Corey dusts off his debut

Bryan Corey had pitched in the minor leagues and the big leagues, in Japan and in Mexico. He'd played in the field and moved to the mound. He's withstood fan abuse at the BOB, the Jake, the Fens; none have anything on the crazies he encountered at Koshien Stadium in Japan.

``Over the years I've pitched in every situation," Corey said. ``Blowouts, getting your butts kicked, the other way around, tie games, early, late, it doesn't matter. I just try to focus on my pitch."

So, Tuesday night, his Red Sox debut after being acquired from the Rangers a day earlier, was just another game on the list.

The deficit was 5-1.

The count was 1-0.

The game was seven innings old.

The Red Sox needed Corey to get them into the ninth inning.

His pitch was a cut fastball, which Cleveland second baseman Joe Inglett popped toward Pesky's Pole, which at 302 feet away was just close enough.

``Honestly, it was a pretty good pitch," Corey said. ``It was a cutter. It was in. I honestly don't know how he kept it fair . . . It's the first one I've given up all season. Just get it out of the way now."

Corey was comfortable even though it had been more than a week since he had last pitched. Regardless of the situation, whether with Texas or Boston, Corey wants to relax and throw.

``It makes it easier to go out and do my job," he said. ``I just want to go out and put up zeros. I don't think there's any more pressure for me. Pressure's what you put on yourself."

Corey's only two decisions this season have come at Fenway. He struck out four in 1 1/3 innings June 10 to pick up his first big-league win, then gave up a pair of earned runs July 20 for his lone loss. The Sox were already down four Tuesday night manager Terry Francona called for him, so Corey knew he was unlikely to factor into the decision.'

``I just wanted to get out to a good start and help the team whatever way I can," he said.

He was able to give the Sox an inning, sitting the next three batters down after Inglett's homer.

``I shrugged it off," he said. ``It's been eight days since I pitched last, but I've been throwing. I felt good out there. I just needed to get back and pitch in a game. Under the circumstances I think it was good to get a chance to get out there."

``I actually though he pitched pretty well," said Francona. ``The Pesky Pole got in the way of one. Cost him a home run. But I thought he threw the ball, his velocity was pretty good, and he threw a nice changeup. I think when it's all said and done he's going to be a welcome arm. How we use him I'm not exactly sure yet. But I think he's going to do good for us."

Francona said he though Corey got caught in a ``numbers situation" in Texas, which designated Corey for assignment July 25 to make room for Adam Eaton.

``I had, I guess you want to call it, two games, or three innings where I just hit a little bit of a skid," Corey said. ``That happened to be the move they made at that time. They didn't want to do it, and I believe them when they said that, but that's a part of baseball. I wish it wasn't me, but at the same time if it didn't happen to me I wouldn't be here. So I'm really fortunate to get another opportunity to pitch somewhere else, and hopefully I'll do a lot of good here."

Corey made the Rangers' roster this spring after spending four years away from the big leagues.

``The way I've come into this year and the way my career's gone I had nothing to lose in Texas," he said. ``And I'm kind of taking that attitude now, where I know there's a lot more riding on it."

TAKE A SHOT Weigh in on Sunday's Quick Shot subject, ``Will the Sox regret not making a deal?" at boston.com