PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The offensive aspect of Carl Crawford‘s game was answered Friday night as he went 1-for-2 with a walk in three plate appearances in his first of two minor league rehab assignments with the PawSox. Crawford also scored and drove in a run in Pawtucket’s 3-2 win over Durham at McCoy, helping Kevin Millwood improved to 5-0 in his minor league assignment with the Red Sox.

Crawford drove in Che-Hsuan Lin from third on a broken bat single to center, hanging in on a changeup from Durham starter Alex Torres in the first inning.

The biggest and best test of his left hamstring came in the third when he took ball 4 on a full count. After showing his batting eye hasn’t been affected in his month off, he took off for second on a hit-and-run on a single by Ryan Lavarnway. As important as his explosion from first was, his ability to put on the breaks around second was just as significant. He did both cleanly.

“The most important thing was being able to take out of the [batter's] box like I normally can, being able to move quick without worrying about my hamstring and I had a few moments today where I was able to test it,” Crawford said after his 20-minute treatment in the whirlpool.

“That felt good, that was a time I had to test it and it felt good. When you stop like that, something can happen. So when you stop real quick and nothing happens, that’s a good sign.”

Crawford advanced to third on a single to left but was held up around third. He faced the hard-throwing lefty Torres in the first and righty Lance Cormier in the third and fifth.

“Getting back out here and seeing live pitching definitely helped me,” Crawford said. “It’s all about the timing. You’ve got a lefty throwing pretty hard so I tried to see a few and make the adjustments I need to make from there. It was a little challenging but I was able to make a few adjustments.”

Crawford grounded a ball into the hole at short after Daniel Nava singled to open the fifth. Nava appeared safe at second but was ruled out, costing Crawford his second single.

There would be no hard running on the bases this time as Lavarnway blasted a long homer to left, allowing Crawford to easily jog the bases on the round-tripper that made it 3-1 PawSox.

Crawford’s only defensive chance came in the fourth when caught a fly ball off the bat of J.J. Furmaniak.

Crawford will play again Saturday night for Pawtucket before taking Sunday off. If his left hamstring responds, he will be activated for Monday’s game in Baltimore.

“We’re just trying to get my legs back under me right now so we didn’t see the need to play nine innings,” Crawford said of playing just five innings Friday. “As long as I was able to the things that I can do when I’m in the big leagues, that’s all I need to do. Just see if I can do it two days in a row. Just want to do everything two days in a row, make sure there’s no pain and nothing like that. After that happens, I’ll be ready to go.”

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Carl Crawford, in his first appearance back in a game since straining his left hamstring on June 17 against the Brewers, collected a broken-bat single in the first inning, scoring Che-Hsuan Lin and staking the PawSox to a 1-0 lead over the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium.

He indicated to reporters before Friday’s game that he is limited to six innings in the first of his two rehab stints with the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate.

“Hopefully, it won’t take me that long to catch up,” Crawford said in the Pawtucket dugout. “But that’s why I’m down here, first time on my own. I was a little worried about it when it happened but it’s taken care of now.”

If all goes as planned, Crawford will play again Saturday night for Pawtucket and then travel to Baltimore on Sunday, where he will join the Red Sox on Monday when they open a three-game series with the Orioles at Camden Yards.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Carl Crawford will bat third and play left field for Pawtucket Friday night against the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium. The Red Sox star left fielder has been on the disabled list since June 18 with a strained left hamstring.

He indicated to reporters before Friday’s game that he is limited to six innings in the first of his two rehab stints with the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate.

“Hopefully, it won’t take me that long to catch up,” Crawford said in the Pawtucket dugout. “But that’s why I’m down here, first time on my own. I was a little worried about it when it happened but it’s taken care of now.”

Crawford injured his left hamstring when he beat out an infield single against the Brewers at Fenway Park on June 17.

If all goes as planned, Crawford will play again Saturday night for Pawtucket and then travel to Baltimore on Sunday, where he will join the Red Sox on Monday when they open a three-game series with the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Friday’s PawSox game will also be of note to Red Sox fans because of their starting pitcher. Kevin Millwood is 4-0 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts since the Red Sox signed him to a minor league deal.

Righthander Kyle Weiland will make his major league debut on Sunday in the pre-All Star break finale against the Orioles at Fenway Park. The 24-year-old will be taking the place of Jon Lester in the Red Sox rotation, as Lester went on the disabled list this week with a left lat strain suffered in Tuesday’s start against the Blue Jays.

One of the factors figuring in for the Red Sox is that Weiland will be well-rested, having come off an impressive start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, allowing six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings against Rochester in a win over the Red Wings.

“He’s really been doing well,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said in making the announcement before Friday’s game. “So as much as has gone wrong with some health, this is the flip side where it’s really exciting. Kind of looking forward to it.”

Weiland is 6-2 this season, with a 2.33 ERA in 10 starts. He impressed the Red Sox in spring training with his live arm and earned his first big league assignment by showing consistent control at Triple-A, striking out 59 and walking 19 in 58 innings for Pawtucket.

The Red Sox decided not to go with Alfredo Aceves, who has already made four spot starts for the Red Sox this season.

“We certainly could’ve but again, the way our bullpen is situated, he gives us such a luxury of pitching short, pitching long and again, he may start again sometime but this kid is lined up and has been pretty hot and would like send him out there and see how he does,” Francona said.

The team also passed on Kevin Millwood as an option, which would’ve meant calling him up from Triple-A and adding him to the 40-man roster.

Francona has been a big believer in the Red Sox rookie development program, held every winter in Boston to teach young players the Red Sox way. Weiland is a product of that program.

“He went through our rookie development program, and that’s good, too,” Francona said. “But he’s throwing the ball really well, missing a lot of bats. He’s come up with a cutter along with his breaking ball and fastball, he’s having a lot of success there. He came to camp this spring, which is good, because now that it’s time for him to pitch he won’t be introducing himself to everybody. I’m sure he’ll have butterflies and be nervous but guys know who he is and our catchers have caught him.

“He’s just starting to mature and sometimes that happens at different rates but he’s always had a good arm.”

Ryne Sandberg interviewed about managing the PawSox before accepting a job with an International League rival. (AP)

Among the candidates to replace Torey Lovullo as the manager of the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate next year, one came with Hall of Fame credentials.

In a conference call to discuss his hiring as the manager of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Ryne Sandberg told reporters that he had interviewed about the possibility of managing the PawSox after electing to leave the Cubs organization.

The Sox have been looking to replace Lovullo, who spent 2010 as their manager in Pawtucket before joining John Farrell‘s coaching staff in Toronto. The organization has been talking to both internal and external candidates about the position, and apparently Sandberg was one of the individuals who was interviewed. However, the former Cubs great — who had spent the last four seasons as a minor league manager in the Cubs system — ended up returning to a Phillies organization that selected him in the 20th round of the 1978 draft.

Sandberg was passed over for the job of Cubs major league manager recently, with Chicago electing to hire Mike Quade. Sandberg turned down offers to join the Cubs’ major league coaching staff and also elected to decline an offer to return to manage Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate for another season.

“I didn’t think it was in the best interest for me, the Cubs, or ownership to be at the Triple-A level. I didn’t think fair to me, the fans, or Mike Quade to have the perception that I was waiting for the axe to fall in Chicago,” he told reporters. “I’m going back to my roots where I learned to play the game as a major-league player. In a lot of ways, I feel like a young kid again. I couldn’t be happier about the situation.”

[Click here to listen to the world according to Lars Anderson.]

The Red Sox didn’t just promote a hard-hitting, highly-regarded first base prospect with power on Monday. They called up perhaps the most advanced 22-year-old philosopher in the game.

The much-heralded, power-hitting first baseman prospect Lars Anderson was called up Monday by the Red Sox to make his major league debut. Anderson got word from the Red Sox following Pawtucket’s game Sunday and made his way up to Boston, where he was immediately slotted into the starting lineup, batting eighth and playing first base.

Anderson batted .355 in 17 games with Double-A Portland before being promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. He struggled with a batting average near .200 before getting hot in the summer months and finishing with a .262 mark, including 10 homers and 53 RBIs in 113 games.

“Baseball is such an ebb and flow throughout the year,” Anderson said. “I’m just happy with way I’ve handled the downs and ups as well.”

For the last 25 games with the PawSox, he hit .330 while clubbing eight homers.

But well before that 25-game stretch, Anderson never doubted he’d wind up in the majors, specifically Boston.

“Yes,” Anderson responded without hesitation when asked if he knew he’d wind up in the majors eventually. “I don’t know. I just knew since I was little.”

But that doesn’t take away from the sheer excitement of the 24 hours leading up to Monday night at Fenway.

“I’m shocked because at [about] one o’clock when I got into Boston last night, I really felt my nerves,” Anderson admitted. “Right now, I feel great, I feel pretty calm and excited and under control.

“I feel like I’ve progressed in a lot of the areas I wanted to progress and I’m happy about that,” Anderson said. “I’m sure I’ll have butterflies before game but I’m way more calm. Last night, I was really jittery. Now I’m happy to be here.”

“That was more of a physical thing,” Anderson said. “It’s not where I want it to be. From what I’ve gathered, that’s the last thing that comes and it’s just a product of maturity and maturation.”

“Some physical stuff. Some mental stuff. I think the biggest adjustment for hitting is not making too many adjustments because that can become overwhelming.”

Not too many 22-year-olds are so well-adjusted. But the Red Sox clearly feel that this is no ordinary 22-year-old baseball prospect. Another example you ask?

“Sometimes not as well as I would have like to and sometimes I was really proud of myself with how I handled it,” he professed. “When I handle it well is when I’m emotionally detached from it and it’s a failed action but not failed as a human being. It’s like a bad swing doesn’t turn into a bad player which doesn’t turn into being a bad person. A bad swing is just a bad swing. You can leave it at that, which is a great way to feel when you’re struggling.”

So, it should come as no surprise that Anderson, who also had his parents in from Sacramento, Calif., has formed a professional bond with Red Sox sports psychology coach Bob Tewksbury.

“He and I are great friends,” Anderson said. “There’s a couple of people back home and my parents and myself. Obviously, it’s a never-ending thing but just realize that all of us are good. We all have this innate quality of goodness in us just appreciate that and just see it in ourselves and others and not be so self-destructive.”

But that doesn’t mean Anderson needs to always be introspective when describing his feelings of reaching the bigs.

“I think I’m going to love playing here and hitting here,” Anderson said. “It’s good to be here.”

For the first time since breaking a bone in his right foot in late June, Jason Varitek has been cleared to return to game action.

The team announced following Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the White Sox that Varitek will catch four-to-five innings for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday at McCoy Stadium.

Varitek will then DH for the PawSox in their season finale on Monday afternoon before a possible return to the Red Sox active roster on Tuesday. Varitek met with team doctors on Saturday to get final clearance to return to game action.

Earlier Saturday, manager Terry Francona said the team captain could be nearing a return to game action following a meeting Saturday with doctors. Varitek has been out of action with a broken foot since taking a Carl Crawford foul ball off his right foot on June 30 against Tampa Bay.

“He’s going to meet with the medical people and doctors today,” Francona said. “We’ll see what they’ll allow him to do. Hopefully, he’ll be able to go play, we’ll see. I know time is running out for the Triple-A guys so today is an important day and important meeting for him.”

The Triple-A PawSox conclude their season with a pair of home games Sunday and Monday at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket against Syracuse.