Sox manager Terry Francona reported before tonight's game against the Orioles that lefthanded pitcher Javy Lopez had been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. Lopez was 1-0 with a 3.75 earned run average in nine relief appearances with the PawSox, last pitching a scoreless inning May 7 at Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

To make room for Lopez, the Sox optioned righthanded pitcher Devern Hansack to the PawSox, where Francona said he was expected to make a start in Saturday night's 6:05 game against visiting Toledo.

"We were just a little concerned because of the way our staff has thrown the ball, there weren't the innings that could've been there,'' Francona said of Hansack. "And we might've done him more harm than good by having him sit around.

"He was disappointed,'' Francona said of Hansack's reaction to his reassignment. "As I think with a lot of young or inexperienced guys, he felt like he didn't throw the ball over the plate well and we were like upset, but we just wanted him to go pitch.

"So if he goes and starts, he can do either when he's recalled. If he just sits, then he can only do one thing and that's not good.''

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Francona said he penciled in Wily Mo Pena as his right fielder to give J.D. Drew a night off.

Asked about how many at-bats Pena could expect to see this season, Francona said, "How many does he have right now? Thirty-seven? And that's without playing the first 10 days, which was tough, but since then the pace has picked up a little bit. I think when you look at the end of the year, I think he's going to have a significant amount of at-bats. It may not be consistent, but he'll have a lot of at-bats.''

Was Pena beginning to look a little more comfortable at the plate? "He took that swing at Baltimore that won the game,'' Francona said of the grand slam Pena hit April 26 in a 14-7 romp over the Orioles. "He may be a guy that swings -- he's young, he's a big strong guy and not exactly the [Alex] Cora-type guy who can put the bat on the ball. Sometimes Wily's all or nothing, but sometimes the all is pretty good.''

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Francona reported that lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester, who experienced cramping in his left forearm during his rehab assigment in Pawtucket, looked "very good'' in his side session. "He threw out to 120[-feet] again, brought it back in again and threw on flat ground and threw his offspeed pitches. He'll have a day of catch tomorrow and then he'll throw a bullpen on Sunday.''

Francona said he expected Mike Timlin, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3 with tendinitis in his right shoulder, to be examined by the medical staff tonight.

The lineups:

Boston

SS Julio Lugo
CF Coco Crisp
DH David Ortiz
LF Manny Ramirez
1B Kevin Youkilis
3B Mike Lowell
C Jason Varitek
RF Wily Mo Pena
2B Dustin Pedroia

SP: Julian Tavarez

BALTIMORE

2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
SS Miguel Tejada
C Ramon Hernandez
1B Aubrey Huff
3B Melvin Mora
LF Jay Gibbons
DH Kevin Millar
CF Corey Patterson

SP: Brian Burres