Boston @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2010 ) Boston 4, San Francisco 5
This one hurts. To what degree, however, won't be revealed until Saturday afternoon.
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia fouled a ball off the inside of his left foot in Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants and left AT&T Park on crutches with a protective boot on the foot.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters X-rays didn't reveal a break, but Pedroia will have more tests on Saturday and could not put weight on his foot.
Pedroia stayed in for one more pitch, drawing a walk, but he was limping toward first base and needed help leaving the field.
He told reporters the foot was still sore three hours later. Asked what he will do before more tests are conducted, Pedroia told reporters, “Ice, elevate and pray.”
Pedroia will likely miss at least the rest of this series and perhaps the next one at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.
He was coming off a career game on Thursday night in Boston’s 13-11 victory over the Colorado Rockies in 10 innings. Pedroia belted three homers and had five hits and five RBIs. His 5-for-5 performance also made him an incredible 26-for-52 in his past 13 games entering Friday.
Pedroia’s injury adds to a growing list Red Sox who have missed time, including outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, pitcher Josh Beckett and designated hitter Mike Lowell.
Today’s pitching matchup should favor the Red Sox, who will start right-hander Clay Buchholz (10-4, 2.47 ERA) against Madison Bumgarner, who makes his season debut after a strong season for Triple-A Fresno.
Buchholz is one of just four pitchers in the American League with 10 victories. He is 7-1 with a 1.62 ERA in his past eight starts and his 2.47 ERA is the third lowest in the American League. Buchholz has never faced the Giants.
San Francisco’s top pick in the 2007 draft, Bumgarner was held out of his start Friday against Portland. Bumgarner was 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA at Fresno this season.
Last season, he played in four games - and allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings in his only 2009 start.
San Francisco will retire the No. 20 jersey worn by Hall of Famer Monte Irvin during a pregame ceremony on Saturday. Irvin was the first African American player in Giants' history, signing with the club on July 8, 1949, nearly a full decade before they moved from New York to San Francisco.
The Red Sox recalled left-hander Fabio Castro from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned outfielder Josh Reddick back to the Pawsox.