Red Sox - Inside Pitch

Tough times have arrived for the Boston bullpen.

Every reliever in a Sox uniform not named Jonathan Papelbon has gone through some tough times as of late, and much of it has to do with their team suffering through three scratched starts in a row last week to finish out the Fenway homestand.

Boston’s starters haven’t been able to work deep into ballgames, and the strain has obviously and predictably reached its way into the bullpen. Manny Delcarmen suffered through a bout with the flu bug that has victimized the Sox clubhouse since mid-week, and a lackluster Thursday outing helped in pushing his ERA up to its current 5.06 mark.

Javy Lopez has a 4.50 ERA despite holding left-handed batters to a .188 batting average this season, and 42-year-old Mike Timlin has been an unmitigated disaster while putting up a 13.50 ERA since coming off the 15-day disabled list.

Timlin has thrown up three straight scoreless appearances after a very rocky start, but the numbers are telling quite a story about the overworked souls within the Sox bullpen this season.

Sox relievers have allowed 13 runs (12 earned) over the last 18 2/3 innings pitched over their last four games, and their beleaguered staff entered Friday night ranked 12th in the American League with a 5.42 ERA.

“That’s the way it goes sometimes,” said Sox catcher Kevin Cash. “Usually when we’re running into trouble, it’s because we’re falling behind guys, and you’re putting yourself into tough situations.”

Papelbon and Hideki Okajima haven’t been putting themselves into tough situations, but it’s about time for the rest of the Sox relief corps to get things under control.

RAYS 5, RED SOX 4 (11 innings): The Sox had runners in scoring position in both the 10th and 11th innings, but couldn’t push the go-ahead run across in the extra-inning defeat. Outfielder Manny Ramirez and catcher Kevin Cash both collected three hits in the loss, and right-hander Tim Wakefield walked five through six innings of work before turning things over to the bullpen.

Notes, Quotes

• OF Coco Crisp may see his name taken off the trade market for the time being after Pawtucket Red Sox OF Bobby Kielty underwent surgery on his left hand over the last few days to repair a bone spur, according to the Boston Globe. Kielty was placed on the Class AAA disabled list on April 19 with soreness in his left hand, and will be out 4-6 weeks with the injury. Kielty was set to be Boston’s fourth outfielder and a right-handed hitting complement to OF J.D. Drew in right field if/when Crisp was dealt, but it now looks as if the Sox will need Crisp to round out their outfield depth.

• RHP Bryan Corey was called back up to the Red Sox on Friday afternoon to give the Sox another arm in a bit of a shell-shocked bullpen. Corey was caught in a numbers game two weeks ago and designated for assignment by the Sox, but didn’t hook on with another big-league club and had been pitching at Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.). Corey has a 10.50 ERA in seven appearances for the Sox thus far this season, but has been surprisingly effective against left-handed hitters.

• RHP Bartolo Colon and the Red Sox have set May 5 as a target date for a return to the pitcher’s mound after missing nearly a month with a right oblique strain. Colon, who made the trip with the team to Tampa, will need to get through three side sessions prior to getting back on the pitcher’s mound. The Sox front office and Colon’s representation have apparently worked out contractual details that will push back the May 1 big-league opt-out date in the portly right-hander’s contract.

• 1B Sean Casey strained a hip flexor while running the bases in the second inning of Friday night’s loss, and was taken out of the ballgame. The affable lefty swinger is being listed as day-to-day, but can’t afford to miss too much time with SS Alex Cora and 3B Mike Lowell already on the disabled list.

• C Kevin Cash collected three hits on Friday night and extended a career-high six-game hitting streak for himself. Cash is hitting .381 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and three walks during his six-game batting burst. The 30-year-old backstop entered the 2008 season with a .173 career batting average headed into this season, but the Sox coaching staff believe there is some potential in Cash’s bat.

By The Numbers: 9-1—The record of the Red Sox in games when OF Jacoby Ellsbury has scored at least one run this season.

Quote To Note: “That little second baseman is a little aggressive guy, so to walk him you really have to throw bad. He’s a little guy that will tear you up if you throw something to him in the wrong place.”—Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington talking about 2B Dustin Pedroia.

Roster Report

Medical Watch:

1B Sean Casey (strained hip flexor) left the April 25 game and is day to day.

C Jason Varitek (flu) missed his fifth straight game April 24 but may return during the weekend of April 25-27.

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (flu) missed his April 23 start.

RHP Josh Beckett (stiff neck, flu) was scratched from his April 22 start. He was expected to be able to take his turn in the rotation on April 27.

INF Alex Cora (sore right elbow) went on the disabled list retroactive to April 10.

3B Mike Lowell (sore left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Pawtucket the weekend of April 25-27 and could be activated the following week.

RHP Curt Schilling (right shoulder) began experiencing discomfort during the offseason, and he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list as he undergoes a muscle-strengthening program. Schilling is expected to be out until at least the All-Star break, and his legendary career might be over.