Neil Allen was encouraged that he was able to throw Wednesday, but he was discouraged with how he threw. A week ago, Allen suffered a pulled hamstring, putting him on the disabled list. ”It feels good,” Allen said. ”But I can still feel it when I hump up on the fastball.”
Allen is understandably impatient with the progress. He already has been on the disabled list twice this year, which is his free-agent year. ”This is a great year to be a free agent,” he said. ”I`m going into the All-Star break with four starts. I`m really going to be in demand.”
Jerry Hairston started at first base for the first time this year Wednesday. He played there in 19 games last season.
Donnie Hill is back in the No. 2 spot, where he was intended to be all along. He had three hits there Tuesday. ”He can make a big difference there when he`s hitting,” said manager Jim Fregosi. ”If he gets a few hits there, we`ll score some runs.”
Hill also seems to be back as a switch-hitter. He came into Wednesday`s game with only 21 at-bats right-handed. But he has started the last two games against lefties, including Wednesday`s against Mark Langston.
”My first couple of games against lefties were bad,” Hill said.
”Then Fred Manrique got in and had a few hits. I just figured if I kept working, sooner or later I`d get to face a left-hander.”
Hill was the designated hitter Wednesday. He`s bothered by a slight groin pull, although he said he could still play in the field.
Fregosi doesn`t expect Bill Long to miss a start, even though he`s bothered by a pulled groin. ”You`d have to shoot him to miss a start,” Fregosi said.
The Sox continue to be encouraged by Joel Davis` progress at Triple-A Hawaii. Davis (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings to lead the Islanders to a 3-2 victory over Vancouver Tuesday. Hawaii now has won eight straight games and 21 out of 31.
The Sox have an off-day Thursday before California comes to town for a weekend series. Fregosi decided against having a workout.
