Hideki Okajima may have found the root of all his struggles.
The southpaw, who entered Thursday's win in the ninth inning with a 6-1 lead, walked leadoff batter Matt LaPorta and allow a pair of hits, including an RBI single from Luis Valbuena.
"He actually said after he came out that his hamstring was bothering him a little bit," manager Terry Francona said of Okajima. "We'll see. Didn't say anything before. Actually right before I was coming up here, they kind of ran in. We'll sit down with him and just make sure he's OK. It didn't look like anything was different. If he locates, his velocity is always the same. If he locates, he's real good. If he doesn't locate, he gives up runs."
Oki's ERA now stands at 5.85, and a hamstring injury could be a one-way ticket to the DL. Lefty Felix Doubront, who has moved to the Pawtucket bullpen this week, could fill in for Okajima, should he hit the DL.
