Drawn-out return has Drew disconsolate

(Mike Cassese/Reuters)

TORONTO - J.D. Drew rarely has sounded as dejected as he did after Friday night's game.

His back had gone into spasms again after he attempted to take batting practice, and he saw it as another of the seemingly endless setbacks as he tries to return to the Red Sox in a season that is running out of games.

"On a Saturday in Canada, there's not a lot of options," said manager Terry Francona, echoing a sentiment he had expressed upon the team's last trip to Toronto, when Drew's back sunk to its lowest point this season.

"He will be reevaluated on Monday, when we get home," Francona said.

Since there is virtually no chance Drew will play before Tuesday, the time is winding down to make it back in the regular season. Those at-bats would be key in getting him ready for the first round of the playoffs.

"It's dwindling, I don't know if I'd say running out," Francona said. "It's been a long time since he played, but I don't think any of us want to give up. Keep plugging along."

There certainly would be no reason to give up on Drew, but there also have been no answers. He has been close to playing several times, but his back has flared up at just those moments. He seemed optimistic earlier, then confused, and now has descended into exasperation.

"Maybe another epidural or something, try to knock out the existing lingering effects," Drew said after Friday night's game. "I don't know. I know a bunch of the training staff's scratching their heads trying to figure out what's going on.

"I'm just wondering if the injury's healed, or if you keep scratching at it like a scab, picking at it, it keeps just not fully healing. It's frustrating, that's for sure."

The right fielder has not played since Aug. 17. The Sox seemed to think the problem would go away quickly, and kept him off the disabled list until relenting Aug. 26. But things still haven't changed.

And while Francona did not seem interested in playing the what-if game about his two injured middle-of-the-order players (Drew and Mike Lowell), there is no question the Sox offense is weaker without them.

Drew is batting .280 with 19 home runs, and 64 RBIs in 107 games. His OPS is .930, which would put him sixth in the American League if he had enough plate appearances (27 shy) to qualify.

"We were facing [A.J.] Burnett and [Roy Halladay back-to-back," Francona said. "We rely heavily on Mikey Lowell. We all know what J.D. can do offensively. But those two guys we faced are pretty good."

Birthday bash
It might have been only his ninth home run as a member of the Red Sox, but it was the 31st of the season for Jason Bay. And, in hitting it yesterday in the third inning, he also recorded his 100th RBI of the season on his 30th birthday. He twice has crossed the 100-RBI mark, with 101 in 2005 and 109 in 2006.

"Not a bad consolation," Bay said. "Hit a home run, and get to the 100-RBI mark personally for me is a nice little goal. But especially a little tougher with the loss."

Bay is now the sixth player to record 30 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs during a season in which he was traded.

It was Bay's second game back from a brief absence when he went to Boston for the birth of his daughter.

Exciting stuff
Not only did Manny Delcarmen earn his first win in more than two years Friday, but he also has been pitching more consistently. His ERA is down to 3.44, his lowest mark since June 27. Over his last 15 appearances (19 innings), Delcarmen has a 0.47 ERA, allowing just six hits and six walks. "It's been kind of an up-and-down year," Francona said. "But when you see him throw like can the last couple [of times], it's exciting. He's young, he's got some of the best stuff in the league. It is exciting." . . . Clearly Francona isn't concerned with magic numbers for the Sox. Asked how much he paid attention, he said, "Not as much as much as I probably should. I figure we win, we'll be OK." . . . Justin Masterson allowed a home run to Scott Rolen to account for the final run in yesterday's game. It was the first homer given up by Masterson in his last 19 games (21 2/3 innings), the last hit by Torii Hunter July 30.

He has it going
Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single, batting .326 over that time. He also stole his 49th base of the season, tops in the American League . . . Dustin Pedroia also stole a base, his 18th of the season . . . Jon Lester faltered in an attempt to get his 16th win of the season. He'll get another chance to do so, and he would be the first Sox lefty with at least 16 wins since Bruce Hurst in 1988. The only others to do so since 1954 are Dick Ellsworth (1968), Gary Peters (1970), and Bill Lee (1973, 1974, 1975).

Adam Kilgore of the Globe staff contributed to this report.