Gabbard leaves game with back injury

Kason Gabbard has left the mound before the start of the third inning with an injury to his back.

Gabbard crumbled while attempting to throw a 2-0 pitch to Kevin Youkilis in the second inning. Gabbard's back apparently stiffened and in the bottom of the third, before throwing a pitch, the medical staff came out of the dugout to get him. He had thrown 45 pitches and had walked three over two innings. Gabbard had won each of his first five consecutive starts at Fenway, but that streak is now over.

Dustin Nippert replaced Gabbard and received all the time he needed to warm up. It's 0-0 with one out in the third with Sox runners at first and third.