Red Sox Report: Buchholz On The Mend, Beckett’s Ankle Sprained
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
A badly sprained ankle. That is the official diagnosis for Josh Beckett who had to leave Monday’s game in Toronto after injuring his right ankle.
Apparently an MRI on Tuesday in Boston revealed no structural damage meaning that rest will be the course of action taken to heal the injury which will force him to miss at least one and quite possibly multiple starts.
The team released this statement regarding Beckett’s injury:
Josh was evaluated today at the Massachusetts General Hospital by the Red Sox medical staff, including team foot and ankle specialist Dr. George Theodore. Josh experienced pain in his ankle while pitching last night. His examination was consistent with an ankle sprain. An MRI was performed that confirmed no other injury to his ankle tendons, or his Achilles tendon. We will re-evaluate his symptoms and availability later this week.
Depending upon the severity of the sprain, it could take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to heal enough for Beckett to be able to get back out on the mound and be effective. Keep in mind that it is Beckett’s right ankle which is the leg he pushes off of generating all of his power.
In the meantime, rookie Kyle Weiland will take Beckett’s spot in the rotation. He will start Saturday in Tampa against the Rays. Weiland made two starts for Boston earlier this season and went 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA. Both of his starts came against the Baltimore Orioles. He went 8-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 24 starts this season for the Pawtucket Red Sox.
-The roller coaster ride continues for the Red Sox offense. After getting blanked in extra innings by the Blue Jays on Monday, Boston bats busted out for 8 runs in the first three innings of their game in Toronto on their way to a 14-run performance Tuesday. Adrian Gonzalez drove in two of those runs with an RBI double in the first that scored Jacoby Ellsbury. His RBI double in the second inning scored Ellsbury as well. Gonzalez now has 105 RBI on the season. That placed him tied for second in the American League with the Yankees’ Robinson Cano. Both trail Yankee outfielder Curtis Granderson who led the league with 109 RBI heading into last night’s game in Baltimore.
-Jarrod Slatalamacchia belted a 2-run homer for Boston in the top of the third, his 15th of the season. The catcher position was a major concern for the Red Sox offensively at the start of the season but it has produced very well to date. Between Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek, Boston catchers have combined to hit 25 homeruns and 82 RBI. Not bad!
-Jon Lester was outstanding Tuesday night pitching of 3-hit shut out baseball. Lester walked 1 and struck out 11 Blue Jays. Of course, getting the early run support that he did took a little pressure off of him.
-Dustin Pedroia was the only member of the Red Sox starting line-up who did not have a hit Tuesday night. Pedroia went 0 for 5 dropping his average to .302 on the season.
-David Ortiz had a 4-hit night (4-6) matching a career-high. Former Blue Jay Marco Scutaro also had a 4-hit night going 4-5 at the plate.
-The news keeps getting better regarding Sox’ pitcher Clay Buchholz as he continues to recover from a stress fracture in his lower back. Buchholz threw before Tuesday’s game in Toronto and will do so again on Wednesday. Once he stretches out his arm from long distance, he will eventually attempt to throw off of a mound. To date, Buchholz has not experienced any type of pain in his lower back and seems very encouraged about the possibility of returning to the Sox pitching staff by the postseason. He would likely be used out of the bullpen if that were the case with a very small chance of him starting should Boston advance in the postseason.
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