PEDROIA LOOKS TO EXTEND HIT STEAK

PEDROIA’S DOZEN: Dustin Pedroia, who went 1-for-4 last night, has hit safely in a season-high 12 straight games.
· He is 22-for-49 (.449) with 5 doubles, a homer, 8 RBI, 13 runs, and 6 walks over the 12-game stretch, raising his AVG from .299 to .341, 4th-best in the American League…His 60 hits overall on the season are tied for 3rd-most among major league leaders.

PEN MARKS: Sox relievers have tallied 12.1 scoreless frames over the last 4 games, yielding 9 hits (.205 opp. AVG) and 4 walks while recording 13 K’s…Boston’s bullpen has a 0.41 ERA (1 ER/22.0 IP) over the 1st 7 games of this road trip.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW: Andrew Miller is celebrating his 28th birthday today…His 15.4 strikeouts per 9.0 IP this season rank 3rd among MLB relievers.

De Le TORRE OPTIONED OUT

RED SOX ACTIVATE RIGHT-HANDER ANDREW BAILEY
FROM DISABLED LIST
Right-hander Jose De La Torre Optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today activated right-hander Andrew Bailey from the disabled list. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, right-hander Jose De La Torre was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket after yesterday’s game in Minnesota.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

Bailey, 28, is 1-0 with five saves and a 1.46 ERA (2 ER/12.1 IP) in 13 outings for the Red Sox this season, including 11 scoreless appearances. With 20 strikeouts, he ranks fourth among qualifying American League relievers with 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 6 (retroactive to April 29) with a right biceps strain. Bailey struck out two batters and allowed one run in 1.0 inning during a rehab appearance with Pawtucket on Saturday night.

Recalled on May 9, De La Torre made two relief appearances for the Red Sox during his first career major league stint. He allowed two runs over 2.0 innings and recorded two strikeouts. The 27-year-old has appeared in 10 games for Pawtucket this season, all out of the bullpen, going 1-0 with one save, a 1.56 ERA (3 ER/17.1 IP), and 17 strikeouts.

BAILEY ACTIVATED BY SOX

ROSTER MOVE: The Red Sox today activated RHP Andrew Bailey from the 15-day disabled list (right biceps strain)…To make room on the 25-man roster, RHP Jose De La Torre was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket after yesterday’s game.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Sox 14-7 (.667) road record is tied for the best in the majors with the Cardinals (also 14-7).
· The Red Sox have won 6 of their 7 road series…Their 6 road series victories are the most in MLB.

FINDING A RHYTHM: The Red Sox have won each of their last 5 games, matching their 2nd-longest winning streak of the season (also 5 games 4/24-28)…The club’s only longer winning stretch in 2013 was a 7-game run from 4/13-20.

LASER SHOW CONTINUES: Dustin Pedroia, who went 2-for-5 with a homer and 3 RBI in yesterday’s win, has hit safely in a season-high 11 straight games…He is 21-for-45 (.467) with 5 doubles, a homer, 8 RBI, 13 runs, and 6 walks over the 11-game stretch, raising his AVG from .299 to .343, tied for 3rd-best in the AL.

RED SOX SEEK SWEEP

SWEEP DREAMS: With a victory today the Red Sox could claim their 4th series sweep this season (last, 4/25-28 vs. HOU)…The club only swept 3 total sets in 2012.
· Thus far in 2013, only the Reds and Giants have swept 4 series (Red Sox, Athletics, Rangers, Braves, Padres, and Rockies have all swept 3).

ROAD SUCCESS: The Sox 13-7 (.650) road record is tops in the AL and tied for 2nd in the majors (with Arizona, also 13-7), trailing only St. Louis (.667, 14-7).
· Including the current set in Minnesota, the Red Sox have won 6 of their 7 road series…Their 6-1 (.857) series record on the road is the best in the majors.

BIG NIGHT FOR BIG PAPI: David Ortiz last night matched career highs with 2 home runs (40th time, last 6/25/12 vs. TOR) and 6 RBI (4th time, last 8/12/08 vs. TEX), and finished 3-for-4 with a walk and 3 runs scored in the Sox win.
· All 4 of Ortiz’s 6-RBI games have come with the Red Sox, tying Walt Dropo for 3rd-most contests with at least 6 RBI by a Red Sox batter since RBI have been officially recorded in 1920 behind Ted Williams (10) and Dwight Evans (5) (Elias).
· Ortiz has now tallied 2 homers in a game 38 times with Boston, passing Ted Williams (37) for the most multi-HR contests in club history…His 38 multi-HR games since 2003 are 2nd-most in MLB in that time behind Albert Pujols (44).

SOX INVADE TWIN CITY

FOR THE RECORD: At 24-17 (.585), the Red Sox are tied for the 5th-best record in baseball, 3rd-best in the AL behind Texas (27-14, .659) and New York (25-16, .610).
· The Sox are 11-7 (.611) away from Boston this season, the 2nd-best road record in the AL (NYY, .632, 12-7).

EXTRA RETURNS: Will Middlebrooks, who put the Sox ahead with a 3-run double in the 9th inning last night, is 8-for-27 (.296) since returning to the lineup on 5/9, with all 8 hits going for extra bases (7 2B, HR)…His 7 doubles since 5/9 lead MLB, while his 8 XBH in that time are T-1st (Mitch Moreland).

BUCH STARTS: With a victory tonight, Clay Buchholz would tie for the ML lead in wins and would join TB’s Matt Moore as MLB’s only 7-0 hurlers…He would be the 4th Red Sox in the last 67 years since 1947 to go undefeated with 7+ wins over the team’s 1st 42 games of a season…The others are Josh Beckett in 2007 (7-0), Roger Clemens in 1986 (8-0), and Sonny Siebert in 1971 (8-0).
· Buchholz has allowed just 1 homer this year and leads MLB at 0.15 HR/9 IP (58.2 IP)…He has not given up a homer in 35.2 career innings against the Twins.

HANRAHAN DONE FOR THE YEAR

JOEL HANRAHAN UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

BOSTON, MA – Red Sox right-hander Joel Hanrahan today underwent successful Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and had his right flexor tendon repaired. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, FL.

SOX IN TAMPA FOR GAME 2

DUSTIN’S BUSTIN’: Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in 6 straight games, going 13-for-24 (.542) in that stretch to raise his AVG from .299 to .338, 4th best in the AL.

JON THE STOPPER: Tonight’s Red Sox starter Jon Lester is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA (7 ER/34.2 IP) in 5 starts this year following a Red Sox loss.
· Lester is 3-1 with a 2.17 ERA (7 ER) and 40 strikeouts in 29.0 innings over his last 5 starts at Tropicana Field since the start of 2009…His 2.17 ERA in Tampa since 2009 leads all pitchers with at least 4 starts at the Trop since 2009.

WEARING OUT THE COMPETITION: Red Sox batters lead the majors with 4.07 pitches seen per plate appearance…Mike Napoli paces the AL with 4.45 pitches per PA.
· Since pitches began being tracked in 1988, the team record for most P/PA in a single season belongs to the 1994 Tigers (4.03).
· Since 1988, the highest P/PA ratio by a Red Sox in a full season belongs to Kevin Youkilis in 2006 (4.42).

SOX START TRIP IN TAMPA

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Red Sox tonight open a 9-game road trip with the 1st of 3 contests in Tampa Bay…The Sox were off yesterday and are entering a season-long stretch of 20 days until their next off-day on 6/3.
· The Sox are 9-6 (.600) away from Boston this season, the 3rd-best road record in AL after the Yankees (12-7, .632) and Orioles (14-9, .609).
· Boston has played just 15 road games this season, the fewest in the AL…The Mets are the only team in baseball with fewer road games thus far in 2013 (14).

OPENING ACT: The Red Sox are 10-2 (.833) in their 1st game of a series this year, the 2nd-best such mark in MLB behind the Braves (11-2, .846).

MULTIPLE MAN: Dustin Pedroia has multiple hits in each of his last 5 games, going 11-for-21 (.524) in that stretch to raise his AVG from .299 to .331, 8th best in the AL…The 5-game multi-hit streak is tied for the longest by an AL player this year and ties the longest of Pedroia’s career for the 6th time, 1st since 7/30-8/3/11.
· With at least 2 hits tonight, Pedroia would become the 1st Red Sox 2B with 6 straight multi-hit games since Wil Cordero from 4/28-5/5/96 (6 games).
· Pedroia’s 17 multi-hit games overall this season are T-2nd in MLB behind KC’s Alex Gordon (18)…He is the 1st Red Sox 2B with multiple hits in at least 17 of the club’s 1st 38 games since Jerry Remy in 1979 (17).

ROSS OUT AND LAVARNWAY IN

RED SOX PLACE CATCHER DAVID ROSS ON SEVEN-DAY CONCUSSION DISABLED LIST; RECALL CATCHER RYAN LAVARNWAY

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox today placed catcher David Ross on the seven-day concussion disabled list. To fill his spot on the 25-man roster, catcher Ryan Lavarnway was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcements.

Ross, 36, suffered the injury during yesterday’s game against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park. He has gone 9-for-43 (.209) with a double, four home runs, five RBI, eight runs, and seven walks in 15 games for the Red Sox this season. Ross leads all catchers with at least 15 games played with a 2.64 catcher’s ERA and has thrown out four of 14 attempted base stealers (28.6 percent).

For the 25-year-old Lavarnway it marks his second stint with Boston this season. He was previously with the club April 25-27, but did not appear in a game. Lavarnway has played in 21 games for the PawSox this year, with 19 appearances at catcher and two at designated hitter. He has hit .321 (25-for-78) with seven doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI, 16 runs, and 13 walks, including a .333 mark (10-for-30) with eight RBI in eight games in May. He has thrown out seven of 15 attempted base stealers (46.7 percent), the best rate among International League qualifiers. Lavarnway has played in 63 career major league games with Boston, all over the 2011-12 seasons, going 33-for-192 (.172) with 10 doubles, four home runs, and 20 RBI. He will be active for today’s game against Toronto at Fenway Park.

SOX AND JAYS GAME II

SOX AND JAYS: The Red Sox and Blue Jays today play the 2nd tilt of a 3-game series at Fenway Park…The Sox have won 5 of their 7 matchups with the Jays thus far in 2013 and have outscored the Blue Jays 44-20 this year.

DAY DREAMERS: The Red Sox top the AL with a 9-3 mark (.750) in day games this year, the 2nd-best daytime record in the majors behind only the Diamondbacks (6-1, .857).
· Today’s starter Clay Buchholz owns an American League-best 0.78 ERA (2 ER/23.0 IP) in day games and is 3-0 in his 3 daytime starts.

ONE-HIT WONDER: Jon Lester last night tossed a 1-hit shutout as the Sox topped the Blue Jays 5-0…He did not walk a batter and record 5 strikeouts.
· It marked the 1st complete game by a Sox pitcher this year and the 10th of Lester’s career…It was his 3rd career shutout with both previously coming in 2008.
· Lester’s 1 base runner allowed was a career-low for a complete game and he became the 1st Red Sox to allow 1 or less in a complete-game effort since Josh Beckett’s 1-hitter on 6/15/11 at Tampa Bay (which was also the last 1-hitter by the Sox overall)…He also became the 1st Red Sox left-hander to allow 1 base runner or less in a complete game since Dutch Leonard in 1918.