Red Sox 3 Rangers 1..Ellsbury On DL Again

For the second straight start, Jon Lester did not allow a Texas runner to cross home plate as Boston took the Rangers by a score of 3-1. Although reportedly not feeling 100%, he was at the top of his game. He gave up only five hits and struck out six. It was exacly what the overworked Red Sox bullpen needed. Here's Sox manager Tito Francona...

“We needed him to go out there and pitch exactly like he did. I think the heat got to him a little bit. He was queasy and kind of sick to his stomach. We were certainly keeping an eye on him, ’cause he wasn’t feeling good. Didn’t look like it the way he was pitching.’’

That's the good news in a nutshell. Now, the bad. Jacoby Ellsbury is back on the disabled list with an injury to the same exact rib area. It happened in Boston's 10-9 defeat to the Rangers. It doesn't look good for any further 2010 play. That's too bad. Boston is again without either of their center fielders. Mike Camero is still suffering from his ongoing injury. Again, here's Terry Francona...

"You have to go on the symptoms, and Jake says it’s worse than the Tampa re-injury in May, so we knew he was a DL. Now that he’s a DL, we’ll dig and try to find out, ‘OK, what do we do?’ That’s kind of where we’re at. He didn’t want to come out. It was pretty obvious to me he was hurting, but I’m glad I took him out now. He was obviously hurt. If he gets hurt worse, that doesn’t help anybody.”

Tito, let him heal all fall and winter so he can finally get this behind him. We'll need him next year. Today, Daisuke Matsuzaka will face C.J. Wilson, who has a sparkling record of 10-5. Boston couldn't gain any ground on Tampa Bay or the Yankees yesterday so every game, obviously, is vital. Let's hope Daisuke continues his good pitching.

I hope your Sunday will be a terrific one. Click on this post's title for more Sox news and as always, BE WELL. I'll see you soon.