Red Sox' Pedroia Ready To Play Tuesday
BOSTON (CBS) - As the Boston Red Sox prepared to leave Toronto after taking two-of-three from the Blue Jays over the weekend, Dustin Pedroia had one thing on his mind.
"Play Tuesday," Pedroia told the team's website Sunday afternoon.
Out for the last week with a torn abductor muscle in his right thumb, Pedroia was able to avoid a trip to the disabled list and is primed for a return. He resumed batting practice on Saturday, with the help of a special brace over his hand, and felt no discomfort or swelling on Sunday.
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Now the Red Sox second baseman hopes to return Tuesday when they open a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles in Boston.
When asked if the team had said he was good to go, Pedroia gave his usual Pedroia-like response.
"They don't tell me anything, man. I play Tuesday," he told the Boston Herald.
Pedroia was nearly called upon over the weekend in Toronto, after short stop Mike Aviles was hit in the hand by a grounder during Boston's 7-4 win on Saturday. Manager Bobby Valentine said he was ready to put Pedroia in the game, as the team had no other infielders available on the bench.
But Aviles was able to remain in the game, and Pedroia -- glove in hand -- stayed on the bench.
"The good thing is he feels good," Valentine said of Pedroia following Saturday's game. "When Mike got hit with that ball, he was ready to go out in the field. I wasn't really hesitant. So we'll see."
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Pedroia is hitting .295 with five home runs and 21 RBI this season. He is second on the team in both hits (59) and runs scored (30).
