PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) – Coco Crisp has no doubts he’s ready to join the Boston Red Sox.

Crisp, on the disabled list since April 9 with a non-displaced fracture at the base of his left index finger, played center field and batted leadoff Saturday in a rehabilitation game for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox against the Norfolk Tides.

Crisp drove in the first two runs in Pawtucket’s 4-0 victory with a two-run single off losing pitcher Jason Scobie. Crisp was 1-for-3 with a walk in four plate appearances.

“It is good to get a competitive game that counts underneath your belt and I was glad to come in and be able to do that,” said Crisp, acquired in the offseason in a trade with the Cleveland Indians. “I feel confident. I feel good.”

Crisp, whose recovery was slowed by kidney stones, said he would talk with management after Boston’s game against Tampa Bay on Saturday to find out whether he would play another game with Pawtucket on Sunday, or join the parent club for a Sunday workout before being activated on Monday.

“It’s all on them,” he said. “I’ll tell them I feel good. And if they want me to come back, I’ll come back and play another game. If they want me to go there, I’ll do that. It can go either way.”

Crisp took live batting practice at Fenway Park last Monday and Tuesday and then played center field for Boston’s extended spring training club in Fort Myers, Fla. on Thursday and Friday. He was a combined 2-for-11 with a walk, a stolen base and one home run.

“It felt good to get out there and compete with these guys,” Crisp said. “But I think you can know you’re ready before you play in a game like this. I felt like I was ready before this game.”

AP-ES-05-27-06 2221EDT



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