With two starting outfielders already on the disabled list, losing Drew would have been a huge blow. He left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning, complaining of calf and hamstring issues.
These injuries have since dissipated, and Drew mans the leadoff hole for the Red Sox against the Twins on Tuesday.
Another Red Sox player who left Tuesday's game with an injury wasn't so lucky. Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain. He coughed up five runs in 4 2/3 innings and will miss one start. Manager Terry Francona did not think he would miss an additional start.
Taking Beckett's place in the rotation is Tim Wakefield, with reliever Joe Nelson joining the bullpen from Triple-A Pawtucket.
In other news, Drew's counterparts in the outfield are moving closer to returning. Mike Cameron will play in the outfield for Double-A Portland on Thursday and then will speak to the Red Sox about how he feels. The hope is that he can be ready to play against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
Jacoby Ellsbury will join Cameron in the outfield on Thursday and will likely play there Friday as well before he and the club take stock on his progress.
Boof Bonser, who injured his groin in spring training then went on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket only to experience a setback with his shoulder, made his second straight start in his return to the PawSox on Monday. He tossed 4 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs. He struck out two and walked none. The Red Sox must either call Bonser up to the major league club by early June or place him on waivers for any team to claim him.
