Careful steps protect bullpen
MINNEAPOLIS - Though there were two arrivals to the Red Sox clubhouse at the Metrodome yesterday in Alex Cora and Sean Casey, the team made just one roster move.
Cora was added to the roster, and was in the lineup at shortstop last night in place of the injured Julio Lugo (concussion). Casey got an extra day off.
"We're not in a hurry to lose pitching, so we have to do things in a manner that makes sense," manager Terry Francona said.
The manager said this long before he was forced to use five pitchers in a 9-8 loss to the Twins.
Casey will be activated before today's series finale against the Twins, with a reliever heading down (or out). Because Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon had been used in two straight games, with Okajima working three innings, neither was used last night.
"If it doesn't happen tomorrow, I'll fight him," Casey joked, of his manager.
With Cora - 3 for 4 last night - again on the 25-man roster, Jed Lowrie headed back to Pawtucket. Lowrie will join the PawSox tonight for the final game of a homestand. He will play shortstop six days a week, other positions on the seventh day. Lowrie also may play first base.
Tavarez talks alive
The Sox are still talking with the Rockies about a deal for reliever Julian Tavarez. The talks, reported by the Denver Post last week, remain active, according to a major league source with knowledge of the situation.
With Bartolo Colon making progress in his rehab assignment in Pawtucket, the Sox might be trying to find a spot for Colon, though Francona told reporters this week that the Sox were not considering using Colon in relief.
Tavarez is 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA after he allowed an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings last night, but it's been difficult for the Sox to get him work. He pitched an inning last Wednesday, but hadn't worked since April 24 before that.
Manny Ramírez, meanwhile, spent a couple of minutes in the clubhouse trying to convince reporters the Sox should trade Tavarez for one of Milwaukee's sausages, the stars of the race that occurs prior to every seventh inning in Miller Park. That was after he announced that Tavarez should be traded to Tampa Bay.
Ramírez makes cameo
Ramírez called Francona yesterday morning to let him know he might need a day off. Having tweaked the muscle just below his hamstring, around his right knee, while running to first base in Saturday night's game, Ramírez was left out of the lineup, with Jacoby Ellsbury replacing him in left field.
"He called me this morning, going, 'It's kind of sore,' " Francona said. "I don't know if Manny would have done that four years ago. That helps me. Right away I can get ahold of Ellsbury and tell him he's playing. That helps."
Ramírez pinch hit in the ninth inning last night with a runner on and the Sox trailing, 9-8, and grounded to short against Twins closer Joe Nathan for the final out. Ramírez yesterday reiterated his desire to play for six more years, and would prefer it to be with the Red Sox.
"Look at me," he said. "I'm like a baby." He added, "What's the worst that can happen? They don't pick up my option? So then I go play somewhere else and I get five more years. I'm in a good situation. I'm gonna win either way."
Lugo CT scan negative
Lugo got a CT scan during Saturday's game, which came back negative. That doesn't necessarily mean the shortstop doesn't have a concussion, Francona said, it just means that if he has one, it's not a particularly bad one. "His eyes were kind of glassy, glazed over a little bit [yesterday]," Francona said. "He certainly looks a lot clearer today." Lugo will have to be cleared by the team's medical staff to return to the field . . . Okajima's 0.50 ERA (one run in 18 innings) ties him for fifth best among all major league relievers. Okajima got out the meat of the Twins order - Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Michael Cuddyer - Friday and Saturday. "I've had pitchers talk themselves out of pitching good against a team the next time," Francona said. "It's like, I just went eight innings, got to do something different. It's like, OK, you have your pitches and they're probably either good enough or not. I understand [when] teams get more of a look at you, it's tougher to pitch, but Oki commands whatever he throws. If you go back and watch the video of him pitching, he rarely misses his spot. He might miss the plate, but he doesn't miss his spot. It's unbelievable."
Corey to Padres
Bryan Corey, who was up twice this season, was traded to San Diego for a player to be named or cash. The righthanded reliever put up a 10.50 ERA (seven earned runs in six innings) in seven appearances with the major league team. Corey has appeared in the major leagues for four teams (Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rangers, and Red Sox) . . . Since the start of the 2001 season, the Red Sox are 8-16 at the Metrodome. The team's last five losses to the Twins have all been by one run . . . Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is hitting .395 (15 for 38) with 11 runs, 5 doubles, 6 homers, and 15 RBIs in that time . . . Mike Timlin's appearance last night was the 1,023d of his career. He passed Jose Mesa and Lee Smith for eighth in appearances . . . The Red Sox players wore pink wristbands and swung pink bats in honor of Mother's Day, as did the Twins.
Nick Cafardo of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
