BOSTON -- David Eckstein understands why the Red Sox put him on waivers. But that hasn't stopped him from making them pay.

A day after his suicide squeeze bunt -- which he learned under then-Lowell Spinners manager Dick Berardino -- beat the Sox, Eckstein had another solid game last night. He went 2 for 5 and bunted the go-ahead run to third before Boston rallied for a 10-9 victory.

"I wish things could have worked out differently," Eckstein said. "You always dream of making the majors with the organization that drafted you. I wanted to make it to Fenway Park."

That dream died after Boston made the dubious decision to waive Eckstein in 2000 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Lou Merloni. But the Angels claimed the former Spinner, and he's been their starting shortstop for the last two seasons.

A .300 hitter at his first three stops in the minors, Eckstein fell apart at Triple-A Pawtucket in 2000 under the tutelage of a pair of new coaches. PawSox hitting instructor Arnie Beyeler and roving hitting instructor Greg Biagini were new to the organization and didn't like Eckstein's unorthodox swing.

"They were trying to do the best for me," Eckstein said. "Believe me, my hitting style is not something you'd want to teach a little kid. But it's the only way I know how to hit."

Beyeler brought Eckstein's hands closer to his body to shorten his stroke. He also tried to make Eckstein swing off his back foot.

"I hit off my front foot and drive the back leg through, sliding it along the ground," Eckstein said. "They wanted me to keep my weight balanced through my back leg, so I'm swinging like Barry Bonds.

"That might work for a big power hitter, but not me."

Eckstein practiced hitting off a tee placed neck-high. The only way he could get around on the ball with his new stance was to drop the head of his bat. The high pitches in games that used to yield line drives and ground balls became popups.

By June, Eckstein was hitting .160.

When Merloni returned from Japan that August, the Red Sox needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Over the protestations of Berardino, they chose Eckstein. Less than a week later, they released Ed Sprague, meaning they lost Eckstein for nothing.

"I don't think they told the head people about the changes in my swing," Eckstein said. "I can't say I blame them. I didn't look like I belonged in Triple A. You wouldn't protect someone hitting .160, would you?"

Eckstein went to Edmonton, Anaheim's Triple-A club, and hit .346. He's been a major leaguer ever since.

Sox add someHawaiian punch

Yesterday the Red Sox signed outfielder Benny Agbayani off waivers from Colorado. The 30-year-old native of Hawaii was one of the heroes for the New York Mets in their 2000 run to the World Series, and Boston hopes Agbayani can recreate his late-season success here.

Agbayani, who went on the disabled list May 12 with a hamstring injury, has spent the last 43 games with Colorado Springs, the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate. He's hit .272 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in the minors. He hit only .205 in 48 games with the Rockies.

In the 2000 postseason, Agbayani set a Mets record by hitting in 12 straight games, including a game-winning homer against the Giants in the Division Series.