Newcomer Is a Hit in Boston

RED SOX' GRAFFANINO

Though his three postseason home runs helped the Red Sox to a world championship last fall, second baseman Mark Bellhorn may have lost his starting job. On July 19, two days after Bellhorn went down with a sprained left thumb, Boston acquired Tony Graffanino from the Royals, and he has done exactly what Bellhorn did not: hit. In his first 17 games with the Sox, Graffanino hit .358 with 10 RBIs and 16 runs. Bellhorn, who is rehabbing at Triple A Pawtucket, was batting .216 with 109 strikeouts in 283 at bats when he was hurt. But manager Terry Francona remains noncommittal on the starter. "I'm not ready to go there yet," he told The Boston Globe.