Mueller's woes prompted the summoning of Kevin Youkilis from Pawtucket to protect the Sox at third, and that meant another roster move, Jose Cruz Jr. being designated for assignment.
Francona thus had to insert Edgar Renteria into the lineup on a night when the manager was hoping to give the shortstop a day off. He had to move Alex Cora from short to third because he didn't think Youkilis would make it from Pawtucket in time. (He drove from Pawtucket, in uniform, and arrived by 6:30).
And all of this was happening on the first day of a homestand after the Sox lost two out of three to the Twins.
''It was an interesting day," Francona said. ''With Gabe [Kapler] and [Kevin] Millar, we have [outfield] options. It's funny because I think Cruz was coming in [to the manager's office] looking for a pep talk and not realizing he's moving on somewhere."
It was a game that Graffanino might want to have on tape so he can sit back on a comfy sofa and watch it on some rainy night 10 years from now.
He went 3 for 3 with four RBIs and energized the Sox on the basepaths, scoring on a wild pitch that didn't get very far away from catcher Rod Barajas in the fourth and hustled to score from second on an infield single by Johnny Damon in the seventh.
Graffanino, the No. 8 hitter, was even walked intentionally in that seventh inning, when the Sox padded the 8-5 lead he had given them with his homer in the fifth with three more runs.
Miller lasted only 4 1/3 innings, as his pitch count reached 104.
''From the first batter of the game, it was a battle for him," Francona said. ''If you don't command and keep the ball out of the center of the plate and you walk people, they're going to make it a long night, like they did. The command just wasn't there."
Francona's hook was timely, as Gonzalez came on with two on and one out in the fifth and got Dave Dellucci to hit into a double play, keeping the game tied, 5-5.
Gonzalez, who got the win, pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing only two hits and giving the Sox offense the opportunity to pull away.
