Red Sox Team Report

Red Sox Team Report

Yahoo! Sports - Jun 18, 7:01 am EDT

• Inside Pitch
• Notes, Quotes
• Roster Report

Clay Buchholz' back was feeling better Friday, although he will have his next start pushed back to allow for extra rest.
For now, at least, Buchholz won't go on the disabled list.
Buchholz, the Red Sox' right-hander, has been dealing with stiffness in his lower back for at least four of his last five starts. He said the problem even dates to last season, but it has intensified this year. Buchholz is hoping to avoid the disabled list, but the Red Sox also don't want his back to become a chronic issue.
"He's going to fight us tooth and nail to not miss a start, which we like, but we need to see how he progresses the next couple days," manager Terry Francona said Friday. "And there's no reason for us to have to do any (potential roster moves) for a couple days."
The Red Sox can afford simply to delay Buchholz' next start for two reasons: One, they have scheduled off days on June 23 and June 27. Two, lefty Andrew Miller already was slated to get called up Monday from Class AAA Pawtucket to make his Red Sox debut.
After Miller faces the San Diego Padres, Josh Beckett can start Tuesday night on his usual rest. If Buchholz isn't ready to start Wednesday, right-hander John Lackey can start on his normal rest. Lackey allowed four runs Friday night in a 10-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Buchholz was limited to five innings and 81 pitches Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, although he allowed only one run on two hits and earned the victory. Buchholz has had similar back problems in recent starts.
"The way that I use my body and my delivery, there's more torque involved than a lot of other guys," Buchholz said. "It's just something that I might have to deal with for a little bit, until the All-Star break. I think that will help a lot."
"It feels better. The more intensive stretching that we were trying to do after the game last night wasn't really feeling too good with it, and then I came in today and we did pretty much the same thing and it felt a lot better."

• RHP Jonathan Papelbon had his suspension reduced to two games by Major League Baseball. He began serving the punishment Friday night. Papelbon had been suspended for three games on June 8 because he made contact with home plate umpire Tony Randazzo after being ejected from a June 4 game in Fenway Park. Papelbon appealed the suspension, and his argument was heard Friday. "I think the process was done very well and very fair for both sides," said Papelbon, who picked up his 13th save Thursday night at Tampa Bay. "Like I said when this thing first happened, I've got to own up to it, and I did, now the consequences are set. I asked for two games, they looked at video tape and I guess (they) decided that two games was fair for me to accept, and that's it." The Red Sox didn't require a closer in Friday night's 10-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
• SS Jed Lowrie went on the disabled list Friday with a left shoulder injury. As a result, INF Drew Sutton was recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket. Lowrie initially injured his shoulder by running into LF Carl Crawford while pursuing a pop fly May 29 in Detroit. An MRI exam didn't reveal any structural damage, and Lowrie attempted to play through the pain, which he described as a "dull ache." But Lowrie left Thursday night's game in Tampa Bay after striking out in the first inning because he said he felt like his shoulder "slipped out" of joint. Lowrie underwent his second MRI in nine days on Friday to ascertain the severity of the injury. Manager Terry Francona characterized the MRI results as "really pretty good," but they were also being sent to Dr. Lewis Yocum for a second opinion. "Regardless of what we call it, we need to get that thing stronger," Francona said, "and to do that we're going to have to let it settle down first and get him on a pretty good strength program so he can go out there and play."
• LF Carl Crawford left Friday night's game in the first inning after suffering a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring while legging out an infield single. He grabbed his hamstring as athletic trainer Mike Reinold and manager Terry Francona checked on him, then limped off the field and was replaced by Darnell McDonald. Grade 1 strains typically require a one- to two-week recovery period. "They're just going to see how I feel (Saturday) and then go from there," Crawford said. Crawford is batting .243 in the first year of his seven-year, $142 million contract with he Red Sox.
• 2B Dustin Pedroia started an impressive double play in the third inning Friday night, and in the process, he may have turned around the game. With the Red Sox leading 4-3 and facing a bases-loaded, none-out situation, Casey McGhee hit a one-hopper to the right side. Pedroia dove to snare the ball, then threw to second base, where Marco Scutaro turned the double play. The tying run scored, but Pedroia stopped the rally from growing further. "That's going to be a couple of runs and maybe second and third," manager Terry Francona said. "That's the biggest play of the game. That's the way (Pedroia) plays. I don't think anybody else makes that play."
• RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka is scheduled for a checkup Monday in Los Angeles with Dr. Lewis Yocum, and after that, he will report to the Red Sox' facility in Fort Myers, Fla., to begin his rehab from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. Meanwhile, LHP Rich Hill, who had Tommy John surgery June 9, said he plans to rehab locally, not in Florida. Hill, who lives in South Boston, will consult with trainer Mike Reinold when the club is home and with physical therapist Scott Waugh when the team is away. Hill has begun exercises to try to strengthen his shoulder and said that Dr. James Andrews told him the injury wasn't caused by his decision to adopt a sidearm delivery.

By The Numbers:

12—Draft choices signed by the Red Sox through Friday. Among them is 3B Matt Gedman, son of former Red Sox C Rich Gedman.

Quote To Note:

"I'm a streaky hitter, for sure. But the biggest thing you can say is you take me out of Petco (Park in San Diego) and look at my numbers and I'm definitely hitting above my average and all that. (Fenway) is a great place to hit and a good ballpark. It makes you feel good as a hitter."
—Red Sox 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who raised his majors-leading average to .352 by going 3-for-4 with his 15th homer Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers.