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BOSTON - Derek Lowe played a huge role in helping the Red Sox get to the World Series, giving them a solid start in the pivotal fourth game and an outstanding effort in the climactic seventh game.
In return, the Sox gave him his job back.
Manager Terry Francona on Thursday unveiled pitching plans that include Lowe returning to the rotation, Brooksville resident Bronson Arroyo moving to the bullpen and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitching Saturday's opener.
Curt Schilling, who delivered a dominating outing in Game 6 despite his injured right ankle, will start Game 2 on Sunday so he doesn't have to deal with running the bases for the games played without the DH in the NL park.
Pedro Martinez, who pitched an ineffective inning of relief Wednesday, will get five more days' rest before starting Game 3.
Lowe, who was bumped from the rotation at the start of the postseason, will be in line to start Game 4.
Arroyo struggled in his Game 3 start, but pitched well in relief in Games 5 and 6.
"Bronson proved his resiliency with his arm and his effectiveness, which we can really use," Francona said. "He was so effective that it's not that he can't start - he's a good starter - but he gave our bullpen just a huge extra right-handed arm that might get us over the edge."
Wakefield pitched in relief three times against the Yankees, voluntarily giving up his Game 4 start to work the final three innings of Game 3. He also worked the final three innings of Boston's 14-inning Game 5 victory.
"He had a big, big hand in us winning the series," Francona said. "He's going to start Game 1, and I think he's very excited. And I'm excited for him. I think it will be fun."
SO THAT'S WHY: Bringing in Martinez to pitch the seventh Wednesday seemed like a horrible decision, given the way his presence brought the crowd to life and his fat pitches gave the Yankees a flicker of hope.
Francona said he did it because he had to, that Lowe was done after six innings, that his other relievers were too tired to go too long, that he needed the seventh inning covered.
But he also sounded like he used Martinez because he wanted to let him get back on the Yankee Stadium mound.
"I was excited about bringing him in that game," Francona said. "I know he gave up some hits, some runs, but he actually threw the ball very well. I wanted him to be standing on that mound with some success."
DEATH OUTSIDE FENWAY: A 20-year-old woman died after being shot in the eye by a police projectile intended to subdue an unruly crowd outside Fenway Park. Victoria Snelgrove of East Bridgewater, Mass., was pronounced dead Thursday. The projectile that struck Snelgrove, a student at Emerson College, was meant to be a nonlethal crowd control device. More than 60,000 gathered outside Fenway after the win.
- Times staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report, which used information from other news organizations.