BOSTON - What would a Red Sox game be without an injury? It feels like there's another player to add to the injury report every day, and Saturday is no exception.
Pablo Sandoval was removed from the game in the top of the fourth inning after being hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch in the elbow.
Was it intentional? Who knows? Hernandez was not on his game at all on Saturday, so it could have just been a pitch that ran too far inside. But Sandoval did crush a home run off Hernandez in the second inning of Saturday's game to begin the Sox scoring. It's not the only home run Sandoval has hit off Hernandez this season, either. He did it on May 16 in Seattle, too, a Red Sox 4-2 win.
Regardless, Sandoval tried to avoid it, but in doing so moved his right elbow directly in line with the pitch. After being tended to by Torey Lovullo and the team trainer along the first-base line, Sandoval remained in the game. But he would not go back out to the field the next inning.
"Obviously we were sorry to see him get banged up," Lovullo said. "Big home run, got us moving in the right direction. Got hit by a pitch in the elbow. He had an x-ray here at the ballpark and everything was negative. So at this point we're going to reevaluate him tomorrow, see where he's at and at this point be day-to-day."
Sandoval is one of three Red Sox who are currently listed as day-to-day (Hanley Ramirez and Rusney Castillo are the other two), which makes for a short bench for Sunday's game if none are deemed healthy enough to play. If Sandoval is out, Josh Rutledge could start at either second base or third base, moving Brock Holt to the other. The Sox also recalled Garin Cecchini on Saturday, which makes for good timing as he's able to play the outfield, first base, or third base. But Cecchini is a left-handed bat and the Sox are set to face lefty Vidal Nuno.
The news was good on Castillo's left foot after Saturday's game, as Lovullo said X-rays came back negative. Castillo fouled a ball off his left foot Friday night and was removed the game. Lovullo said Castillo is day-to-day and doesn't see it as a lingering injury. Castillo was seen in the clubhouse after Saturday's game and was not favoring the left foot in any way.