Tito: No Thought Of Vartiek As PH

Terry Francona did not consider sending up Jason Varitek to pinch-hit for Doug Mirabelli in the bottom of the 9th yesterday, with the Sox trailing 2-1.

"That didn't need to happen. He was pretty banged up" from Saturday when he was hit on the right thumb after some miscommunication on a Daisuke Matsuzaka fastball.

The thumb was swollen, but Varitek said:

I could definitely play if I needed to. I played the rest of the game after it happened, but it's a day game after a night game and it's probably smarter for me [to rest] and the team to get a fresh bat in there. .... As a player, you still want to be ready in case something happens. ... It's painful. Playing my position there's always something hurting.

Fresh bat, eh? ... I'd like to think that if Hinske had gotten on base to start the inning, Varitek would have batted. After the Sox's 7-8-9 hitters went down 1-2-3 in the 9th, their respective batting averages fell to .196, .185 and .210. Jeez.

Jere at ARSFFPT adds: "It also says a lot about Wily Mo that in a situation when we need a homer to tie, and we've got Mirabelli and Lugo coming up, we still don't use him."

Curt Schilling will throw two simulated innings this afternoon. ... Clay Buchholz makes his AAA debut tonight. ... The loss to Toronto was Boston's six straight in one-run decisions.