NEW YORK — Jarrod Saltalamacchia spent a night in an area hospital receiving IV fluids, but has rebounded enough to return to the Red Sox on Thursday afternoon and could serve as the emergency catcher, manager Terry Francona said.
Saltalamacchia was sent to the hospital Wednesday after becoming ill and vomiting multiple times. He was determined to be "good old-fashioned sick," according to Francona, who suspected a bout of food poisoning but was pleased it wasn't anything worse. Appendicitis had been the rumored diagnosis during the evening, but that was ruled out.
Saltalamacchia was able to keep his food down at the hospital before being released.
The club called up Luis Exposito from Triple-A Pawtucket in order to back up Jason Varitek on Wednesday. It was planning on seeing how Saltalamacchia did during some pregame workouts to determine if Exposito was still needed for Thursday's series finale with the Yankees. If not, the Red Sox would consider sending Exposito back down and rushing in a pitcher to aid a thin bullpen.
With Alfredo Aceves going 3 2/3 innings Wednesday night, there are only five available relievers as long as Exposito is on the active roster.
Saltalamacchia would've been in the lineup Wednesday had he not fell ill. Varitek was forced to catch Tim Wakefield for the first time in three years.
