He was coming out for batting practice for Triple-A Oklahoma City at around 4 p.m. when the 6-4 catcher was called back to the clubhouse.

"I was pretty surprised when I heard," said Jarrod Saltalamacchia, while driving to his Dallas home. "I knew there was some trade buzz around me, but when 4 p.m. came along I thought 'Ok, didn't get traded.' And then I get called back in, I spoke to our general manager (Jon Daniels) and I was thrilled to be going to the Red Sox organization."

Saltalamacchia is no stranger to Boston rumors. He's heard them for years. He's a huge fan of Jason Varitek and has, for so long, wanted to hook up with Gary Tuck to work with him on defense. Saltalamacchia was once considered a big time prospect who was once traded for Mark Teixeira, but a combination of injuries and untapped potential has cost him some time. He came up with the yips in his throwing arm where he couldn't throw the ball back to the pitcher, but he's over that now.

"I see this as a new start for me," Salty said. "I wish I could have gone back up with the Rangers but they're in a pennant race and they didn't feel it was the time for me. So I accept that. I have a lot to prove to myself and to the Red Sox now. I'm just going to go down to Pawtucket, play as hard as I can and hope when there's a need to get to Boston and prove myself up there."

Saltalamacchia was returning to his Dallas home and then planning to to arrive in Pawtucket by 4 p.m. tomorrow. He expects to play on Monday.

Saltalamacchia, 25, said he had a brief conversation with Theo Epstein, but looked forward to getting to know everyone.

He also appears to be protection if the Sox do not re-sign Victor Martinez. Saltalamacchia is a similar prototype to Martinez - a tall, switch-hitting catcher who can also play first base.

"I can't think about what plans the Red Sox have for me right now. I just need to play well and show them what I can do. I see this is a great opportunity for me to be with a great organization. I think it's going to be a positive step for my career."

Game over: Red Sox 5, Tigers 4

They ain't dead yet, people. McDonald had an infield single. Jed Lowrie then knocked a pinch-hit double off the wall. Detroit walked Youkilis to get to Ortiz with the lefty Phil Coke on the mound.

Papi slammed a three-run double to the gap in left. He then stood at second base pumping fist as the crowd changed "Papi, Papi!" Big, big win there.

Back with more later.

Middle of the 9th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 2

Okajima retired the Tigers in order. The Sox go into the bottom of the ninth trailing by two runs.

Top of the 9th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 2

Don't call it a comeback yet. Martinez led off with a single. Hall followed with a pop-up to right field that fell in. Martinez, having nowhere to go, was thrown out at second. Hall then flied to left before Kalish struck out. Three outs left to play with.

Middle of the 8th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 2

Scott Atchison retired the side in order. Martinez, Beltre and Hall due up against Perry.

Top of the 8th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 2

Finally, some life in the moribund Sox. Beltre reached on an infield single and went to third when Hall drove a ball to left. Hall tried for second and was thrown out by 10 feet. Facing reliever Brad Thomas, Kalish (2 for 3) followed with an RBI single. McDonald then had an RBI double off Ryan Perry.

Drew walked with two outs before Youkilis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ortiz had a chance to do some damage and struck out swinging at a changeup that was low and away.

Middle of he 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Jackson doubled off Matsuzaka, who was then replaced by Richardson. He and Scott Atchison ended the inning without further damage.

Top of the 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Drew singled with one out and went to third when Youkilis doubled. But Ortiz struck out and Martinez flied to right. Sox just can't get a hit with RISP.

Middle of the 6th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Matsuzaka set down the Tigers in order thanks in part to a nice running catch by Kalish on Santiago.

Top of the 6th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Hall reached on an infield single before Kalish hit the ball hard to first, which led to his being out and Hall getting caught in a rundown. McDonald then struck out.

Middle of the 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Matsuzaka allowed a single by Cabrera with one out but got Peralta and Kelly on pop ups to end the inning

Top of the 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Ortiz beat the shift with a single. But Martinez flied to left and Beltre grounded into his second double play of the day.

Middle of the 4th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

On a day when the Red Sox tried some addition by subtraction, Daisuke Matsuzaka remained on the roster and is getting rocked again. Doubles by Frazier and Santiago have made it 4-0. The last three hitters in the Detroit order are 4 for 6 with four runs scored.

Top of the 4th: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

McDonald grounded out with Kalish taking second. Scutaro then singled, moving Kalish to third. But Drew lined softly to the shortstop before Youkilis flied to center.

Red Sox now 6 for 38 with runners in scoring position the last four games.

Bottom of the 3rd: Kalish gets his first hit

Congrats to Ryan Kalish, who drove a 1-2 fastball into right field for his a hit in his first big-league at-bat. Nice ovation from the crowd as the ball was rolled in and like an old pro, Ryan just stood on first base.

Those of us who covered spring training got to know Ryan and he's a solid young man. It'll be fun to see how he does.

Middle of the 3rd: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

Dice-K walked Peralta but was otherwise unscathed.

Top of the 3rd: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

Martinez singled but Beltre grounded into a double play before Hall grounded out. Scherzer is much better than he was when the Sox saw him in May and touched him for six runs in five innings. His fastball has a lot of late life and his command has improved significantly.

Middle of the 2nd: Tigers 3, Red Sox 0

Frazier singled with one out for his first major-league hit. Laird followed with a hard-hit ball to third that Beltre let roll up his arm for an error. Santiago followed with a flare to center that drove in a run.

Top of the 2nd: Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

Drew waked but was stranded as Youkilis popped up and Ortiz lined to left.

Middle of the 1st: Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

Matsuzaka walked Will "Busta" Rhymes then Cabrera homered to left. That's No. 26 on the year for him to go along with 91 RBIs.

Meanwhile, in case you missed all the pre-game ruckus, the Red Sox designated Jeremy Hermida for assignment and traded RHP Ramon Ramirez to the Giants. OF Ryan Kalish and LHP Dustin Richardson were called up.

Top of the 1st: Tigers 0, Red Sox 0

Good afternoon from Fenway Park, where the Red Sox are facing the Tigers. It'll be Daisuke Matsuzka against the rapidly improving Max Scherzer.

Hope you enjoy the game and please feel free to leave your comments.

Theo Epstein on today's moves

On designating Hermida and calling up Kalish: "We were looking to make some changes in our outfield mix a little bit in anticipation of [Jacoby] Ellsbury coming back next week as well. We thought we needed a little more offense from our outfield if we could.

"We were looking to upgrade in the trade market and when it was clear that was not going to materialize, we decided rather than putting someone like a Ryan Kalish in a deal that we would regret some day. With the way his development's going, he's ready for a trial here at the major league level. He brings a lot of energy; he brings an advanced approach at the plate. He brings a solid all-around game. Those are things we can use right now.

With Hermida, he had a hard time getting back in a groove after coming off the DL. There's some trade interest in him and he's somebody who had a chance to be moved after the deadline. We'll see how that develops. It's safe to say he'll end up traded or back with us in the minor leagues."

On not getting a reliever: "I think of relievers weren't moved. If you look at it, a lot of the guys we were in on were relievers who we felt would have been a clear, obvious, definite upgrade for us. Guys who come right into the mix and represent upgrades. Guys we could put in behind Bard and Papelbon and help this team immediately. We weren't necessarily in the market for a reclamation project or somebody we sort of hoped would help us. ... We feel like we have some internal solutions. Rather before we give up a guy like Felix Doubront in a trade, we're going to put him in the bullpen and see what he looks like down in Pawtucket. He'll have a chance to come up and help us at some point."

"We explored a lot of different relievers. It is an empty feeling to come away empty-handed. Before we did something that we would regret for a long time, we felt this was the best course to ultimately help out 2010 club."

On Saltalamacchia: "We've been scouting him heavily this year Obviously a guy we liked a lot in the past and came with a really high price tag in the past. Someone we hope we're buying low on as he's battling a few different issues.

"We had scouts in there very recently on him, actually right up until the deadline. He's throwing the ball back to the pitcher fine right now, throwing to the bases pretty well. We feel he's a classic guy with a high ceiling who needs a change of scenery. Kind of been butting heads with the organization there a little bit. Type of guy we think we can work with to unleash that potential. ... He's somebody we think can impact the organization in the long term."

On the cost of relief pitching: "It was more the player cost, the prospect cost, more than anything. We were pretty aggressive, I thought, in offering some pretty solid prospects, staying away from our top, top guys. That wouldn't make sense for relievers. That was the nature of the market this year, it was deep in starting pitchers, deep in DH-type bats, pretty thin in relievers and outfielders. We were on the wrong end of that supply-and-demand dynamic this year.

"We knew we'd have to, if we wanted to be competitive in the market, we'd have to pay high prices. We were prepared to and thought we were going to get something done and were disappointed in the end that we couldn't. The teams that did trade their closers, they did really well with the closers they got back."

Still get a reliever? "I do. The resources both in terms of both prospects and dollars to reach out in August if appropriate [are there]. Helping the 2010 team is definitely a goal for today along with doing some things for the future. The primary goal was helping the 2010 team. We weren't able to do that, so that's a disappointment and something that remains a goal going into August especially if we get off on the right foot."

Epstein said he made "aggressive proposals" to try and get a relief pitcher and that he likes the internal options of Bowden and Doubront to stabilize the pen.

On Mike Lowell: "We're going to sit down and talk to Mike. I haven't had a chance to talk to him. ... We'll be around after the game to talk about it."

(That certainly sounds like Lowell is being released)

On Daniel Turpen, who was obtained for Ramon Ramirez: "He's a 23-year-old, low arm slot, almost sidearm reliever who our scouts really like and the makings of three above-average pitches. Looking ahead, looking at our bullpen the next couple of years ... there might be some turnover in the pen and he's someone who could be part of the solution. Maybe not this year, looking at our future bullpen."

Epstein said they like Turpen's stuff and his demeanor and that he gets grounders.

On what happens now: "It's not the end of the story. We have August. We have a team that has the ability to get really hot as we get healthy and play our way right back to where we want to go. The ability to add in August as well; the ability to get contributions from our internal solutions. That's not the whole story. But if you ask me are we frustrated that we weren't able to help this team today, yeah, certainly.

"I want to be clear that we still think we have the ability to make the postseason and we have to get really hot. As we get healthier, we start to see the team on the field that can get really hot. ... There's a feeling in that clubhouse and in the front office that we have the ability to do what we didn't do in April and that's run off a bunch of wins. That's what its going to take to make up this ground. We still have a feeling there's a good chance of that happening. ... We believe in this team."

Ellsbury return timetable: "We'll see. I can't give you an exact timetable. It's sort of a day-to-day evaluation how he's feeling, how he's swinging the bat. We want to make sure he's ready to hit. Last time he came back it took him a little while to get going with the bat and get his timing down. ... We don't want to rush him back here before he's ready to hit."

On Bowden coming back: "That depends on a few different factors. He's not eligible until the 2nd because of the 10-day option rule. We'll see. He's certainly in the mix of guys that we're looking at to stabilize our 'pen."

Announcement coming on Lowell? "I don't know the timing. We're going to get together and talk after the game."

-----------

For what it's worth, Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting the Red Sox finished second for Kerry Wood and his 1.60 WHIP.

When you look at the relievers who were traded (Ohman, Wood, Lopez, Farnsworth, Qualls and Dotel), how many of those guys were going to make a big difference on the Red Sox? That's largely a bunch of guys who used to be good or were good in low-pressure situations and have marginal stuff.

Obviously, the cost for every team with Scott Downs was prohibitive as Toronto will be happy to offer him arbitration and take the draft picks.

What is interesting is that several sources said the Red Sox held talks involving Jacoby Ellsbury with a number of teams. That would seem to indicate they'll be motivated to move him come the winter.

The Red Sox have obtained catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Texas for 1B Chris McGuiness, RHP Roman Mendez, a player to be named later and cash considerations.

The 6-foot-4, switch-hitting Saltalamacchia was once a heralded prospect who has fallen on hard times. He has played in only two games for Texas this season and was hitting .244/.326/.445 for Triple-A Oklahoma City with 11 home runs.

One of the reasons Saltalamacchia is in the minors is that he has had trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He is only 25, however, and could still emerge as at least a backup if not a starter should be overcome his issues.

The Red Sox announced they have traded reliever Ramon Ramirez to San Francisco. More details are expected to come later.

Also, reliever Dustin Richardson was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.

UPDATE, 4:56 p.m.: The player the Red Sox obtained was RHP Daniel Turpen. He was 5 -5, 4.09 with AA Richmond is and is former 8th round pick in 2007. He's 23.

Red Sox announced Ryan Kalish is on the roster and that Jeremy Hermida was designated for assignment.

Kalish will bat eighth.

UPDATE, 6:27 p.m.: In his first at-bat, Kalish singled to right field, as shown in the photo above by the Globe's Barry Chin.

UPDATE, 6:46 p.m.: In his third at-bat, Kalish picked up his first major league RBI, driving in Adrian Beltre from third with a single to right field.

OF Ryan Kalish and LHP Dustin Richardson are on their way from Pawtucket to Boston, which would seem to indicate a series of roster moves and/or trades are in the works.

The Globe's Nick Cafardo was the first to report the news. More on this as we get additional information.

Kalish has hit .294/.382/.502 in 78 games for Portland and Pawtucket this season with 13 homers and 47 RBI.

UPDATE, 3:33 p.m.: One move is that OF Jeremy Hermida has been designated for assignment, which NESN reported first. The Red Sox having given up on him after obtaining him from Florida for two low-level prospects.

Hermida hit .203 with a .257 OBP. He was 2 for 20 since coming off the disabled list with nine strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are about to announce their deal for RHP Kerry Wood from the Indians. The Yankees will have obtained Wood, Austin Kearns and Lance Berkman in the last day.

Yep, even the Dodgers may have reached their breaking point with Manny Ramirez. Teams are calling and the Dodgers may consider moving him in a story first reported by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com

Ramirez has been nursing a hamstring injury for a while and the Dodgers don't believe they've gotten a bang for their $20 million this season. The White Sox, of course who else? are very interested in Ramirez as a DH. The White Sox have been in on Adam Dunn but haven't been able to finalize anything.

Terry Francona said that LHP Felix Doubront was told last night that he would be pitching out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. The 22-year-old was 1-2 with a 4.11 ERA for the Red Sox. He is 8-3, 2.88 in 16 starts in the minors.

"Everybody involved thinks that this kid has a chance to impact us going forward this year in the bullpen," Francona said. "Now that in no way means we [don't] also view him as a starter. He's going to be a starter, a major-league starter. But I think for the rest of the year he maybe has a chance to impact us out of the bullpen."

Francona said he thought Doubront would be pleased with the idea because it would give him another chance to pitch in the majors. But here's what Doubront said on July 5 when asked about the idea of working out of the 'pen:

"Not really … I don't know about that. It's not easy. The transition from a starter to a reliever, it's not easy. It's something where you have to work for six months or a complete year. I don't know about that. … It would just be hard."

But the Sox like what Doubront could bring to the mix as a reliever.

"He throws strikes, he's quick to the plate, the game doesn't speed up [for him]. The one thing is he hasn't done it. He's been groomed as a starter, so getting up in the middle of the game, there's some things to get used to," Francona said.

Doubront pitched 5.1 innings on Thursday, so his first appearance out of the Pawtucket pen probably won't be until Tuesday at the earliest.

This is one of those times when player development takes a back seat to the needs of the major-league team. Doubront threw 129 innings in 2008, 121 last year and so far this season 93.1. Pitching in relief will not help his progression in terms of handling a workload as a starter. But that's the way it goes.

The Sox did the same thing with Michael Bowden a few weeks ago. He was stellar in relief for Pawtucket, came up and pitched in only three games for the Sox before being sent back down.

Francona said the Sox liked what they saw from Bowden in relief.

"I think we are excited about that," Francona said. "We weren't real excited about having to send him back."

Which raises the question of why Bowden isn't on the roster.

In other news:

* A team source just said the Red Sox have nothing "immediate" on the trade front. There is interest from other teams in Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen. Such a move would allow them to bring Bowden back up.

Ramirez, meanwhile, just left batting practice after getting hit with a ball. It looked like it got him in the face.

* Francona on whether the Sox will make a move today: "That's ... I don't know. ... I have no idea. If you ask Theo, I don't know if he knows."

* J.D. Drew is in the lineup and this time the Sox hope he stays there. Drew said his strained left hamstring felt strong enough to play, so we'll see what transpires after batting practice.

* Mike Cameron is too sore to start today. The Sox asked him to check in this morning and he wasn't doing well.

* The Mike Lowell Limbo continues. He's here but not on the roster. Obviously they're trying to trade him.

* Francona poked fun at a comment Hideki Okajima made to ESPN about being lonely in the bullpen. "I think he gets lonely when he gives up runs," he said.

If that's the case, he must be powerfully lonely.

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (58-45)
Scutaro SS
Drew RF
Youkilis 1B
Ortiz DH
Martinez C
Beltre 3B
Hall 2B
Hermida LF
McDonald CF

Pitching: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-3, 4.09)

TIGERS (52-50)
Jackson CF
Rhymes 2B
Boesch RF
Cabrera 1B
Peralta 3B
Kelly LF
Frazier DH
Laird C
Santiago SS

Pitching: RHP Max Scherzer (7-8, 4.45)

Game time: 4:10 p.m.

TV/Radio: FOX/WEEI

State of the Sox: The Sox have won five of their last eight but last night's 6-5 setback was a painful one and dropped the team 6.5 games out in the wild card with only 58 games left to play.

The offense is offensive: The Red Sox are 6 of 36 (.167) in the last three games with runners in scoring position and have left 36 men on base. ... The Red Sox have struck out 44 times in the last four games and 74 times in the last eight games.

Close encounters: The Red Sox are 28-27 in games decided by one or two runs.

All or nothing at all: David Ortiz is 10 of his last 30 with four homers and nine RBI. But he also has struck out 14 times.

Slumping Sox: Mike Cameron is 1 of his last 16 and Jeremy Hermida 2 of 20 with nine strikeouts.

Hot Sox: Marco Scutaro is 9 of 18 in the last four games with two homers, three walks, five RBI and six runs scored. He has raised his batting average from .273 to .283. ... Victor Martinez is 5 of 17 with two walks since coming off the DL.

No relief: Hideki Okajima has appeared in only five games this month, throwing 4.2 innings. He has allowed 11 hits in those games. ... Tim Wakefield has allowed eight earned runs on nine hits in 10.2 relief innings. Overall, he has allowed 17 earned runs in his last 15.2 innings.

Pitching today: Matsuzaka is 2-1, 1.93 in his last three starts and is 4-1, 2.64 in his five career starts against Detroit. ... Scherzer is 5-2, 2.28 in his last eight starts.

On the iPod right now: Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne.

Stay with Extra Bases. We'll have updates from the park and an in-game blog.

The non-waiver trade deadline is 3 hours and 53 minutes from now. If that deadline passes without the Red Sox making a significant move, you can bet that Theo Epstein will be criticized.

A few things:

1. It's the non-waiver deadline. The Red Sox obtained Alex Gonzalez on Aug 14 and Billy Wagner on Aug. 25 last season. Deals can and will be made in August. The real deadline is Aug. 31, the final day players can be obtained and still qualify for the postseason.

2. Change for the sake of change is not usually a smart play. Chad Qualls has been awful for an awful team in the National League.

3. The whole idea that a GM needs to show his team he's behind them by making a trade is ludicrous. You know how the Red Sox showed the team they were behind them? By raising the payroll to $162 million this season, a 33-percent increase from 2009.

That all said, the Sox usually do something.

We'll keep you posted.

The Indians have activated reliever Kerry Wood, who was on the disabled list with a blister on his right index finger.

This is a player the Red Sox might monitor for a few days to see how his finger is doing. Wood could be had for minimal player price but you'd have to be willing to pick up the remainder of the $10.5 million remaining on his contract and deal with an option year next year. Wood hadn't had a great year, but he still throws hard and had allowed only one run over his last six outings before shutting it down on July 11th.

The Red Sox are looking for an impactful reliever and not just a guy. The Rays just traded for D-Backs reliever Chad Qualls, who hasn't pitched well all season.

Wood would likely pass through waivers after the non-waiver deadline expires at 4 p.m. because of his price tag.

Wood is intriguing because of his power arm and his experience. He would have to be wiling to be a 7th inning reliever for the last 50something games.

Just someone to watch.

Mike Cameron was caught looking as the Sox fell to the Tigers. Amalie Benjamin has the story.

Johnny Damon returned to Fenway last night, but this time as a Tiger. Nate Taylor has that story.

The notebook has Mike Lowell back but not on the roster.

The Red Sox brass was up until about 3 a.m.trying to explore deals but came up empty.

The price for relievers was still enormous, but that may come down this afternoon closer to the 4 p.m. deadline. If it does, the Red Sox might be able to land a reliever, but for now the plan is for lefty Felix Doubront to start working out of the bullpen in Pawtucket and at some point have both Doubront and Michael Bowden up with the major league team.

The Sox could attempt taking chances on someone like Kerry Wood, who may come off the disabled list today for the Indians, or they could wait until the non-waiver period expires after today to swing a deal.

The Red Sox passed on Diamondbacks reliever Chad Qualls, who went to Tampa Bay, feeling the veteran had not had a good season and wasn't an upgrade over Manny Delcarmen, Ramon Ramirez or Hideki Okajima.

Game over: Tigers 6, Red Sox 5

David Ortiz created some buzz with a grand slam after striking out three times, his 22nd homer of the season. It was pulled down the rightfield corner on a line off Tiger closer Jose Valverde, who had walked Scutaro, Lowrie and Youkilis with one out. Adrian Beltre stroked a two-out double to the left field corner and after pinch-hitter J.D. Drew was walked intentionally, Valverde went 3-2 on Cameron, who took a called third strike to end the game

It was a tough loss all around. If the Yankees are indeed acquiring first baseman/DH Lance Berkman, had already finalized a deal with Cleveland for outfielder Austin Kearns and are also hot after lefty Ted Lilly, the Sox didn't fare well tonight. They not only dropped a game to the injury-riddled Tigers, but so far haven't acquired a bullpen piece at the deadline which is coming fast at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The Rays have pulled within a game of the Yanks with a 3-2 win over the pinstripes last night. The Sox remain 7-1/2 back of the Yanks and now 6-1/2 games back of the Rays for that wild card spot. The Sox couldn't take advantage of literally knocking starter Armando Galarraga out of the box when Kevin Youkilis lined a ball off the pitcher's ankle and forced him out of the game in the fifth inning. Lester had one of his poorest games - 6 innings, 11 hits, four runs and 115 pitches.

Top 8th: Tigers 6, Red Sox 1

Tigers scrape home a pair of runs off Wakefield. One scored on a wild pitch, another on a ground ball out. Key play was an infield hit by Gerald Laird which looked as if he ran out of baseline. Rays have beaten Yanks 3-2 so Sox really need to pull this one out to keep pace in wild card. They could fall 6-1/2 back of Rays.

Bottom 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Eric Patterson is a pretty effective basestealer, but if you're gonna run three runs down, better make it. Third time in 25 attempts he's been caught stealing. Tim Wakefield is in the game. He's now the oldest pitcher to appear in a game in Sox history. 43 years, 362 days old. Surpassing Dennis Eckersley, who was 43 years, 358 days.

Top 7th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Lester out after giving up a pair of singles to start the seventh. Ramon Ramirez is on. Lester threw 115 pitches and it wasn't his sharpest night of the year. Sox caught a break when Rhymes was caught stealing third. He was clearly safe. Jerry Meals missed it. Tigers also get runner thrown out at plate as Jhonny Peralta's single (three hits, two homers tonight) to short left saw third base coach Gene Lamont try to score Boesch. Eric Patterson threw him out by several feet.

Top 6th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Right ankle contusion for Galarraga.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Sox had runners at second and third after Enrique Gonzalez came in for the injured Armando Galarraga (hit with Youk liner off foot/ankle). Victor Martinez drove a 1-2 pitch toward the left-center field wall and both Raburn and Jackson converged but Raburn picked it off right before the wall.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Galarraga just got nailed with a Youkilis liner off the right foot/ankle area. Youkilis nailed Dan Haren off the arm a few days ago. Galarraga is coming out and Enrique Gonzalez will have all the time he needs to warm up.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 4, Red Sox 1

Marco Scutaro has been flexing his muscles of late. Solo homer on a 1-1 pitch, his seventh of the season.

Top 5th, Tigers 4, Red Sox 0

Peralta strikes again. This time a two-run homer against Lester. His last two-homer game was Sept. 17 for Cleveland vs. Detroit.

Bottom 4th: Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

Sox put the first two men on - double by VMart and single to second by Beltre and can't score. Mike Cameron's double-play ball ended the inning. Bill Chuck, who regularly appears in my Sunday Baseball Notes has put together these facts on Lance Berkman, who may soon be wearing pinstripes:

With the Yanks having to wait 24 hours to announce the official acquisition of Lance Berkman, here are nine stats regarding the Big Puma’s numbers this season:

1 Berkman came into this season with a lifetime .299 batting average. He’s hitting .245 this season and is down to .296 lifetime.

2. Berkman has had 20+ homers for the last 10 seasons; he has 13 this year.

3. His 19.6% strikeout percentage is the highest since he became a full-time major leaguer.

4. From the left side of the plate, Berkman is hitting .188. Even Curtis Granderson is hitting .214 against lefties.

5. Away from Minute Maid Park this season, Berkman is hitting .194

6. Since the break, Berkman is hitting .179/1/6.

7. Berkman is hitting .272 with runners in scoring position; .229 RISP/w 2 outs.

8. Berkman has grounded in 12 double plays in 80 opportunities (15%).

9. Berkman will have much more protection in the Yankee lineup: Astros hitting .240 with 69 homers. Yankees hitting .273 with 120 homers.

Top 3rd, Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

Very quiet eve before trade deadline for Sox so far. Don't hear too much, but they're vigorously exploring a deal that makes sense for a reliever. The prices haven't come down. The Yankees are on the verge of acquiring Lance Berkman, which shouldn't make Red Sox fans shake in their boots. Berkman has been decent of late but isn't the force he used to be. Sox can hope a team takes one of their outfielder's for a relief pitcher, but it seems it will take more than that. Their top choice - Scott Downs - appears unreachable at the present and the Jays seem to be holding firm for Casey Kelly and/or Jose Iglesias. They might take Ryan Kalish. Trevor Hoffman, who has been pitching well lately for the Brewers might have been a good 7th inning gamble, but he wants to stay in MIlwaukee. Meanwhile, Lester isn't having his best game. Struggling more than usual with his command. Got out of bases loaded jam in the third. Sox have only one hit against Galarraga.

Top 2nd: Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

Third baseman Jhonny Peralta is making the deal from the Indians payoff, stroking a line drive homer that just got over the Wall. That was after the Sox stranded the bases loaded off Armando Galarraga, who walked two and hit Kevin Youkilis with a pitch. Adrian Beltre tapped back to the pitcher for the final out in the bottom of the first inning. Lester allowed a couple of hits to Gerald Laird and Danny Worth, the No. 8 and 9 hitters, but struck out Jackson and Thymes flied out.

Top 1st: Tigers 1, Red Sox 0

Johnny Damon, late scratch with back spasms? No problem. Tigers sucked it up and got a run against Jon Lester on second baseman Will Rhymes' double to leftcenter. Mike Cameron went back and usually makes this play, but it went off the end of his glove. It was ruled a double. It scored Austin Jackson who opened the first inning with a single. Lester recovered nicely retiring Brennan Boesch with a strikeout, Miguel Cabrera with a ground out and Ryan Raburn struck out on a ball in the dirt that required Lester to throw him out at first.

Johnny Damon has been scratched from the Tigers' lineup due to upper back spasms. He has been replaced by Brennan Boesch, will play out in right field and hit the No. 3 spot. Ryan Raburn, who was originally in the lineup to play right field, will move to left.

The injury means Damon will have to wait at least one more day to see if Red Sox fans will react differently to him now that he plays for the Tigers instead of the hated Yankees.

J.D., Drew has been scratched from the Sox lineup and replaced in right field by Jeremy Hermida. Drew came in today and said his hamstring felt fine, but after warmups didn't feel quite as good.

The Red Sox had no intention of placing Drew on the disabled list, but we'll see if this setback changes their thinking at all. Hermida will bat seventh and Jed Lowrie will bat in Drew';s No. 2 spot.

Johnny Damon said today he understands why Red Sox fans booed him four years ago when he signed with the archrival New York Yankees before the 2006 season. This year though, Damon is back in the Fenway Park's visitors clubhouse with a Detroit Tigers uniform.

Could there be a different reaction from fans when Damon comes to the plate tonight for his first at-bat?

Perhaps maybe things will change. Either way, Damon said he’ll be fine whether he gets a majority of cheers or boos.

“I’ve had a bunch of people cheering for me four years ago,” he said. “There were a few more boos, too, but I appreciated the cheers. I knew the boos were going to come, but there were a lot of fans here who feel like the Red Sox wouldn’t be where they were without my type of attitude and my type of play.”

This year, Damon is hitting .281 with seven homers and 32 RBIs. When asked if being in a Tigers uniform brought less anxiety coming into Fenway than in a Yankees one, Damon smiled as he answered the question with a loud, “Yeah.”

“I love playing here and in New York, which was against a lot of people wishes, but I fell in love with New York also,” Damon said. “I’m one of those players who can go anywhere and make the best of it.”

Damon helped lead the Red Sox to their title in 2004 when he hit two home runs and drove in six runs in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees. Damon said that was one of his fondest memories as a player, and if fans cheer for him tonight, he knows it comes out of respect for what he did to bring the Red Sox out of the curse.

“Yeah, the players who can survive playing in Boston and New York, you tip your hat to them because there is a lot more than just playing baseball,” Damon said. “You become a part of not just a community your around, but everybody follow the team. You’re a part of Red Sox nation everywhere, whether it’s Southern California or Japan.”

Yet Damon knows he has to be honest with himself, which means if a lot boos do come his way, it’s a part of being on the opposing team.

“I’ve been booed so many times in my career,” he said. “I got booed yesterday. I get booed everywhere. It really does not bother me. It just shows I’ve been around and people know I can make a difference in ballgames. Like Reggie Jackson once said, ‘They don’t boo nobodies.’ I like to think of it as a positive instead of a negative.”

Terry Francona confirmed our earlier Tweet and blog from this afternoon that Mike Lowell will not be activated. Lowell or his agents, the Levinson Brothers, have talked to Theo Epstein about Lowell working out with the team for a couple of days as the trade deadline passes, according to Francona.

The team is trying to deal Lowell, but could easily do so during the waiver period after July 31 as Lowell would easily pass through waivers. But the Red Sox may feel they can get something for him, either an American League team needing a hitter or an NL team needing a righthanded pinch-hitter. The Sox could release Lowell, but their willingness to keep him around means they feel they might have something brewing.

Francona also indicated Jacoby Ellsbury would work out with the team today and then go off and play for Pawtucket Saturday and Sunday. After that? Dare we say he could be activated?

Francona said the CT scans on the feet of Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek were positive. Pedroia, who had to be scaled back because he was doing too much on the West Coast, was given the OK to continue activities like taking ground balls and running. Francona emphasized that Pedroia was showing signs of healing, but was not yet healed. Jason Varitek is off crutches and starting to do more as well.

Trevor Hoffman has told the Brewers he'd like to remain with them and will therefore is not expected to be dealt to the Red Sox.

The Red Sox are trying to deal Mike Lowell and will therefore hold off activating him for tonight's game according to a team source.

The Sox feel they can deal Lowell to a team needing a pinch-hitter, perhaps even a National League team. The team also decided that J.D. Drew was well enough to play and is in the lineup batting second tonight. We'll have more after Terry Francona's press conference at 4 p.m.