By Nicole Auerbach, Globe Correspondent

Quieter day at the park today. And a little bit cooler -- my iPhone weather app says it's 92 degrees.

A few notes fom Red Sox manager Terry Francona's pregame press conference:

** on Clay Buchholz, who had a "light catch" today and is working on returning from a lower back strain:

"The plan is Monday [he'll] throw a side," Francona said. "He may feel [the strain], but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll hurt himself. That's the kind of fine line we're walking right now.

"He's not ready to pitch. I don't think anybody thinks he is. We have a progression here, and it's going to have to be a consistent one. If you watch him throw, he looks great.

"There's some concern on his part, and I don't blame him. We're just taking it a step at a time and do it the right way."

** on Francona approaching win No. 1000 as a manager:

"I haven't thought about it very much," Francona said. "I got really lucky. I caught a huge break in being able to be the manager here because we have a great organization. We have great players. I just feel pretty fortunate."

** on Kevin Youkilis getting hit while fielding a ground ball last night:

"Hit him right in the hand," Francona said. "Got a bruise. Obviously, he's OK. He came back and waffled one to left. It hit more hand than glove."

** on Josh Reddick's head-first slide into first base last night:

"It shows how bad a guy wants a hit," Francona said. "I don't think that's a bad thing. It's not faster to get there -- we know that.

"It's hard for me to say something when a guy wants it that bad. I'd rather [Reddick] do that than jog down to first."