Donnelly is distressed; Surgeon will examine sore arm on Tuesday.

Byline: Bill Ballou

COLUMN: RED SOX NOTES

BOSTON - Brendan Donnelly's Red Sox career is not working out the way he, or the Sox, had hoped.

Before yesterday's game an emotional Donnelly talked about the "bad day" he had in Lowell on Friday night, when he experienced more abnormal sensation in his right arm while warming up and could not make his scheduled appearance for the Spinners.

Donnelly will be examined Tuesday in California, he said, by orthopedic surgeon Lewis Yocum, who knows Donnelly from the pitcher's career with the Angels. Donnelly, who turned 36 on the Fourth of July, has been on the disabled list since June 11 with a sore right forearm.

"He's stuck in neutral," manager Terry Francona said, "and we've got to find out some answers."

During yesterday's pre-game session with reporters in the Boston clubhouse, Donnelly was asked how frustrating this setback has been for him, said "You have no idea" and then walked away, obviously distressed.

Jays buying. not selling

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi is looking at the season's second half realistically, and with his eyes open.

"Nothing is impossible," he said in response to a question about catching the first-place Red Sox, "but they've done a good job building that big lead, and a good job holding onto it. Without some major setback happening, they'll be tough to catch."

Toronto will not have the "For Sale" sign up as the trading deadline approaches.

"If anything, we'll be buyers," Ricciardi said. "We've got a good club here and we're not about to break it up. We're still a young team, with a couple of exceptions, and we're looking forward to 2008, '09, '10, and we'd still love to have seen where this year's team would be if it hadn't been for all the injuries."

Tavarez on ropes

Julian Tavarez is not in imminent danger of losing his spot in the starting rotation, according to Francona. Tavarez is 0-3 in his last four appearances, three of which have been bad.

"I agree," Francona said, "that the last four were not very good. And that's surprising, since he's the kind of pitcher who you think would get better the more he pitches. He's a touch-and-feel guy, and whatever's gone wrong, we've got to fix."

Tavarez has spent most of his career as a reliever and is just eight innings shy of 100 innings for the season. He has not hit triple figures in innings pitched since 2002 with the Marlins. There is nothing wrong with Tavarez's arm, Francona said. His fastball is still lively. He just can't throw it where he wants.

Fragile Drew sits again

The perpetually injured J.D. Drew was not in the starting lineup. He felt some tenderness in his right hamstring on Friday night and left that game early. He was examined during the game and has improved, but is not likely to play today.

With Drew out, Eric Hinske was in right field and Coco Crisp moved up to hit in the leadoff spot. That left Wily Mo Pena on the bench once more.

Francona conceded that Pena's season has been inconsistent, and his hitting has been in and out.

"He's a big kid," the manager said, "and the more he plays, the better he'll hit, and that's been an issue for me. We knew coming in that if we didn't get him many at-bats, it could be a problem."

And so far, it has been.

Pan-Mass bikers at Fenway

The Red Sox recognized the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge in pre-game ceremonies.

This year's Pan-Mass Challenge will be held Aug. 4-5 and will include some 5,000 cyclists who are seeking to raise $27 million for the Jimmy Fund and will ride up to 190 miles across the state to do it.

Among the cyclists who rode the Fenway Park warning track before the game were brothers Larry and Tom Sullivan, both survivors of prostate cancer. Larry Sullivan, 49, lives in Worcester. Tom Sullivan, 51, is a Paxton resident.

Ortiz ends drought

David Ortiz's home run in the first snapped a streak of 129 at-bats without a home run at Fenway Park. His last one here had been on April 21. Oddly, Ortiz has gone from being Mr. End-of-Game to Mr. Start-of-Game. Of his 15 homers, 6 have come in the first inning; 7 have made the score 1-0; and eight have resulted in the first runs of the game.

Diamond Dust

Coco Crisp threw Troy Glaus out at second leading off the second after Glaus drilled one off the wall. The TV replay showed that Glaus was safe. ... The series finishes at 2:05 this afternoon. Josh Beckett (12-2) will be opposed by Jesse Litsch (1-3). ... Boston pitchers have thrown eight wild pitches in the last eight games, six in the last four. ... Mike Timlin's next appearance will be his 985th and will tie him with Lindy McDaniel for the 13th most ever in the majors.

NAME: BOSTON RED SOX 

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Toronto's Troy Glaus, center, is called out by umpire Laz Diaz after being tagged by Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia while trying to stretch a single.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS