Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez Out Of Red Sox Lineup Due To Soreness
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox have lost seven straight games, and they'll be without two of their best hitters when they try to end that streak on Tuesday afternoon.
Dustin Pedroia is out of Boston's lineup due to knee soreness, while Hanley Ramirez will also get the day off due to back soreness.
"Pedey's got some left knee soreness that stems from a collision at second base a couple of days ago. So there is a little bit of fluid buildup in there, and we're taking precaution with him," manager John Farrell said Tuesday. "Hanley aggravated his mid-back last night with a swing early in the game, and it continued to persist throughout the night. He needs a day down."
Farrell noted that the team medical staff strongly suggested that Pedroia take the day "off his feet."
"It wasn't a major collision. A little bit of an awkward spot," Farrell said of how Pedroia sustained the injury. "He felt a little different in it yesterday but played, but coming in today felt it was best to continue to receive treatment throughout the day today."
Pedroia leads the team with a .313 batting average, after going 2-for-3 on Monday night vs. Atlanta. He's played in 64 of the Red Sox' 65 games on the season.
Ramirez leads the team in home runs (13) and RBIs (33) and is third among regulars with a .270 batting average. He's played in 60 games this year.
Xander Bogaerts, who ranks second on the team in batting average and hit his third home run on Monday night, will slide into the cleanup spot in the lineup. It will be the first time in his career that he's started a game batting fourth. He started 47 games this season batting either seventh or eighth.
