Dustin Pedroia Banged Up, Clay Buchholz Roughed Up in Loss to Twins

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Mar 23, 2010

Dustin Pedroia Banged Up, Clay Buchholz Roughed Up in Loss to Twins

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz and second baseman Dustin Pedroia both got roughed up against the Minnesota Twins during a 7-2 loss.

Pedroia strained his left wrist in the first inning while diving for a ball hit by Denard Span. The 2008 AL MVP was charged with a throwing error on the same play and finished the inning but did not return.

"When he went after that ball, it was the back of his wrist," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He had limited swelling. We're going to get him X-rayed in the morning, just because we should. Their doctor came over. I don't think there's a problem. He might be a little sore tomorrow. Hopefully that's all it is."

Buchholz threw three wild pitches, hit a batter, walked three and gave up six runs, five earned.

"I was trying to do too much," said Buchholz, whose spring ERA rose to 10.80. "Whenever I felt like I'd make a good pitch, they'd hit it. And then I'd try to make it better and that causes it to be out of the zone, rather than just trusting the stuff down in the zone and getting some outs."

Twins starter Carl Pavano struck out one, walked one and gave up two hits in five scoreless innings. Pavano continued his solid spring, lowering his ERA to 2.00.

"Pavano was very good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He was locating the ball very well. Our offense moved the ball around pretty good. We had some good at-bats. We made Buccholz work. We didn't take too many pitches."

Pavano said he was pleased with his outing.

"I made some pitches I need to," said Pavano, slated to be the No. 2 pitcher in the rotation behind opening day starter Scott Baker. "The guys are picking up the ground balls behind me left and right. I know it's only spring training, but it's a good thing knowing that I'm making pitches when I need to."

Twins catcher Joe Mauer went 1-for-4 with a double the day after signing his eight-year, $184 million contract extension.

Notes
Twins closer Joe Nathan will have Tommy John surgery Friday. Dr. David Altchek, a team physician for the New York Mets, will operate on Nathan's right elbow to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament. Three possible replacement closers pitched Tuesday. Matt Guerrier pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Pat Neshek struck out one and gave up one hit during a scoreless seventh inning. Jesse Crain struck out one, walked one and gave up one run off two hits during the eighth inning. … Twins LHP Glen Perkins will miss the next few days because of a strained back. He had been in contention for the fifth starter's spot or a spot in the bullpen.

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