, in the outing. ``I think they're trying to put us in situations that obviously they want us to have success in and little-by-little throw us in situations that we're not used to, see how we react.

``I want to go back in [soon], bases loaded, and see what happens if I throw first-pitch strikes and I'm able to use my changeup."

There have been no questions about Papelbon this season. The rest of them? Of course. Unproven (but much examined) talents like Hansen and Delcarmen will be scrutinized until they have demonstrated a game is safe in their hands, no matter what the score. So they will be given responsibility, and they may fail. But, as on Saturday with their four innings of scoreless relief (not including that run charged to Schilling), they also may succeed.

``When you're young, it's real hard," Seanez said. ``Especially if you come in in that situation, like [Saturday], and after a few pitches, it goes all to hell, it can be really bad, but that's where you learn. You might be put in that situation tomorrow, so that's where you have to learn how to forget about yesterday, just concentrate on today. For them to have some success was good."

And, led by Lopez, they did, at least for one afternoon.

``Lopez came in and saved the game," Francona said. ``It kind of went under the radar, which I was a little surprised [about]. The way he threw the ball saved the game for us. That was tremendous.

``If their confidence can grow while they're learning and while they're up here, that would really be good. That's kind of the point. When they're not successful one day, remind them of what they need to do and how they can get better.

``With veteran pitchers, they either go out and do it or they don't. With young guys there's always that room to grow."