PEDROIA SENT BACK TO BOSTON FOR TESTS ON WRIST
NEW YORK — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was scratched from the lineup before Sunday night’s game against the Yankees and returned to Boston with a left wrist injury the team fears could be serious.
Pedroia was injured during the home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 4. When Carlos Gomez slid into second base breaking up a double play in the ninth inning, Pedroia was upended and came down with his wrist bent at an awkward angle.
Pedroia is 5 for 36 at the plate since and the injury has gotten progressively worse. Team doctors will exam Pedroia on Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital and administer an MRI.
“He went down to hit early [Sunday] and the soreness continues to persist and probably gain in intensity,” Sox manager John Farrell said.
The Red Sox do not believe Pedroia aggravated the injury since it occurred. But the All-Star is off to a poor start as a result. He is hitting .236 and had yet to draw a walk in 55 plate appearances. Pedroia has only one RBI.
“I think there’s probably a direct correlation to what we’ve seen at the plate,” Farrell said. “There hasn’t been an event over the past couple of days that has brought this onset even further. It’s been more just everyday play. The soreness increases and it’s got to be checked out.”
The Red Sox started Jonathan Herrera at second base on Sunday. Ryan Roberts, who started at third base, also has experience at second.
The Red Sox have used Heiker Menses, Justin Henry, Brock Holt and Mike McCoy at second base in Triple A Pawtucket. Holt and McCoy have major league experience.
Pedroia tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb during the first game of 2013 and had surgery following the season.
There was a positive development for the Red Sox regarding closer Koji Uehara, who has not pitched since feeling discomfort in his right shoulder on Friday.
Uehara threw for 10 minutes at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon and was pain free. He, too, returned to Boston and will be examined on Monday. But the Red Sox expected Uehara to rejoin the team in Chicago for Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox.
“He came away from it encouraged,” said Farrell, who watched Uehara throw and spoke with him at length afterward. “During the time he was throwing, he felt better than he actually expected.”
Farrell said the Red Sox would want Uehara to throw in the bullpen before he is cleared for a game. He last pitched on Wednesday.
“Today overall was very good news regarding Koji,” Farrell said.
Uehara threw from 200 feet and then threw fastballs and splitters from flat ground.
“He was really able to generate good arm speed and he’s past some of the concerns mentally that he had,” Farrell said.
Right fielder Shane Victorino took a step forward in his return from the disabled list. Victorino, out all season with a strained right hamstring, ran the bases, played catch and took batting practice before the game.
He will be in Boston on Monday to work with physical therapist Dan Dyrek in anticipation of starting a rehabilitation assignment with Double A Portland on Tuesday.
The Sea Dogs host Binghamton on Tuesday night at Hadlock Field. Victorino said on Friday that he would need 2-3 games in the minors before returning to the Red Sox so he could get his timing down at the plate.
If all goes well, Victorino could rejoin the Red Sox for the start of their homestand on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.