BOSTON — The Red Sox entered their Tuesday matchup with the Atlanta Braves shorthanded, as both Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez were held out with injuries.
“(Pedroia’s) got some left knee soreness that stems from a collision at second base a couple of days ago,” manager John Farrell said before the game at Fenway Park. “There’s a little bit of fluid buildup in there. We’re taking precaution with him. Hanley aggravated his mid back (Monday) night with a swing early in the game, and it continued to persist throughout the night. He needs a day down.”
Pedroia suffered his injury during Sunday’s 13-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston’s second baseman and leadoff hitter played Monday, going 2-for-3 with a walk as the Red Sox fell to the Braves 4-2, but Farrell said the team felt a day off Tuesday would be in Pedroia’s best interest.
“It was a slide into second base (where) he received the throw,” Farrell said. “It wasn’t a major collision. A little bit of an awkward spot as we did come back and review the video of it. He felt a little bit different in it (Monday) but played. But coming in (Tuesday), we felt it was best (for him) to continue to receive treatment throughout the day.”
When asked whether Pedroia’s knee will require an X-ray or MRI, Farrell said he was “sure every precautionary measure will be taken.”
Pedroia and Ramirez’s absences necessitated a few changes to the Red Sox’s lineup. Brock Holt took over for Pedroia both at second and atop the batting order, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts batted out of the cleanup spot for the first time in his major league career.
Bogaerts has been one of Boston’s most productive bats of late, posting a .333/.357/.463 slash line in the month of June and hitting safely in 13 of his last 15 games.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
