BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts is A-OK.
The Red Sox pulled the shortstop from their game against the Tampa Bay Rays with left quad tightness after the fifth inning Wednesday, but Bogaerts is back in the lineup and batting third Thursday. Bogaerts said he felt a lot better after the game, and Red Sox manager John Farrell said Bogaerts passed all his tests with flying colors.
“Removing him from the game (Wednesday) night was more precautionary than anything,” Farrell said before Thursday’s series finale. “He did feel some tightness but he responded very favorably to the treatment (Wednesday) night, felt pretty good when he left here last night, felt better when he came in, has gone through treatment and a number of tests that got him up to 100 percent as far as exertion in running, so he’s cleared and good to go.”
Christian Vazquez, who Farrell said is close to being on a regular schedule, also is back in the lineup and batting eighth despite coming off a night game. He’ll catch David Price, who’s looking to build upon his last quality outing at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Here are the Red Sox’s and Rays’ lineups for Thursday.
RED SOX (7-7)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Brock Holt, LF
Christian Vazquez, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
David Price, LHP (2-0, 4.50 ERA)
RAYS (6-8)
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Brandon Guyer, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Steve Pearce, 1B
Desmond Jennings, DH
Steven Souza Jr., RF
Tim Beckham, SS
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Curt Casali, C
Jake Odorizzi, RHP (0-1, 2.41 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
