-Don't expect J.D. Drew to play the entire game tonight. Francona, admitting it was "a little spring-trainingish," said he would check with Drew throughout to make sure he felt OK.

-With Drew back surprisingly early, Mike Lowell is the lone player the Red Sox need to return to health for the playoffs. (We're not counting Julio Lugo.) Terry Francona said while it would obviously be preferable, it would not be "necessary" for Lowell to play before the playoffs begin.

"We’ll do what we think is best," Francona said. "He is improving. I think he thinks he’s going to be OK. For the sake of him getting four or five at-bats, I would hate to hurt him on a Saturday or Sunday and lose him for the playoffs."

-Francona explained why he went with Okajima last night in the seventh, a move that worked to perfection. Okajima, who has sturggled this season with inherited runners, entered with two outs and the bases loaded and Victor Martinez at the plate. Francona knew Martinez was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts (including playoffs) against Okajima. But he also considered the ramifications for the near future.

"I thought there was more to gain than lose," Francona said. "Seeing Okie get a couple of those under his belt this week would be very beneficial to us going forward. There’s no way we make it through the playoffs without bringing in Okie in the middle of an inning. So I thought it really had a chance to help us."

-Chad Finn earlier today gave a great synopsis of how the postseason will play out. There was a television report today that said the Los Angeles Times reported the Angels chose the Wednesday-first schedule. The LA Times did not report that, and it's absurd. The Angels, as Chad explains, have not yet won the right to choose -- they're two games ahead of the Rays and might be caught. (The Rays own the tiebreaker, too.)

Terry Francona was asked his thoughts about the procedure and what the Angels might do. The Red Sox last season had the opportunity to pick their playoff schedule.

"I don’t know," he said. "[Expletive], I don’t care. I didn’t even care last year, when we had to pick. I just figured that whoever plays better is going to win. I don’t think it gets in the way that much."

-Tonight's starter Paul Byrd, soaked with champagne last night in the Red Sox clubhouse, recognized how far he has come this season. He's pitching agains the team he played for during the first 4 1/2 months of this season, and the two years before that. About two months ago, "I was in last place," he said. "I was 3-10 with a 5.70 ERA. I couldn't figure it out. Wondering if I was washed up, if I'd ever have a chance to do this. Terry and the Red Sox took a chance on me. That definitely meant a lot to me, that they put their faith in me when I was just starting to turn the corner."

Byrd has rewarded that faith already tonight by allowing only an infield single in the first inning and striking out Jhonny Peralta on an 88-mph fastball. More updates to come all night.