BOSTON - Paul Abbott wasn't happy where he threw the pitch and he was very unhappy with where Jason Varitek hit it.
But what he seemed most disappointed about was that he threw it at all.
With one out and one on in the fourth inning of a scoreless game, Abbott quickly got ahead of the Boston catcher 0-and-2 with two cut fastballs. Abbott threw a fastball up and in to keep Varitek off the plate, then threw a changeup that Varitek knocked over the rightfield wall for a 2-0 lead.
Abbott was mad at himself for being too predictable, for throwing the changeup in a situation where Varitek, a former Seattle teammate, was expecting it.
"They way he hit it ... he killed it," Abbott said. "I'm angry at myself for the pitch Varitek hit. It wasn't the right pitch. ... It's easy to second-guess. I played with Jason and he caught me. I think it was pretty obvious. You get wrapped up in the game and you don't think about things like that. I'm 0-2, throw a fastball up and in and then come back with a changeup. It's like Pitching 101."
HOT TALK: Infielder Geoff Blum apologized to manager Lou Piniella after the two had a somewhat heated exchange in the dugout before batting practice.
Piniella on Tuesday said he was "disappointed" in Blum and had been "expecting more," and Blum, hitting .111, did not appreciate the public criticism.
Blum said he apologized for having the exchange in public.
Despite having the most success of the Rays against Boston starter Curt Schilling (7-for-17), Blum was not in the lineup.
ON THE MARK: Mark Hendrickson may get a chance to make another start Sunday, when the Rays have a hole in their rotation because of Tuesday's rainout and today's doubleheader.
Hendrickson was taken out of the rotation because the Rays weren't happy with what he was throwing or how he was throwing it, and he vowed to make the necessary physical and mental adjustments.
He made his first relief appearance Wednesday, but didn't look very good, facing seven batters and allowing three hits, including a two-run single in the seventh to Mark Bellhorn that made a 3-0 game 5-0.
"I don't think Bellhorn had a hit off a left-hander all year (0-for-12)," Piniella said. "He got ahead of him and then he just gave him a pitch that was pretty well-centered."
If Piniella decides against Hendrickson on Sunday, he may use John Halama.
POSSIBLE RELIEF: One name to watch for as the Rays search for relief help is Franklin Nunez. The right-hander, 27, has been tearing through Double-A competition with Montgomery, allowing one earned run in 102/3 innings while striking out 19, and is headed to Triple-A Durham. Nunez is a former top prospect with the Phillies whose career was interrupted by July 2002 shoulder surgery. The Rays signed him as a minor-league free agent.
ROAD WARRIORS: This isn't the easiest way to end an 11-day road trip, playing a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park.
The Rays will spend more than 12 hours at the stadium, then fly three hours to Tampa and get home after 3 a.m. Then they get to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday at home against Oakland and leave again Sunday afternoon on a weeklong trip to Texas and Anaheim.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Today's is the eighth doubleheader in Rays history. They have been swept twice and split five times. ... This will be their third doubleheader in Boston. They split Sept. 21, 1998, and July 23, 2002, when they lost the opener 22-4 and rallied to win the nightcap 5-4. ... The April 13 rainout in New York will be made up as part of a traditional doubleheader on Labor Day, Sept. 6, in New York starting at 1:05 p.m.
MISCELLANY: Jose Cruz extended his career-high hitless streak to 0-for-28. ... Dewon Brazelton had another strong outing for Triple-A Durham and has allowed two runs in his past 172/3 innings, and Dicky Gonzalez has done even better, allowing one run in 17 innings over his past three games. ... Damian Rolls continues to do pregame work at second base. ... Pitcher Jason Standridge's 30-day rehabilitation assignment moves from Montgomery to Durham, where he starts Friday.
