As Tavarez struggles, Lester in wings

Jon Lester is scheduled to make the first of his two Pawtucket rehabilitation starts today at Rochester. He'll then take the mound Tuesday against Indianapolis.

Lester's 30-day rehab stint will officially end three days later, when the Red Sox must make a decision: option him to Triple-A or call him up.

While indications are that Lester will stay at Pawtucket, a lot might be riding on how well he pitches in the next week and how Julian Tavarez fares as Boston's fifth starter.

Tavarez was pounded by the Blue Jays last night, 10-3. He allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings and pointed the finger squarely at himself for the loss.

"I made some bad pitches out there and I got hurt," Tavarez said. "A lot of times, you leave a pitch in the middle of the plate and they pop them up. But tonight I left one belt high for Vernon Wells [who homered in the first inning]."

The pitch that did him in was Lyle Overbay's double off the top of the scoreboard that ended his night and scored Toronto's fifth and sixth runs.

"That was really the pitch that changed the whole game," Tavarez said. "What can I say? I made some good pitches and they got some base hits and I made some bad pitches and I got hurt."

Tavarez made no excuses for his performance and in no way blamed a defense that committed four errors because "I had the ball. I was in control out there. It's my fault. I can do better. I didn't do my job."

Tavarez had a bad outing in his opening start against Texas when he went four innings, allowing six hits and four runs in an 8-4 loss to the Rangers April 7. He then went 12 days without pitching because of rainouts, lasting 5 1/3 innings and allowing six hits and three runs in a no-decision in Boston's 5-3 win at Toronto last Thursday.

He isn't having an easy time, given the weather disruptions and the caliber of his opposition. He's twice faced last night's winner, Roy Halladay. And in his next start Sunday, he draws Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang in New York.

Toronto catcher Gregg Zaun suffered a right hand injury near the middle of the thumb on a foul tip in the second inning. He'll be examined today. The Jays believe they'll have to recall Sal Fasano from Triple-A and place Zaun on the disabled list . . . The Sox scored 27 runs during the 3-2 homestand and hit .294. They had a 5.60 ERA, with the starters going 2-2 and posting a 6.89 ERA. The bullpen was 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA . . . The Sox have lost eight of 11 games against the Blue Jays dating to Sept. 2.

Terry Francona doesn't think he's doing too well in his attempt to stop chewing tobacco.

The nasty habit, which could result in cancer, is something he's tried to beat for many years, and for the last few months, he's managed to desist. But he doesn't know if he can continue.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino made a $20,000 bet with the manager in the offseason: If Francona could last the season, Lucchino would donate $20,000 to Francona's favorite charity; if he couldn't, Francona would be on the hook for $20,000 to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

How's he doing? "Terrible," said Francona. "I'm miserable.

"I almost went off the boat in the second Yankee game in the fifth inning. I made it, but I'm hanging by a thread. There are about six players who want me to start doing it again. I guess I'm getting a little crabby. Hanging in, but barely."

Back in spring training, Francona said how difficult it was to stop. Now that the pressure of the season has started, it hasn't been any easier. He used to love to roll the tobacco around a wad of gum and place it in his cheek. It's been a brutally difficult habit to break.

"That's why I'm not patting myself on the back," Francona said. "How many games have we played? Eighteen? Oh, [expletive]. Made it through spring training, but when they throw balls, it doesn't matter. It's going to be hard. I'm going to keep trying, but it's hard."

Francona has tried stopping virtually every year of his managerial career, which began in Philadelphia in 1997. Kenny Rogers once built him a spittoon because the habit got so nasty when they were in Texas in 2002.

To make up for it, Francona smokes a cigar now and then. "I just miss [the tobacco] in my cheek," he said. "I use more gum than tobacco, but it's not all gum. It's amazing how something that ugly can taste that good."

Francona said certain times of day are worse than others.

"The biggest one is about 6:30 p.m. because I go down to the dugout and that's when I always would put my first chew in there," he said. "Now I go down there and twiddle my thumbs and look for someone to yell at."

He's kidded that he tends to take out his frustration on some people more than others.

"Millsy [bench coach Brad Mills] for the most part," said Francona. "I got mad at the grounds crew guy who tried to put a mat in the clubhouse while the runners were still going to third. I'm screaming at him.

"I [chewed] when I played because I was bored. It's just not fun doing without it. I just enjoy it. I've made it through April 24, but I haven't made it through April 25."

Coco Crisp, who is nursing an aggravated left oblique, got another night off as trainers advised Francona to keep the center fielder on the bench one more day to be cautious. Wily Mo Peña got another start in center in his place. Francona was asked about oblique injuries and whether they were around when he was playing. "I don't think we knew we had them," he said. "They were probably there, you just didn't know. There weren't rehab assignments, they'd just release you. "We're probably more careful than they were 20, 30, 40 years ago. When somebody doesn't play, people want to know why. I think Coco could play through this. I think he could, but there's a chance he could get hurt again, so I'd rather err on the side of caution." . . . Kevin Youkilis's name does not appear on the All-Star ballot for the second consecutive year. Last year it was because of his rookie status, but this year because the game is in a National League city (San Francisco), the Red Sox had to designate one person at first base and it was David Ortiz. "What do you have to do to get on the All-Star ballot?" Youkilis said. He then said it was not important and that "I'd have to tear it up pretty good to make it, anyway." Youkilis had the night off, with Eric Hinske getting the start at first and batting second.

Matt Clement continues his rehab work in Fort Myers, Fla. The veteran righthander has been on a very structured rehab program since his surgery in September, which required major work on multiple parts of his shoulder. Francona reported Clement is throwing from 105 feet but still has a way to go before he can throw off a mound. He has not suffered any setbacks, was more than one month ahead of schedule when he began throwing in February, and is still eyeing a return this season. "He's at a point now where there's a lot of repetition," said Francona. "It's boring, but he's got to do it." . . . The Japanese media is making a lot of Daisuke Matsuzaka tipping his cap to Alex Rodriguez after he hit him with a pitch. The show of apology is a custom in Japan, where pitchers do not purposely hit batters. Francona sees no reason to change Matsuzaka's customs or his show of respect on the mound just to Americanize him.

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