MLB | Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew could play for Red Sox in Game 1

BOSTON — Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew took batting practice on an overcast day at Fenway Park. When they were done, the outlook for Boston's two injured hitters was brighter.

Both could be ready for Wednesday night's opener of the AL Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Red Sox can use the power that Lowell and Drew bring to the plate and that Josh Beckett, recovering from an injured side muscle, uncorks from the mound, but think they have enough depth without them.

"We've been able to win 95 games without everyone healthy," manager Terry Francona said Monday about an hour before the team left Fenway Park for the airport and the cross-country journey to Anaheim for Game 1.

With postseason ace Beckett (12-10, 4.03 earned-run average) pushed back to Game 3 on Sunday at Fenway Park, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka will pitch on the road.

Lester was 16-6 and Matsuzaka 18-3.

Notes

• New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will have minor surgery to repair a calcification on the AC joint in his right shoulder, an issue he dealt with throughout this season.

"I think this is what Mo is most comfortable with," manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "Fortunately for us, it's not something [in which] you hear shoulder [and] you hear about labrum, rotator [cuff]. It's not that. It's a little calcium deposit that they shave down."

• Yovani Gallardo could be the Game 1 starter for the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL playoffs against Philadelphia, even though he's made just one major league appearance since May 1. Gallardo returned from a torn knee ligament and pitched four innings Thursday against Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed one run and three hits while throwing 67 pitches.

• Right-handed pitcher Kyle Lohse and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $41 million, four-year contract. Lohse was 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA this season and led the staff with 200 innings. He agreed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract March 14. His new deal contract calls for a $1.25 million signing bonus and salaries of $7,125,000 next year, $8,875,000 in 2009 and $11,875,000 in each of the final two seasons. He also gets a full no-trade clause.

• Bud Black is coming back as San Diego manager despite the club's worst finish in 15 seasons. The Padres announced that Black and most of his staff will return in 2009. The Padres finished 63-99, 21 games behind first-place Los Angeles. The Padres say they won't renew the contract of bench coach Craig Colbert.