No fallout or drop-off

When it became apparent in the offseason shortstop Alex Gonzalez was not returning to the Red Sox, and the team signed Julio Lugo to a four-year, $36 million deal, Boston pitchers gulped.

They never had seen a better-fielding Sox shortstop than Gonzalez, and there was worry in Red Sox Nation that general manager Theo Epstein had opted for offense over defense, like many of his predecessors.

Two weeks do not a season make, but Lugo has made only one error and has made several highlight-reel plays, while the Yankees' Derek Jeter, the Gold Glove winner the past three years, leads the league with six errors. You have to shake your head and wonder whether Lugo's nice start will continue.

Gonzalez-like defense was never expected from Lugo; in fact, many fans will be happy if he can hold his error total to around 20.

But he made two spectacular plays yesterday in Boston's 7-2 win over the Angels. In the fourth inning, he raced out toward center field and made a sliding catch on his knees on a Casey Kotchman popup. In the fifth, with Gary Matthews blocking his view of the ball as Matthews ran to third, Lugo made backhand play in the hole and a strong throw to first to end a potential rally.

"Julio is a great athlete," said Sox second baseman Alex Cora. "So when he makes plays like he did today, it's not surprising. On the popup, we work on that all the time. [Infield coach] Luis Alicea is constantly hitting popups to us so we learn to go after them and make the catch. It's important because most of the time a pitcher has just made a great pitch to get a result like that, and the last thing you want is for a ball like that to fall in for a base hit."

There's nobody better at that play than Jeter. Gene Michael, the Yankees' longtime adviser, said there's been nobody better at it in the history of the game.

Cora also mentioned Jeter as the best at it, but Jonathan Papelbon said, "Gonzo was the best I ever saw at it."

Third baseman Mike Lowell, who played with Gonzalez in Florida and Boston, said, "Gonzo, but I'm biased. I've played with the guy so long. Over in the National League I watched Jimmy Rollins and Rafael Furcal chase balls down. A lot of it is pure speed. Julio has done a great job with it on a few plays for us this year already."

Lugo knew the situation coming in. Throughout spring training he heard that he's not as good defensively as Gonzalez and that his forté is offense. And he's done a lot on offense so far, getting on base, stealing bases, taking the extra base, and generating enthusiasm and energy. He's stolen three bases and shown an awareness on the base paths the rest of the team has taken its lead from -- even though with Tampa Bay and the Dodgers last season he had his share of base-running gaffes.

Yesterday he doubled to start the Sox' six-run first inning. He went 2 for 4, has hit .343 (12 for 35) over a nine-game stretch, and has scored seven runs in his last five games.

Of his defensive gems yesterday, Lugo said, "They were both plays that could have scored runs. I take a lot of pride in my defense. I always heard I'm a better offensive player than I am a defensive player, but I am very happy to be able to make a play to help us win in the field. As a shortstop, that's what I have to do."

Lowell knew Gonzalez so well he could cheat to his right knowing Gonzalez covered so much ground. Slowly but surely, Lowell has been sneaking back toward the line this season, realizing the current shortstop covers the hole pretty well.

"He's got range over there," said Lowell. "He can go get the baseball in the hole. I don't worry about that."

Another former Gonzalez teammate, yesterday's starter Josh Beckett, also was a Gonzalez fan, appreciating how many runs he saved him in Florida and Boston. So when Lugo tracked down the popup yesterday, Beckett pointed to him to acknowledge the play.

Was he apprehensive about Gonzo leaving and Lugo coming in?

"Any time you let a guy like Gonzo go -- I played with him for so long -- I think a lot of times you take for granted some of the things that he did behind me," said Beckett. "I can't complain right now. Lugo made one of the best plays I've ever had made behind me with the sliding catch on his knees in center today.

"You know, I didn't foresee Lugo being that good. He's a such a great athlete. When you look at his body, and the stuff he does, it almost surprises me that anyone can do that stuff. Lugo was awesome. He made two great plays, and he can hit."

Lugo worked hard in spring training on his footwork, and on making stronger, more accurate throws. He was asked to square up while fielding balls instead of going to the backhand so much. It's hard when you've done it one way for so long and then are asked to switch to a more conventional way. The Devil Rays worked on changing his style as well, but Lugo never really took to it.

He didn't make an error this season until April 11, on a routine grounder that he threw away. Other than that, he's been the model of consistency, which is exactly what the Sox were hoping for.

When told he makes the popup play well, he said, "You noticed that huh?" When asked who he thought was the best at it, he said, "I don't know. You decide."

I still think it's Jeter. Gonzalez was great at it, too. It looks as if Lugo is going to make some very athletic plays in the field this year. The question is, will he also throw away the routine balls? I suspect at some point Lugo will have more errors than Jeter. But right now, all you can say is that Lugo has made quite a first impression.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.