Rolls takes rest, Perez takes spot

BOSTON - And on the day of the 35th game, he rested.

Not that he wanted it, but Damian Rolls on Wednesday got his first night off since coming back from the minors on June 13.

The move was done for two reasons - to give him a chance to rest and to give hot-hitting rookie Antonio Perez a chance to play.

Rolls has done well since - unexpectedly - taking over as the everyday third baseman, but showed some signs of wear, going 2-for-17 in his past four games, dropping his average to .245, with only one RBI in his past seven games and no extra-base hits in his past 13.

"I wouldn't say I'm tired, but I'm definitely feeling the effects of playing every day," Rolls said.

Rolls began the season as an extra outfielder, spent five weeks on the disabled list after fracturing his right thumb, then three weeks at Triple-A Durham working at all outfield positions.

But when he was called back up, the Rays, who had used seven third basemen in the first 64 games, put him at the hot corner (his original position) and left him there.

Rolls has been pleased - though not satisfied - with his performance.

"Decent," he said. "I don't feel like I've played to my full potential. I'm still learning a few things. I don't feel like I've showed them everything I can do."

Rolls' future may be as a utility player, but he is enjoying the opportunity to play regularly. "I've loved every minute of it."

FIRST AT THIRD: Perez has played regularly at shortstop and second base but, in 51/2 years of pro baseball, never at third until Wednesday.

"They've got seven left-handed hitters in the lineup and we've got a fly-ball pitcher on the mound," manager Lou Piniella said. "If we're going to try it, today's as good a day as any."

Perez did fine, but will be headed back to second, perhaps today, when Marlon Anderson starts serving his suspension for his role in the June 14 brawl with Pittsburgh. Anderson appealed and officials were believed to be waiting to hear Pirates catcher Jason Kendall's side of the story on Wednesday before ruling.

SWING CLUB: With Ben Grieve out for the season, the Rays will rotate a few players into the DH role. But soon, perhaps next week, they are likely to call up Pete LaForest, who is hitting .292 with eight homers and 17 RBIs in 28 games at Triple-A Durham.

"We'll take a look at LaForest sometime probably after the 31st," Piniella said. "We'd like to find out if he can swing it up here or not."

TRADE WINDS: Piniella said the trade situation remains the same: General manager Chuck LaMar could make a couple of deals but isn't impressed with what has been offered.

"It doesn't seem to me from the conversations I've had with Chuck that anybody is overly crazy about our players, at least not by the interest in return shown," he said. "There is interest, but we really haven't been offered anything that, to me, makes something imminent."

BEST WISHES: Piniella expressed concern for Grieve, who is expected to have surgery next week to have his top right rib removed. "It's bad news," he said. "Forget the fact that he's going to miss the rest of the season. It's his health that I'm personally concerned about."

WELCOME BACK: The number of reporters waiting for him was down to a half-dozen, but Rhode Islander Rocco Baldelli's second trip "home" to Fenway Park was still a big deal, complete with fans wearing T-shirts from his high school - Bishop Hendricken. "I'm sure I'll have people yelling at me that I didn't even know were coming to the game," Baldelli said.

MISCELLANY: Piniella said he is leaning toward having Joe Kennedy pitch on schedule Sunday in Chicago rather than holding him back to face Toronto on Tuesday. ... Jeremi Gonzalez allowed three runs or fewer for the 10th time in 13 starts. ... Travis Lee is hitting .364 in his past 13 games with 11 RBIs. ... Toby Hall is hitting .353 over his past 10.