Shawn Abner, who bats from the right side, got a rare start against a right-hander Saturday night as manager Gene Lamont sat Dan Pasqua against the Rangers` Bobby Witt.
Pasqua, a left-handed batter, is 3 for 16 lifetime against Witt. Nonetheless, it`s a departure for Lamont, who has pretty much stuck to a straight platoon in right field.
Pasqua started the night batting .206. Abner was at .291.
A signal that Abner will get more playing time?
”That is a definite possibility,” Lamont said. ”Maybe I`ll try watching matchups a little closer, that kind of thing.”
As for Pasqua: ”Danny`s working like a dog, with extra hitting and everything. I haven`t forgotten him.”
– Abner`s future with the Sox is an unknown. Chances are he won`t be protected from the expansion draft, and at 26 with a modest salary, he will get some consideration.
He says he doesn`t want to go anywhere. Players say that all the time, but Abner means it.
”I just like it here,” said Abner, with his third club in two years after playing with the Padres and Angels last season. ”I`ve finally found a place where I fit in.”
– Mike Huff, after going 1 for 6 in a double-header for Class-A South Bend, is 10 for 31 (.323) with two doubles, a triple and a homer on his rehab. He hopes to rejoin the Sox in Toronto.
– Lamont`s pitching rotation will stay as is for a while longer. ”I don`t have any plans right now to change it,” he said. That may change.
– Friday night`s game, played in 2 hours 2 minutes, was the snappiest for the Sox since Sept. 13, 1987, when they played one in 1:54. It was the Rangers`
shortest since the Angels` Mike Witt threw a perfect game at them on Sept. 30, 1984, in 1:49.
– The Sox, 17-8 this month before Saturday, are assured of their fifth winning August in 26 years.
