Injury adds to pain for struggling Drew

With the unified scream of "Mine!" coming from the mouths of fans from the third base line up into the bleachers, the focus was on Alex Rodriguez, as it has so often been. The focus on J.D. Drew, however, was obscured -- as it has so often been.

Since the furor over the $70 million contract, and the delay in officially signing it, died down, the right fielder has been mostly left alone, a rarity in Boston. It's impossible not to notice a slump that has barely yielded glimpses of abating, yet with a start that rivals the best in Red Sox history, the diminishing batting average just hasn't been first priority.

But look closely at the numbers: It has been 11 at-bats (and 13 plate appearances, including two walks) since Drew last hit a ball out of the infield. No infield hits, either. Just ground outs and popups, really. No power, less placement, and virtually zero luck.

That last part continued last night as Drew left the game after the fifth inning with a strained right hamstring, replaced in the field by Wily Mo Peña. Drew, 0 for 3 last night, had left by the time reporters arrived in the clubhouse after a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees at Fenway Park.

"It's getting to an area where if somebody goes after a ball or runs down the line and pops their hamstring because I didn't take them out, I'm going to have a hard time living with myself," manager Terry Francona said. "At this point, he's day to day and he'll be evaluated more."

And he wasn't the only one. Mike Lowell also left the game with a left hand contusion after being hit in the back of the hand by a pitch from Chien-Ming Wang in the third inning. (X-rays were negative.)

Two injuries in one loss, bad luck for a team that hasn't had much of it.

"It's just a bruise," said Lowell, who added that he hopes to play in today's game. "I mean, he got me pretty good. But I was just a little scared in the beginning because that's where I broke my hand in '03. But I was able to move it right away. It's just tender. Overall, it could have been much worse."

While Lowell's bruise seems likely to hold him out for a game at most, Drew's injury has the potential to be far more worrisome. Though Drew has a lengthy injury history, hamstring strains have not been among the most costly for him in terms of games.

But no matter where the strain, it's not likely news he was looking for. Especially not with his recent struggles.

With his batting average dipping to .222, Drew hasn't hit much, and certainly hasn't hit for power, his last home run coming April 22. Lowell has been far more of an offensive force than Drew, though his 22-game hitting streak at Fenway Park was snapped when he was taken out of the game before the fifth inning, finishing the night 0 for 1.

"You know Mike, he wants to play every inning of every game, which we appreciate and respect," said Francona. "He was pretty sore, and we've got a 4 o'clock game [today]. I think to give him every chance -- not just to play, but grip the bat and swing like he wants to -- we went and got him looked at upstairs, X-rayed, put some ice on it.

"I think because of that I'm thinking he'll show up tomorrow with a pretty good chance of feeling good enough to swing the bat like he's been swinging."

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.