Mike Lowell put on DL by Red Sox because of sprained left thumb

BOSTON—World Series MVP Mike Lowell was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday with a sprained left thumb, and the Boston Red Sox purchased the contract of infielder Jed Lowrie from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace him.

Lowell was injured on the first at-bat of Wednesday's game when he fielded Ivan Rodriguez's grounder and threw him out. X-rays were negative, but he showed up at Fenway sore on Thursday and was sent for more tests.

"We wanted to allow him to show up and see how he felt," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "There was concern he would be very stiff and sore, which he was."

Lowell was batting .200 while starting the first nine games at third base.

Kevin Youkilis, who came up through the minor leagues as a third baseman but earned a Gold Glove at first last year, moved back across the diamond on Thursday. Sean Casey played first.

Lowrie, the team's minor league offensive player of the year last year, went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Pawtucket in a day game Thursday.

Also Thursday, Francona said backup infielder Alex Cora felt a twinge in his elbow and needed to be examined.