Lowell gives start a thumbs up

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - As Ron Johnson finished up a plate of ribs, the Pawtucket manager was grateful for three things.

One, that Mike Lowell went 1 for 5 and drove in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single in the second inning of last night's 6-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs before 7,214 at McCoy Stadium. Two, that Lowell came out of the game healthy and ready to play third base tonight in Buffalo. Three, that the plate of ribs was courtesy of Lowell, who bought the team a $750 postgame spread from Outback Steakhouse.

"Man, the price of those Outback specials is getting higher and higher," kidded Lowell.

Lowell's reaction to his first rehab outing while on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb was positive.

"I was actually pretty happy recognizing different pitches, squared up a couple of balls," Lowell said. "Overall there wasn't anything negative, so that was good."

Johnson, who has gotten to know Lowell and other Red Sox players during spring training, said, "I was so excited. It was exciting to have such a great player and person batting third in the order. It has to be exciting to see a guy come up with the bases loaded with 120 RBIs last year. He didn't let us down."

Lowell said he got sawed off in the first and popped out to shortstop, but while that can usually sting, he said he felt nothing.

"I actually got jammed on the last at-bat [a pop out to second], but I really didn't feel anything so that's good," he said.

Lowell ran the count to 3 and 1 in his second at-bat, then lined a single to center field to score a pair of runs and stake Pawtucket to a 4-0 lead.

"I didn't feel like I was jumpy at all," he said. "I think you tend to do that when you haven't seen live pitching for a while. In that sense I thought my pitch recognition was very good. I actually swung at the pitches I wanted to swing at. Those are pitches that when I look back I want to swing at.

"I didn't really know what to expect. It was a nice surprise. When they say Red Sox Nation - it goes everywhere. I think the fans are into it, that's great."

Lowell said he will use a splint to make sure the thumb ligament is stable, and expects to wear it the rest of the season.

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