The Sox, as previously announced, intend to make up Saturday's game as a doubleheader during the Rangers' visit to Fenway June 9-11.
Yesterday's game could be made up as another doubleheader that weekend, making for four games in two days (''There's a chance," Francona said. ''I think that's probably a small chance.") The other possibility: playing a one-game series July 20, a mutual offday for the teams. (''But that's not a given," Francona said. ''Nothing's a given.")
July 20 would seem to make the most sense. That is an open date during Texas's 11-day, 10-game trip stopping in Baltimore (July 13-16), Toronto (July 17-19), and Chicago (July 21-23). A game that day would extend the Sox' seven-game homestand coming out of the All-Star break. The Sox play in Seattle the next night.
That, however, is a concern for another day. The more immediate issue yesterday was how to align the rotation, which has become a four-man unit for the time being. Fifth starter Lenny DiNardo, who last pitched May 7, will move to the bullpen for the three-game series beginning tonight in Baltimore, and will return to the rotation Saturday or Sunday.
Josh Beckett, scheduled to start yesterday opposite Kevin Millwood, pitches tonight against Rodrigo Lopez (1-5, 7.03 ERA). Curt Schilling works tomorrow against Bruce Chen (0-4, 8.42), and Tim Wakefield opposes Erik Bedard (4-2, 4.63) Wednesday. All three Sox starters will be working with one additional day of rest.
Matt Clement, who went seven days between his last starts, will have gone six days without pitching when he takes the mound in the series opener Friday at Philadelphia. Beckett and DiNardo will pitch Saturday and Sunday against the Phillies, though it has not been determined in what order.
''Lenny goes to the bullpen for the foreseeable future, my guess until Thursday," Francona said. ''We'll have Lenny available, that gives us an extra pitcher. They're going to pitch Saturday, Sunday, I just don't know what order yet."
