Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Josh Beckett was scratched from his start for the Red Sox against the Angels last night because of a stiff neck.

David Pauley was recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket and started against Los Angeles at Fenway Park. To clear space on the roster, utility player Joe Thurston was designated for assignment.

Beckett (2-1), the majors' only 20-game winner last season, also missed the beginning of the season while he was on the disabled list with a strained lower back.

Beckett lost his season-opening start April 6 at Toronto, but beat the Yankees in his last two.

Like a number of Red Sox players, Beckett had been suffering from the flu within the past week. Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said he was over his bout with the flu, but felt stiffness when he arrived at the park. It was unclear when he would make his next start.

The flu, meantime, is about the only thing that can slow the Red Sox lately.

Boston last night was without reliever Manny Delcarmen and C Jason Varitek.

Delcarmen changed out of his uniform and into street clothes and went home about an hour before the game started. Varitek, who appeared weak while walking around the clubhouse, also was unavailable.

"I hope I don't get it like Tek," Delcarmen said. "Tek is really bad right now. I'm going home."

· YANKEES: Injured 3B Alex Rodriguez missed his first game of the season last night against the White Sox. Rodriguez, batting .308 with four homers and 10 RBI, strained his right quadriceps Sunday at Baltimore. Morgan Ensberg was listed as the starting third baseman against Chicago.

Rodriguez will rejoin the team tomorrow. He will be reevaluated then to see how well his quadriceps has responded to treatment. It was unknown when he would play again.

The third baseman was in Miami, where his wife gave birth to their second daughter Monday night.

"Everyone is going well. A new baby girl, so that's exciting," Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said.

"Obviously he has his little quad problem. He'll rejoin us Thursday. I don't know if he'll be able to play Thursday, we'll just how he how the treatments go and how he responds to it."

The Yankees want to make sure they don't hurry him back too soon. "One thing you can't do is rush him and then lose him for a long period of time," Girardi said.

-- From News Services