His bags are packed

Before Ken Huckaby ducked away to shower last night, he crammed his gear into his bag with his No. 40 on the side, preparing as if he'd join the team in Tampa.

``Don't know yet. Don't know yet," said the catcher, when asked if he'd be making the trip. ``I'm packing like I am, until they tell me otherwise."

But after he came out of the shower, manager Terry Francona pulled Huckaby into his office, closed the door, and told him his fate. Huckaby, after playing in his first big league game of the season, had been designated for assignment, making room for the expected arrival of former Baltimore catcher Javy Lopez.

It was news Francona didn't care to deliver to Huckaby. Minutes before, when discussing the communication between Huckaby and starter Josh Beckett in last night's 7-6 loss to Cleveland, Francona singled out the catcher and praised him for his efforts.

``Tremendous," Francona said. ``Huck put a clinic on blocking balls tonight. [Communication] wasn't an issue, nor did I think it would be. He's a professional catcher."

Huckaby, whose contract was purchased from Pawtucket Tuesday after Jason Varitek was disabled because of knee surgery, drew the start because Francona was wary of giving 35-year-old Doug Mirabelli a fourth straight start.

Huckaby (.207, 2 home runs, 16 RBIs in 68 games with the PawSox) knew he'd be getting his equipment dirty while blocking Beckett's looping hook. Huckaby did just that, and also framed the starter's 97-mile-per-hour fastball in the first inning for umpire Mark Carlson to call out leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore on strikes.

But the battery's strategy of pouring in first-pitch strikes -- Beckett started off 10 straight batters that way -- began to backfire when the Indians jumped on early fastballs. Aaron Boone jerked a first-pitch heater for a home run in the third. In the sixth inning, Cleveland took advantage of Beckett's spotty location to put a six-spot on the scoreboard.

``His stuff was outstanding," Huckaby said. At the plate, while batting in the No. 9 spot, Huckaby started his night in the second inning by grounding out to first. Two innings later, he punched a 1-and-0 Jake Westbrook offering into right field, recording his first major league hit since he doubled as a Blue Jay Sept. 19, 2005, against Seattle.

``I felt really comfortable," Huckaby said. ``I was seeing the ball really well. When I hit into that double play, I hit that ball really hard. Just didn't get any lift on that."

Huckaby, nestled into the left side of the clubhouse between infielder Alex Cora and center fielder Coco Crisp, didn't even have his name or number above his locker last night. And because he was designated for assignment after his Boston debut, it appears his nameplate won't need to be updated. With Lopez on board, Huckaby's services -- one game, three at-bats, one single -- won't be needed for the time being.