Graffanino hopes to play
Stern to have surgery
BALTIMORE --Red Sox second baseman Tony Graffanino went home to see a therapist in Delaware yesterday and intended to go through batting practice today in Baltimore. If all goes well, he hopes to be available to play tonight against the Orioles and be able to start tomorrow’s game. Graffanino said “Between the training staff and Tito, they were saying it wouldn’t be smartest to throw me right out there today.”
Rule 5 outfielder Adam Stern will leave the team on Sunday and have surgery by Dr. Lewis Yocum on the labrum in his right shoulder Tuesday in Los Angeles. Stern has a partial tear in the rotator cuff and opted for surgery instead of rehabbing the injury in the coming offseason.
Outfielder Johnny Damon is back in the lineup after missing Wednesday’s game. When Damon was asked if he’s confident he can continue to play or if he might need another day off in between games, he said he didn’t know. Damon said he feels no pain right now and he’ll take each day as it comes.
Pitcher Curt Schilling, who was home in Massachusetts attending to a sick daughter, rejoined the team today.
Tonight’s Red Sox Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon, CF
2. Edgar Renteria, SS
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Trot Nixon, RF
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. John Olerud, 1B
8. Bill Mueller, 3B
9. Alex Cora, 2B
Bronson Arroyo, P
