by By SEAN McADAM and MICHAEL SILVERMAN , The Boston Herald

Bench coach Brad Mills was given notice that he might have to run the team, and when the Sox and Angels were introduced prior to Game 1 of the AL Division Series, Francona didn't appear.

However, Francona was in the visitors dugout in the top of the first inning.

Hoyer to SD?

According to an industry source, the San Diego Padres have received permission to interview Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer to fill the vacancy left behind by the fired Kevin Towers.

A second industry source confirmed that Hoyer has interest in the position. He previously declined to interview for the Seattle GM vacancy last offseason.

Earlier this season, he was one of three finalists for the Washington Nationals vacancy.

Hoyer is on San Diego's short list of finalists, which includes Arizona executive Jerry DiPoto.

Left in hole

Provided neither team sweeps the ALDS, half of the Angels' scheduled starters - Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders - will be left-handers, as is closer Brian Fuentes.

That makes outfielder Rocco Baldelli's absence even bigger for the Sox .

The right-handed batter strained his left hip flexor last week at Fenway Park and couldn't heal fast enough to make the ALDS roster.

The Sox went 30-25 against lefty starters this seasons and 65-42 against right-handers. Baldelli, who had a .290 average and a .441 slugging percentage against southpaws, likely would have helped.

Now, outfielder Brian Anderson must fill Baldelli's role. The 27-year-old Anderson went 3-for-8 against left-handers in limited action with the Sox .

``If Rocco was here, he might have played,'' Francona said before the game. ``But (left-handed hitters) David (Ortiz) and J.D. (Drew) are good players. I have no problem playing them at all. They might have played, anyway.''

Francona said Baldelli ``can't run, he hasn't even been able to swing yet.'' The manager declined to predict if Baldelli would be healthy for the AL Championship Series if the Sox advance.

Familiar foes

A key matchup in tonight's Game 2 will be Josh Beckett against Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu.

No active player has more plate appearances against Beckett than Abreu (88). His success has been limited.

In 69 at-bats, Abreu has a .203 batting average but a .375 on-base percentage due partly to 19 walks. Abreu also has two home runs and seven RBI.

``Bobby's been one of the great guys to face my whole career because he's always been a guy that's worked counts,'' Beckett said. ``He's obviously brought that over here and some other guys have fed off that.'' . . .

When Game 1 started, the Red Sox still hadn't decided if Victor Martinez or Jason Varitek will catch Beckett tonight.

The assumption has been that Martinez would catch the first three games, but Beckett has far more experience throwing to Varitek.

Martinez started behind the plate last night.

`Big' difference

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said ``absolutely'' when asked if Ortiz is a much better hitter now than he was early in the season.

``When we went back in there in the last month of the season, you just saw a different presence,'' Scioscia said. ``You saw a guy, I think, more confident, more comfortable. He's every bit as dangerous as he's ever been.''

Ortiz entered the series having hit safely in each of his last seven career playoff games in Anaheim. That's the longest road hitting streak against LA in the playoffs. . . .

The Angels are the only team in major league history to have 11 players with at least 50 RBI, according to Elias Sports Bureau. . . .

Major League Baseball officially announced the starting times for the final three games of the series.

Game 3 on Sunday at Fenway Park will begin at 12:07 p.m. Game 4 (if necessary) on Monday at Fenway is scheduled for 8:37, but will be moved to 7:37 if the Twins-Yankees series is finished. Game 5 (if necessary) on Wednesday at Angel Stadium will take place at 9:37, but will be moved to 8:07 if there are no other playoff games scheduled.

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