The list just keeps on growing.
The Red Sox placed two more players on the disabled list Friday. Catcher Jason Varitek (fractured metatarsal) and relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen (forearm strain) joined the 15-day DL. The moves are retroactive to Thursday.
To fill the holes, the Red Sox recalled right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel from Triple-A Pawtucket and added catcher Kevin Cash and infielder Niuman Romero to the active roster.
Delcarmen’s injury affects a struggling Boston bullpen, though the righty has been underperforming lately. This season, Delcarmen is 2-2 with a 4.59 ERA in 33 relief appearances. His replacement, Manuel, is 4-1 with a 1.54 ERA this season in Pawtucket and was named an International League All-Star.
Varitek started the season as a backup for Victor Martinez — who is on the DL with a broken thumb – but was called back into starting duty on June 29. Varitek wasn’t there long, however, after suffering a foot injury June 30. Tek has performed better than expected from the plate this season, batting .263 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
Cash returns to Boston for his second stint with the Red Sox after being acquired from the Astros on Thursday. The 32-year-old backstop hit .204 (11-for-54) with two home runs and four RBIs with Houston this season before being designated for assignment on June 22 and outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock on June 23. Cash hit .207 (35-for-169) in 73 games with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2008.
Romero was acquired from the Indians on April 30. In 51 games with Pawtucket, he hit .268 (45-for-168) with eight doubles, two home runs, 13 RBIs, 19 walks and eight stolen bases.
Despite all the lineup shuffling and roster movement, the Red Sox are getting the job done. The team picked up its 48th win of the season Friday night to open a three-game series with Baltimore.
Jon Lester (9-3, 2.86 ERA) takes the mound for the Red Sox against Jeremy Guthrie (3-9, 4.3 ERA) on Saturday, as the Sox look to keep rolling in the face of adversity.
