Projo Sox Blog

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew is out of the lineup because of back stiffness.

Drew was removed from Sunday's game in Boston when he felt his back "grab at him" when he was in the field.

"Hopefully we got him out soon enough where it doesn't completely lock up on him and we lose him for four or five days," said manager Terry Francona.

Drew has a history of back issues, including earlier this year during the club's trip to Japan. He said the recent discomfort surprised him because he hadn't felt any pain recently.

"It's pretty stiff today," he said. "I thought I caught it in time (Sunday) during the game to be able to play today, but it got more and more stiff. We'll see how I am tomorrow. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later."

Drew said it's been a crazy season, dealing with these back issues, so he plans on being very careful with it. But he doesn't feel it's something to be too concerned with.

"It's just one of those things," he said. "I had an injury a long time ago in St. Louis where I used to have some real bad flareup. It was pretty aggravating, missing some games with it, and you just wish it would go away. We would get it feeling good and you don't think about it and next thing it pops back up."

With Drew out, Jacoby Ellsbury will play right, Coco Crisp will play center and Jason Bay is in left for tonight's game against the Orioles.

 Tags  J.D. Drew Red Sox

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