The Friday, June 16, 2017

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Chris Sale brought his A game, but Red Sox didn’t bring bats

Peter Abraham

PHILADELPHIA — Chris Sale had a game he’ll never forget on Thursday night, for reasons good and ultimately bad.

The Red Sox had the first extra-base of his career and ran the bases like a giraffe being chased by a lion, his long legs taking him to second base on a in the eighth and then to third.

But Sale was left stranded, then he allowed a in the bottom of the inning as the beat the Red Sox, 1-0.

The unlikely victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Phillies and was their first shutout of the season. The Sox failed to sweep the four-game, home-and-home interleague series.

It was the sixth time the Sox have been blanked, matching all of last season. They managed only five hits, struck out 12 times, and were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

The Sox open a three-game series at Houston on Friday night. The 45-22 Astros have the best record in baseball.

Sale (8-3) pitched his best game in several weeks. He allowed the one run on four hits and struck out 10 with one walk. It was the ninth time in 14 starts that Sale struck out 10 or more.

“Just an outstanding performance all the way around,” Sox manager said. “He personally did everything that he could to impact this game.”

Sale got through seven with 93 pitches and took his turn to start the eighth inning. Facing sidearming reliever Pat Neshek, he slapped an opposite-field double to left field, the first extra-base hit of his career and third overall.

“Figured he was going to throw a and swung at it. Didn’t know where it went,” Sale said. “I just started running.”

It ended an 0-for-35 streak for Red Sox dating to April 25, 2016, when Rick Porcello singled at Atlanta.

Sale tagged up and went to third on a fly ball to right field by . But Dustin Pedroia struck out and Xander Bogaerts fouled out to first base.

Sale returned to the mound in the bottom of the inning and trouble struck.

Andrew Knapp singled with one out and scored on a double into the left-field corner by Ty Kelly, who was facing Sale for the first time in his career.

“Hung a breaking ball, he hit a double, scored a run,” Sale said. “It’s tough . . . Worst pitch of the game.”

Phillies Hector Neris walked Jackie Bradley Jr. with two outs in the ninth inning. That gave a chance, but he struck out swinging on three pitches.

Hanley Ramirez, Josh Rutledge, Christian Vazquez, and Chris Young were available as pinch hitters but Farrell said he did not consider them.

“No, not against a righthander. No,” he said.

Sandoval is a better hitter lefthanded than righthanded. But he has hit only .224 against righthanders this season. Ramirez has hit .259, Rutledge .258, Vazquez .333, and Young .273.

The Sox may be committed to giving Sandoval every chance they can to prove himself before deciding on whether to move on.

“Sometimes you have to give guys an opportunity before you just jump to the conclusions right away,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said before the game. “We’ll continue to monitor his situation. It’s up to him to do well and we’ll see what takes place.”

Sandoval is hitting .208 with a .621 OPS through 29 games.

Until the eighth inning, the Phillies advanced only one runner beyond first base. Sale was so focused that he kept throwing strikes when a fire alarm was going off in the park during the bottom of the fifth inning.

As a siren blared and strobe lights flashed, Sale struck out Daniel Nava. It was a false alarm.

“Just another noise going on in the stadium,” Sale said. “Once you get locked in, those things kind of drown themselves out. That was interesting.”

Philadelphia rookie Nick Pivetta, a 24-year-old righthander, matched zeros with Sale. He went seven innings, allowing four singles with two walks. He struck out nine in what was only his seventh major league start.

“He had good stuff. Good fastball, kept the ball down,” Farrell said.

The Sox missed on several chances to score.

Mitch Moreland, back in the lineup after missing Wednesday’s game with a sore left big toe, singled to center leading off the second inning. then drew a walk.

Bradley struck out on three pitches, as did Sandoval. Sandy Leon drew a walk on four pitches to load the bases.

Sale fouled off two 95-mile-per-hour before hitting another sharply up the middle. Second baseman Howie Kendrick saved two runs with a diving stop and quick throw to first to get Sale by a step.

Sale, who is one of the fastest players on the team, looked back in dismay as he crossed the bag.

Pivetta retired eight in a row before Leon singled in the fifth inning. He then advanced on a wild pitch. Sale struck out, but Betts singled to left field.

Third base coach Brian Butterfield waved Leon to the plate, testing the arm of Nava. But his throw was accurate and Leon was out.

Eduardo Rodriguez ‘feels ecstatic’ after session

Peter Abraham

PHILADELPHIA — The Red Sox added another to the disabled list on Thursday. But they could get one back more quickly than was initially expected.

Lefthander went on the 10-day DL with inflammation in his shoulder. Johnson left his start on Wednesday night in the third inning after feeling some pain. He is 2-0 with a 4.29 in four starts.

“I think this is something minor,” Johnson said before returning to Boston, where he has an exam scheduled for Friday.

With Johnson out, righthander Hector Velazquez will start on Monday in Kansas City. He pitched 3⅓ innings of scoreless relief of Johnson on Wednesday, getting his first major league win.

Velazquez may not that spot long. Eduardo Rodriguez threw 33 pitches in the bullpen and had no pain in his right knee. Rodriguez’s kneecap dislocated on June 1 and he went on the DL the next day.

“That was way ahead of what we had anticipated,” manager John Farrell said. “He feels ecstatic about being able to complete what would be a normal bullpen.”

Rodriguez still needs to get through some agility and fielding work this weekend before being cleared for a game. The Sox would want him to pitch in a minor league game first.

“It would be important for his own peace of mind,” Farrell said.

Righthanded reliever Austin Maddox was promoted from A Pawtucket. It was his first time in the majors.

Maddox, 26, opened the season with Double A Portland and has split time between there and Triple A Pawtucket. Over 18 games and 27 innings this season, he has a 1.33 earned run average.

The Sox took Maddox in the third round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Florida. Johnson, who also played for the Gators, was a supplemental first-round choice that season.

“I went into with one goal, to show them I could pitch in the big leagues,” Maddox said.

To make room for Maddox on the 40-man roster, the Sox shifted lefthander Roenis Elias to the 60-day disabled list. He has been out all season with an intercostal muscle strain.

Since spring training, the Sox have placed 15 players on the DL, nine of them pitchers. Lefthander Robbie Ross Jr. has been on twice. There are seven pitchers currently on the DL.

Thornburg surgery It was an announcement that seemed inevitable: righthanded reliever is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Thornburg was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will have surgery on Friday at the Barnes- Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Dr. Robert Thompson, who is with the Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome at the Washington University School of Medicine, will perform the surgery. Thornburg is anticipated to be ready for the 2018 season.

Thoracic outlet syndrome compresses nerves near the collarbone, which leads to shoulder pain. It typically involves removing a rib, although president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that wouldn’t be determined until the surgery is performed.

Dombrowski said Thornburg should be major league-ready in nine months, essentially the start of next season.

Whether Thornburg can return to form is uncertain. of the Mets had the surgery last summer and has so far pitched poorly this season. The same is true of Phil Hughes of the Twins.

Josh Beckett returned from the surgery and pitched well for the Dodgers. Jaime Garcia of the Cardinals also succeeded following his surgery.

The Red Sox traded four players to Milwaukee to obtain Thornburg in December. He appeared in two spring training games before being shut down for what was attributed to weakness in his shoulder.

Thornburg was then put on the disabled list with what the team said was an impingement in his shoulder. He has been limited to playing catch since.

Thornburg saw a specialist in Boston, Dr. Dean Donahue, three weeks ago. Botox injections, which relieve the pain for some patients, were tried but did not solve the issue. Thornburg then saw Thompson.

Dombrowski said the Sox researched Thornburg’s medical history before the trade but could not have known he had that syndrome.

“It’s just one of those things that happens,” Dombrowski said. “When you make trades at times, it’s buyer beware. There’s no way you would know this. You just hope you get a healthy player back next year.”

The Sox believed Thornburg would be their primary after what was a strong season for the Brewers in 2016. That role instead fell to .

Third baseman , one of the four players sent to Milwaukee, has hit .299 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. The other three players are minor leaguers.

Through Wednesday, Red Sox third basemen had hit .203 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs.

Dombrowski passed on a question of whether the Red Sox were faulty in their evaluation of Shaw.

“I really wouldn’t talk about another organization’s player at this point,” he said. “It’s really not a proper thing for me to do.”

Making deals The Red Sox have not announced any draft signings. But based on social media, they’re getting done.

Outfielder Cole Brannen, their second-round pick, changed his and Instagram profiles to say he’s now a member of the Red Sox organization.

Fifth-round pick Alex Scherff, a high school righthander, was at on Thursday then wrote on Twitter he was headed to Fort Myers, Fla., to start his career.

Dombrowski acknowledged that some deals have been made but are pending physicals.

Third degree Dombrowski said the Sox would further evaluate Pablo Sandoval before deciding whether to obtain a third baseman.

“Sometimes you have to give guys an opportunity before you just jump to the conclusions right away,” Dombrowski said. “We’ll continue to monitor his situation. It’s up to him to do well and we’ll see what takes place.”

There are options. Jhonny Peralta, who played four seasons in Detroit under Dombrowski, is a free agent after being released by the Cardinals on Tuesday. Trevor Plouffe was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Thursday. He will be traded or released.

It’s questionable whether either player represents an upgrade.

Smith to minors Carson Smith threw a one-inning simulated game then returned to Boston. He is tentatively scheduled to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Pawtucket on Sunday pending an examination on Friday.

Smith, who is coming back from elbow surgery, has not pitched in a game in 13 months and could need several weeks to be MLB-ready.

Farrell said Smith’s throwing session on Thursday was “OK” because of a lack of consistency.

“That’s to be fully expected,” the manager said.

Striking distance In Thursday’s 1-0 loss, Chris Sale struck out 10 and reached nine double-digit games in his team’s 66th game. The last pitcher to accomplish that was Hall of Famer Randy Johnson with Arizona in 2001. He had 13 . . . Jackie Bradley Jr. was 1 for 3 with a walk. He has raised his on-base percentage from .292 to .352 in his last 16 games . . . David Price did his usual bullpen session, something he skipped before his last start because of a blister. Price starts on Sunday in Houston . . . Philadelphia righthander , who is out for the season following shoulder surgery, was at Citizens Bank Park and visited with his former teammates.

Tyler Thornburg trade has been a bust for Red Sox

Nick Cafardo

PHILADELPHIA — It would be dumb of us to say that the Tyler Thornburg-for-Travis Shaw-plus- prospects deal with Milwaukee isn’t a bust. All I can say in his defense is that when Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the deal there was a lot of enthusiasm for Thornburg, who had shown to be a nasty pitcher in both setup and closer roles for the Brewers in 2016.

Nobody seemed too concerned about giving up Shaw, an average third baseman whose offense had fallen off the cliff in the second half of last season (.194, .619 OPS). The Red Sox had Pablo Sandoval returning to the lineup to play third, so giving up Shaw was no biggie.

The bigger concern was giving up Mauricio Dubon, who is now hitting .289 with 29 steals at Double A Biloxi, and hard-throwing righthander Josh Pennington. The Red Sox also gave up a , who turned out to be 18-year-old shortstop Yeison Coca.

So yes, the deal looks bad especially when you consider Shaw is likely going to make the All-Star team.

Thornburg, who has not yet pitched for the Red Sox, has thoracic outlet syndrome and it was announced Thursday that he will need surgery. It’s a tricky surgery and not all pitchers have made smooth comebacks. Dombrowski said that doctors have told him it will be nine months before Thornburg can pitch again.

The Red Sox’ recent bad luck with relievers is staggering. Before Thornburg there was Carson Smith, who missed most of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Smith was traded for Wade Miley, so the player loss wasn’t as significant. The Red Sox didn’t have much use for Miley, who was then flipped to Baltimore, where he’s pitched very well.

Smith had a strong season with Seattle in 2015, though a Mariners official told me right after the deal was consummated that in his opinion Smith had a high potential for injury because of his funky delivery. Three games into his Red Sox career Smith was shut down, leading to the surgery.

In fairness, there are a lot of pitchers who have deliveries that concern baseball people. ’s delivery — because he throws across his body — has always been a concern. Dombrowski, while with the Tigers, traded for Scherzer. Scherzer has since moved on to Washington, and not only has he not broken down, he is a workhorse.

Chris Sale’s delivery always came under scrutiny as one that could cause a breakdown. That hasn’t happened, either. Dombrowski traded for him, as well.

The Red Sox have had a litany of relievers who have broken down. Dombrowski’s predecessors all had them. In one of his first trades as Red Sox general manager, acquired up-and-coming closer Andrew Bailey, giving up Josh Reddick as the featured piece in a multi-player deal with Oakland. Bailey pitched parts of two years in Boston, but he broke down and needed Tommy John surgery. With Bailey gone, Cherington traded for Pittsburgh’s , sending in a six-player deal. But Hanrahan got to Boston and broke down after nine appearances in the 2013 season.

Cherington hit on Koji Uehara in 2013, though his original role was to be a seventh-inning reliever. And Dombrowski has certainly hit on .

But the reality is relievers are tough to deal for, and it’s even tougher to give up talent for them. With the Bailey, Hanrahan, Smith, and Thornburg acquisitions, you felt you were getting late-inning specialists on the upside. But then they got hurt.

Dombrowski couldn’t have seen the future. Maybe his scouts and his own observations were that Scherzer, Smith, and Sale had bad deliveries. But Scherzer hasn’t broken down as a Tiger or National, and Sale never broke down with the White Sox.

As Dombrowski pointed out while addressing the media Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, there were really no major signs that this would happen to Thornburg, nor were there whispers that he was prone to breaking down.

Dombrowski said there were some chiropractic visits made by Thornburg in 2016, but they were minor in nature. There was nothing to nix a deal.

Dombrowski said that the Brewers were forthcoming in their release of medical information. This was not like the situation with Drew Pomeranz, where the Padres hid medical news on Pomeranz’s elbow and forearm.

“It’s been a long process for Tyler from spring training when he got shut down,” Dombrowski said. “It’s been a frustrating situation for him where he felt good and then he wouldn’t feel good for a long period of time. It was about three weeks ago we brought him to a specialist in Boston and he thought he had thoracic outlet syndrome.”

Dombrowski said Thornburg was treated with Botox shots but they didn’t work, so a second specialist felt he needed the surgery.

Asked if he regretted making the deal, Dombrowski said, “It’s one of those things that happens. It’s buyer beware when you make any deal. There’s no way you would know this. Milwaukee gave us all the information and they were very upfront. So now we just need to get the player healthy and move on from there.”

Dombrowski probably didn’t make a -for-Larry Andersen deal. Lou Gorman surely didn’t know Bagwell would make it to the Hall of Fame and Andersen would wind up in the Phillies’ broadcast booth. General managers leave themselves susceptible to criticism all the time with deals, especially when they give up good prospects for veterans.

Was this a good deal? Absolutely not. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good deal when it was made. It just turned out lousy.

Red Sox impressed with ’s off-field growth

Alex Speier

It has been just over a year since the Red Sox took lefthander Jay Groome with their top selection, a development that thrilled the team, given that it viewed him as one of the foremost talents — perhaps the foremost — in the 2016 draft.

To date, though, Groome has had few opportunities to validate such a view, given that he left his only game with Single A Greenville this year with a lat strain.

Groome will start for the in their season opener Monday as he works his way back to Greenville. To this point, he has thrown just eight innings as a professional. While that has prevented a meaningful evaluation of him on the mound, Groome has offered some significant signs about his career direction off it.

Groome was available to the Sox because of concerns about his signability and makeup. The signability question was answered when he agreed to a $3.65 million bonus. As for the makeup questions, one year removed from a draft process that featured plenty of loud whispers about off-field transgressions, Groome has received raves from Red Sox officials and teammates for his commitment to his profession.

In the offseason, Groome and his family (his mother and father as well as twin 4-year-old brothers) relocated from New Jersey to Fort Myers. The pitcher lived five minutes from the Sox’ spring training facility, proximity that allowed him to get on a five-day-a-week workout schedule with team trainers while gaining insight into how veterans such as Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, and Jackie Bradley Jr. work. The 6- foot-6-inch lefty lost weight yet gained strength and, though just 18, has the physical presence of a big league rotation member.

“Moving down to Fort Myers was a huge positive and something that kind of shows you his commitment level,” said Red Sox farm director Ben Crockett. “When provided a road map of how to get better, he wants to do that.

“I think he understands the talent that he has and is starting to understand what it’s going to take, what the difference is between and what he was doing as an amateur. He’s taken well to the routine and structure of professional baseball.”

For Groome, the offseason was an occasion to appreciate his opportunity. Spending time with his young brothers, he saw a chance to give them better opportunities than he had as a kid. Beyond that, a trip to the Red Sox’ Dominican academy lent further perspective.

“There were a lot of tryouts when we were there,” recalled Groome. “There would be kids who showed up with no shoes — just a glove and a hat.

“[A scout] said, ‘You guys thought it was hard getting recognized in the States — imagine coming from here.’ That’s when it really hit me.

“I’d rather wake up doing something I love every day than be miserable doing something I don’t like. I’m making money doing what I love. I’m going to take every advantage I can to get better and eventually hit that end goal of getting to the big leagues.”

Of course, off-field comportment can carry Groome only so far. Ultimately, his advancement toward his lofty goals — he looks forward to the day when the teams that passed on him in the draft watch him win the World Series — will be dictated by what he does on the mound.

While Groome’s stuff in recent extended spring training in Fort Myers fell short of what he’d demonstrated as an amateur, in his most recent outing he had the stuff that made him a top pick, showing a 92-96-m.p.h. fastball while throwing roughly a dozen , all for strikes.

“There was a clear separation, a clear step forward, and back to kind of what we had seen previously,” said Crockett.

That suggested that Groome was ready for a brief stop in Lowell — perhaps just one start under the lights and in front of an Opening Night crowd — before he returns to Greenville, with a sense of possibility in front of him.

Devers heats up In a WEEI interview this week, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski described the status of Rafael Devers as a near-daily conversation in the organization. With back-to-back 2-for-4 games that included homers Wednesday and Thursday, the 20-year-old is now hitting .308/.369/.561 with 12 homers, including a .383/.420/.766 line in 12 games this month.

With those numbers — as the youngest player in the Eastern League — why does Devers remain in Double A?

“He’s continued to flash good at-bats at times as the month has gone on, and at times he’s seeking consistency from at-bat to at-bat,” said Crockett. “It’s probably something we did see a little more of earlier in the season.

“Obviously he’s getting some good results now, having some good at-bats, doing some pretty good things. And yet I still think there’s opportunity for him to keep improving on the offensive side and for him to continue with his routine on the defensive side.”

Wild thing Henry Owens walked a career-high eight batters Tuesday, the latest evidence of his increasingly drastic control struggles. He has walked 48 batters (in 58 innings), the most in the minors. For now, Owens remains on schedule to make his next start for Pawtucket, but significant changes — whether moving to the bullpen or changing arm slots — could be explored in the near future. “When players struggle, you talk about a lot of different things, from usage to pitches to mechanics, all sorts of things,” said Crockett. “At this point, there has yet to be anything of significance other than smaller changes that have already been implemented. Nonetheless, those conversations are certainly happening.”

Tebow mania Mets minor leaguer Tim Tebow, playing with Single A Columbia, caused considerable excitement while playing in Greenville this week against the Red Sox affiliate. Ticket sales for the first two games of the series rose from an average of about 4,700 to roughly 6,400. Everything that Tebow did inspired a considerable reaction — a run-scoring double, a strikeout (which resulted in coupons for a free burger for every fan in one section of Fluor Field), or a comebacker.

Red Sox’ Tyler Thornburg to have surgery Friday

Peter Abraham

PHILADELPHIA — The Red Sox on Thursday made an announcement that seemed inevitable: Righthanded reliever Tyler Thornburg is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Thornburg was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will have surgery Friday at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Dr. Robert Thompson, who is with the Washington University School of Medicine Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, will perform the surgery. Thornburg is expected to be ready for the 2018 season.

The Red Sox traded four players to the to obtain Thornburg in December. He appeared in two spring training games before being shut down for what was attributed to weakness in his shoulder.

Thornburg was then put on the disabled list with what the team said was an impingement in his shoulder. He has been limited to playing catch since.

The Sox believed Thornburg would be their primary set-up man after his strong season for the Brewers in 2016. That role instead fell to Matt Barnes.

Third baseman Travis Shaw, one of the four players sent to Milwaukee, has hit .299 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. The other three players are minor leaguers.

Red Sox third basemen have hit .203 with 7 home runs and 28 RBIs.

Thoracic outlet syndrome compresses nerves near the collarbone and that leads to shoulder pain. Matt Harvey of the Mets is among the pitchers who have had surgery for the condition.

Roger Clemens will pinch hit on Red Sox radio broadcast Friday

Chad Finn

Joe Castiglione’s continuous tenure as a radio voice of the Red Sox began in 1983. That was the same season the franchise spent its first-round pick in the June draft on a University of Texas righthander named .

I’m not sure that factoid is worthy of Castiglione’s trademark “Can you believe it?” punctuation, but their near-parallel arrivals in Boston led to a friendship and a mutual respect.

“I saw every game he pitched here,’’ said Castiglione, noting that Clemens remains tied with Cy Young for the most wins in Red Sox history at 192. “Watching him pitch at his best was a special experience, like it was with Pedro [Martinez].’’

Castiglione is taking some time off here and there this season, including this weekend’s series at Houston. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford was slated to fill in for Castiglione Friday night alongside Tim Neverett, but a commitment came up that meant he couldn’t do it.

Bradford and WEEI program director Joe Zarbano kicked around a few names as potential pinch hitters, including Josh Beckett (who is doing television work for the Astros) and Clemens. Castiglione texted Clemens to see if he would be interested in filling in for the full broadcast.

“He answered yes almost immediately,’’ said Castiglione.

Zarbano took care of the logistics, so Clemens will be a Red Sox radio broadcaster for one night before leaving Houston to head to Cape Cad to watch his son Kody play for the Bourne Braves.

“You start thinking about it and you wonder why Clemens would do it,” said Bradford, who will join Neverett for the Saturday game. “But then you think, ‘You know, he’s been doing a lot more Red Sox- centric stuff, showing up at Fenway Park once in a while, stuff like that, and maybe this is something he would enjoy.’ ”

There’s no danger of Castiglione being Wally Pipped by Clemens, who wasn’t the most articulate athlete when he was young. The Herald, in fact, used to run a feature titled “The World According to Roger” that made fun of his roundabout logic and fractured syntax.

But it should be entertaining to hear his perspective not only on the Red Sox but on his hometown Astros, who have a lineup full of young stars and the best record in baseball.

“He’s excited and I think he’ll do well,’’ said Castiglione. “He’s come on with us many times. The first time, he was sitting up in the Monster Seats right after he retired and the next thing we know he’s in the booth with us.

“I’d just tell him to be himself, tell us what he sees and what he notices, especially with the pitchers. It’s too bad he won’t get a Chris Sale game. I imagine he likes him a lot. They’re pretty similar in terms of intensity level.”

One doesn’t have to be incurably cynical to acknowledge that this does benefit Clemens. His Red Sox legacy was damaged when he manipulated his way to the Yankees side of the rivalry during some of its most contentious years. He is accomplished enough to have his No. 21 retired by the Red Sox, yet it does not adorn the right-field facade with the jersey digits of other legends.

Clemens has always been charitable. The past four years, he has participated in a fun promotion for the Jimmy Fund that Castiglione says has been a “big, big money raiser.” Clemens pitches batting practice to the high bidder and 10 friends at Fenway. Last year, Clemens reportedly did it for three groups.

That is a wonderful way to get back in Boston’s good graces. Joining the radio broadcast could be perceived as a smaller step in repairing any old hard feelings.

“I know he considers himself a Red Sox much more than a Yankee,’’ said Castiglione.

There will be other familiar voices in relatively unfamiliar places on Red Sox radio and television broadcasts this weekend.

Don Orsillo, the popular former Red Sox broadcaster now with the Padres, will call Saturday’s game (along with Eric Karros and ) for Fox. It’s the first Red Sox game he will call since NESN replaced him with Dave O’Brien following the 2015 season.

Because Sunday night’s game was added a few weeks ago to ESPN’s schedule, it is not on NESN. So O’Brien, who spent nine seasons in the radio booth with Castiglione before moving to the television side, will have a one-night-only engagement back on flagship station WEEI, where he will join Neverett on the call.

Red Sox put Brian Johnson on disabled list

Peter Abraham

PHILADELPHIA — The Red Sox on Thursday placed lefthander Brian Johnson on the 10-day disabled list with what the team says is a shoulder impingement.

Righthanded reliever Austin Maddox was promoted from Triple A Pawtucket.

Johnson left his start Wednesday night in the third inning with shoulder discomfort. He is 2-0 with a 4.29 earned run average in four starts this season.

Maddox, 26, opened the season with Double A Portland and appeared in 10 games before a promotion to Pawtucket. Over 18 games and 27 innings this season, he has a 1.33 earned run average.

Maddox has allowed 17 hits with 11 walks and 20 . The Sox took Maddox in the third round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Florida. Johnson, who also played for the Gators, was a supplemental first-round choice that season.

With Johnson out, the Sox will need a starter for Monday’s game at Kansas City. That is likely to be righthander Hector Velazquez, who pitched 3⅓ innings of scoreless relief Wednesday.

To make room for Maddox on the 40-man roster, the Sox shifted lefthander Roenis Elias to the 60-day disabled list. He has been out all season with an intercostal muscle strain.

Since spring training, the Sox have placed 15 players on the disabled list, nine of them pitchers. Lefthander Robbie Ross Jr. has been on twice. There are seven pitchers currently on the DL.

* The Boston Herald

Red Sox can’t help do-it-all Chris Sale in loss to Phillies

Jason Mastrodonato

PHILADELPHIA — Surely it was the one of the most jaw-dropping innings of the Red Sox’ season, and it all started with a double off the bat of Chris Sale.

He’s been in the top-six of the American League Cy Young voting in five straight seasons, but never before had Sale connected on an extra-base hit.

Truth is, he had it coming. Sale was taking competitive at-bats all night. And at 93 pitches, with the score tied in the top of the eighth, Sale was sent to the plate for a third time.

He roped a from Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Pat Neshek over the head of left fielder Daniel Nava, slid into second and came up smiling. Due up: An MVP-runner-up, an MVP winner and a Silver Slugger winner who entered the game hitting .325.

Nothing.

Sale was stranded and the Red Sox went on to lose, 1-0, to the worst team in baseball last night.

“I think all pitchers like to hit and a small part of all hitters likes pitching, too,” Sale said. “We don’t get to do it very often, so it’s fun to go up there and mess around a little bit. Would’ve liked to get the win. Trade it in.”

After Sale’s double, Mookie Betts moved him to third on a fly to right, but Dustin Pedroia struck out on three straight belt-high sliders and Xander Bogaerts hit a weak pop-up to end the inning.

“Well, we’re going up against Neshek, who’s extremely difficult on right-handers,” manager John Farrell said. “They matched up.”

Sale walked to the pitcher’s mound from third base and began warming up for the next inning.

Finally, the Phillies got to him.

Catcher Andrew Knapp (.238 average) hit a single to left, Ty Kelly (.233) pinch hit for Neshek and lifted a double down the left-field line that found the corner. Knapp scored easily.

Sale finished the eighth on 110 pitches. He struck out 10 and walked only one. He allowed just four hits all night, but two came at the wrong time.

“If anything I felt better (after running the bases), felt loose,” he said. “Even during my warm-up pitches I felt a little better, moving around a little bit. I just threw the worst pitch of the game at the wrong time.”

His ERA fell to 2.82, but Sale took the loss.

“Just an outstanding performance all the way around,” Farrell said. “He personally did everything he could to impact this game in all facets.”

The lanky lefty never took an official at-bat during his three years at Florida Gulf Coast University, according to the school’s website. And he had just two hits in 20 career major league at-bats.

“Yeah I didn’t hit at all in college,” Sale said. “Just figured he was going to throw a fastball and swung it. I didn’t know where it went off the bat. Just started running.”

He never looked overmatched against Phillies starter Nick Pivetta, who entered the game with a 5.52 ERA. The same couldn’t be said for the rest of the Red Sox lineup.

Pivetta allowed just four hits and struck out nine over seven innings, going toe-to-toe with the Red Sox’ best pitcher.

“He had good stuff,” Farrell said. “Good fastball. Kept the ball down.”

The Sox’ only chance to score before Sale’s double was in the second inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs and Sale at the plate. He worked a 2-2 count, then smoked a grounder up the middle. But second baseman Howie Kendrick made a diving stop and threw to first to get Sale by a hair.

Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit the ball hard all night, drew a two-out walk in the ninth, but Pablo Sandoval struck out to complete an 0-for-4 night and end the game.

Asked if he thought about pinch hitting for Sandoval, Farrell said, “No. Not against a right-hander.”

The Red Sox took three of four from the Phillies, surrendering a great chance at a four-game sweep.

According to ESPN, Sale is just the fifth American League pitcher to record an extra-base hit and strike out 10 since the was implemented in 1973. He’s the first pitcher to lose.

“It’s tough,” Sale said. “My guys picked me up my last handful of starts and I really wanted to pick them up (last night).”

Red Sox notebook: Mitch Moreland to play through broken toe

Jason Mastrodonato

PHILADELPHIA — The pitch that hit Mitch Moreland in the left foot on Tuesday night left him with a small fracture in his big toe, according to the Red Sox .

Still, he was back in the lineup last night and went 1-for-4 during a 1-0 loss to the Phillies just 24 hours after sitting out Wednesday’s win at Philadelphia.

“I’m going to be able to play through it,” he told the Herald. “It’s one of those things you can’t do a whole lot for. Just try to make it comfortable until it’s gone.”

Moreland was hit by an 82 mph on the 12th pitch of a first-inning at-bat on Tuesday, then went 2-for- 5 while playing the entire 12 innings.

“It’s pretty sore,” he said. “It just hit me perfect and there’s swelling. It’s my back foot when I’m swinging and pushing off it a lot, so it’s a little tender. It doesn’t feel great. But it’s something I can manage.”

Moreland said X-rays revealed only a small fracture, “nothing that’s really worrisome.”

He said he’ll play through as much as he can tolerate.

Moreland is in the middle of the best season of his career, hitting .285 with an .877 OPS while hitting 18 doubles and nine homers. Often used as a platoon player during his time with the , Moreland has played almost every game for the Red Sox and is on pace to shatter his previous career high of 518 plate appearances.

“I’ve treated it just like any other year,” he said. “Don’t really break it down as far as individual standpoint. I feel like we have a good team and we’ve been on a pretty good role here lately. That’s the thing that matters.”

Smith sore, but satisfied

The Sox are hoping for good news regarding Carson Smith this weekend.

After throwing a simulated game early yesterday at Citizens Bank Park, Smith was sent back to Boston to be examined by the team doctors.

Manager John Farrell said he was hopeful Smith, who had Tommy John surgery last May, would be able to begin a rehab assignment in Pawtucket on Sunday, but his latest throwing session wasn’t overly encouraging.

“It was OK,” Farrell said. “I would say OK. The stuff was OK, maybe the consistency wasn’t quite there. But honestly, I think that’s to be fully expected.”

Smith said Wednesday his surgically repaired elbow has been feeling great. His shoulder has often bothered him.

“I’m getting some normal soreness in the shoulder area that I haven’t been used to with the intensity that I’m throwing at, at game speed,” Smith said. “But it’s felt good. Like I’m a pitcher again. I’m ready to get back out there and face some hitters with an umpire behind the plate.”

Smith said he’s seen video of himself and his throwing motion looks similar to when he last posted a 2.31 ERA with the in 2015.

Farrell said Smith had an MRI on his shoulder in January.

“He’s having normal soreness as anybody would at this time,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “Not even necessarily in his elbow, just normal soreness when he’s throwing. So we’ll just analyze it, see how he’s doing.”

Maddox gets call

Austin Maddox, a third-round pick in 2012, was added to the active roster to replace Brian Johnson, who went on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder impingement. Johnson exited Wednesday’s start after just 22⁄3 innings with shoulder discomfort.

Hector Velazquez will replace Johnson in the starting rotation.

Maddox had a 1.33 ERA in 27 innings between Pawtucket and Double-A Portland this season. He had 20 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Maddox said he’s been successful because of “staying true to myself, trusting myself, trusting my stuff and attacking hitters.”

Said Farrell: “He showed very well in spring training with the competitiveness, the arm strength and the quality of pitches that he has.”

E-Rod makes progress

Farrell was pleased with the work of Eduardo Rodriguez’ yesterday.

On the shelf with a dislocated knee, E-Rod was doing dry work (going through the throwing motion without a ball) in the outfield when he was feeling so good he asked if he could throw a bullpen session, Farrell said.

About two weeks after his injury, E-Rod threw a 33-pitch bullpen session.

“That was way ahead of where we anticipated,” Farrell said. “He feels ecstatic about being able to complete what would be a normal bullpen, from the number of pitches to the intensity of throws.” . . .

David Price, who pitched through a blister in his last start, threw a “strong bullpen” and, according to the manager, is ready for his next start.

Tyler Thornburg done for year, but questions about trade linger

Chad Jennings

PHILADELPHIA — By the time a St. Louis hospital had a sudden opening in its schedule, Tyler Thornburg’s fate seemed unavoidable. No reason to put off the inevitable.

Yes, Thornburg will have shoulder surgery today. No, he won’t pitch at all this season.

Turns out, the Red Sox traded for damaged goods, and they didn’t know it until just a few weeks ago when a specialist finally used the term thoracic outlet syndrome and brought some clarity to Thornburg’s constant setbacks since spring training.

“It’s a situation where a lot of other avenues are exhausted before they get to this perspective,” vice president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “I know it was a frustrating situation for him at times because he would feel good, and then wouldn’t feel quite as good, and we keep going forward on it.”

There’s no more going forward. Dombrowski said he’s been told to expect nine months between the surgery and Thornburg getting back on a big league mound.

After so many attempts to rehab — a stop-and-go spring training, long toss programs that never reached a bullpen phase, a Boston specialist who suggested a Botox injection to try to solve the problem — it was looking doubtful for weeks that Thornburg would actually play a significant role this season.

Lingering shoulder issues never seem to end well, and so Thornburg’s fate seemed sealed long before the definitive decision to have the operation, which could very well involve the removal of a rib to ease the pinched nerves or blood vessels at the top of his right shoulder. Dombrowski said Dr. Robert Thompson at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis won’t know what exactly needs to be done until he actually opens up the shoulder and takes a look.

That’s out of Dombrowski’s hands at this point.

What was in his control was the Dec. 6 agreement to send three minor leaguers and third baseman Travis Shaw to Milwaukee for Thornburg, a 28-year-old who had emerged as a dependable late-inning arm in Milwaukee.

He was supposed to be a go-to set-up man this season. Does that sound familiar?

Carson Smith. Joel Hanrahan. Bobby Jenks. Andrew Bailey. They all joined the Red Sox expected to play similar bullpen roles, and all wound up hurt. That surely speaks to the frailty and unpredictability of pitchers, but it’s an alarming pattern that spans different GMs within the Red Sox organization.

“It’s just one of those things that happen,” Dombrowski said. “When you make trades at times, it’s buyer beware. There’s no way you would know this. You just hope that you get a healthy player back for next year.”

Dombrowski said he’s confident the Brewers sent complete medical records. The Red Sox were aware, for example, that Thornburg got some sort of chiropractic treatment on his shoulder last season, but that didn’t raise enough red flags to squash the deal.

“He just didn’t feel quite right (at times last year),” Dombrowski said. “I don’t know exactly. He just said in his shoulder. I don’t know exactly what it was. But there was never any indication that there was any major problems in that regard.”

Truth is, so far, the Red Sox have not missed Thornburg all that much because Craig Kimbrel, Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Robby Scott have given the Red Sox one of the best in baseball.

Those are two bullpen trades, an off-the-radar free agent signing and a first-round pick that have worked out pretty well in the Red Sox ’pen. It’s not all busts down there.

Instead, what makes the Thornburg move particularly damning at the moment isn’t the bullpen, it’s third base, where the Red Sox have struggled to find a reliable starter, while Shaw ranks in the top 20 in the National League in OPS.

If the Red Sox were victims of unforeseeable injury with Thornburg, perhaps they’re a little more on the hook for their evaluations at third base. Did they put too much stock in Shaw’s disappointing second half last year?

“I really wouldn’t talk about another organization’s player at this point,” Dombrowski said. “It’s really not a proper thing for me to do.”

How about Pablo Sandoval, who’s very much the Red Sox player at this point but has dealt with injury and performance problems?

“I think sometimes you have to give guys an opportunity before you just jump to the conclusions right away,” Dombrowski said. “And we’ll continue to monitor his situation. It’s up to him to do well, and we’ll see what takes place.”

Nothing changes for the Red Sox when Thornburg goes in for surgery today. They’ll still have a good group of relievers. They’ll still have Smith on his way back from Tommy John surgery to potentially fortify the ’pen. They’ll still have uncertainty at third base.

And they’ll still have questions about whether it was bad luck or bad analysis that made that Thornburg trade such a total bust for this season.

* The Providence Journal

Red Sox have options to replace Pablo Sandoval

Brian MacPherson

HOUSTON -- Jhonny Peralta is a free agent, cut loose by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week. Trevor Plouffe might yet be a free agent, designated for assignment Thursday by the .

If the Red Sox are inclined to cut their losses on Pablo Sandoval but aren’t yet inclined to throw top prospect Rafael Devers into the deep end, now might be the time to act.

Sandoval has been nothing the Red Sox could have expected and less in the first two-plus seasons of his five-year, $95 million contract. He has hit a cumulative .236 with a .286 on-base percentage and a .360 in more than 600 at-bats. Worse, he has been a liability at third base from the get-go, a defender who has cost Boston nearly 20 runs in around 1,300 innings in the field -- and it’s that liability that prompted Boston manager John Farrell to bench him for four games this week.

Restored to the lineup Wednesday and Thursday in Philadelphia, Sandoval went 0-for-4 struck out on three pitches in the ninth inning to end a deflating 1-0 defeat in a game Chris Sale had pitched brilliantly.

Neither Peralta nor Plouffe would arrive as a savior. Both offer at least the hope of capable defense at third base and perhaps a bit of production at the plate as well -- or, at least, more than the Red Sox can expect to get from Sandoval going forward.

Peralta would come with some familiarity with Boston president Dave Dombrowski, who acquired him in a midseason trade in 2010. Peralta made two All-Star teams in his three-plus seasons with Dombrowski’s Tigers and another with St. Louis before a torn thumb ligament in spring training a year ago seemed to derail his career. With the St. Louis infield full of younger and more productive players, the Cardinals cut him loose.

Plouffe hit an ugly .214 with a .276 on-base percentage in his lone season in Oakland, and advanced defensive metrics pegged him as a break-even defender at third base. Before that, Plouffe consistently compiled on-base percentages a tick north of .300 with slugging percentages that hovered in the low .400s with slightly below-average defense at third base. He has been the epitome of a league-average player.

Peralta already has cleared waivers and has been released. Plouffe has yet to pass through waivers, and Oakland might yet find a taker for him in trade. Either way, the acquisition cost for either would be minimal -- and with six weeks left before the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox would have enough time to decide if either is a keeper or a mere placeholder for Devers.

Tyler Thornburg to undergo surgery Friday, miss remainder of season

Brian MacPherson

For the second consecutive year, the man the Red Sox acquired to be their set-up man will miss nearly all of the season.

Boston announced Thursday that right-hander Tyler Thornburg will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on Friday in St. Louis. He will miss the rest of the season.

Thornburg has not thrown a pitch for the Red Sox this regular season.

Acquired in a deal from the Brewers in December, Thornburg was supposed to shore up the back end of Boston’s bullpen, serving as the primary set-up man for closer Craig Kimbrel. Instead, he’s been beset by shoulder problems since early in spring training — problems that led to criticism of the club’s shoulder program, a stint on the disabled list, and finally this surgery.

Thornburg’s shoulder issues began the first week of March. After a pair of poor outings in spring games — hardly unusual in Thornburg’s career track record — the Red Sox backed off his workload to work him through what they and Thornburg thought was a dead-arm period.

At the time, Thornburg and manager John Farrell linked the dead-arm phase with his initiation into Boston’s shoulder program. The reliever had misunderstood how much of the program to do in the offseason, leaving him a little behind his teammates. Farrell called it a time of “adaptation.”

Thornburg appeared to be working his way back toward health later that month, only to be scratched with a shoulder spasm before a Grapefruit League appearance. After that, he was placed on the disabled list in late March, diagnosed with a shoulder impingement.

His recovery from that injury, however, never progressed beyond long toss. Thornburg hasn’t pitched off a mound since March, and Farrell said Tuesday that the reliever’s symptoms still hadn’t subsided, preventing him even from long toss in the past week.

Thursday’s call for surgery was not a surprise.

The diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome, however, is one that’s concerning beyond the 2017 season for Thornburg. The track record of pitchers returning from the surgery is spotty. The Mets’ Matt Harvey has continued to struggle this season after undergoing the surgery last year. Former Cardinals ace never returned fully healthy after the surgery in 2012. Daniel Bard has never returned to form, though his control problems began well before he underwent the surgery before the 2014 season.

Josh Beckett did rebound from the surgery in 2013 to throw a no-hitter in 2014, though he retired at the end of that season. Atlanta’s Jaime Garcia has maintained a solid career after going under the knife in 2014.

Without Thornburg, the Red Sox will continue to lean heavily on their trio of right-handed set-up men: Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Heath Hembree. The three have all pitched very well this season, though there are reasons for concern regarding the sustainability of such production ahead of Kimbrel.

One reason for optimism is the impending return of Carson Smith — the reliever the Red Sox acquired in December 2015 to be its 2016 set-up man, before he had to go under the knife for Tommy John surgery.

Clearly, Boston’s history in acquiring relievers has been poor over the course of this decade. Since 2011, eight of the 16 relievers the Red Sox have traded for or signed to a major-league contract have ended up on the disabled list by the first week of May.

The quintet of Thornburg, Smith, Bobby Jenks, Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey has combined to throw a total of 69 2/3 innings for Boston in eight and a half years of team control. None have been worth more than zero wins above replacement. In trades for Bailey, Hanrahan, Smith and Thornburg, the Red Sox have given up Josh Reddick, Mark Melancon, Wade Miley and Travis Shaw. Those four have been worth more than 27 wins above replacement according to Fangraphs since being dealt.

Red Sox place Brian Johnson on 10-day disabled list (shoulder)

Brian MacPherson

One day after he left his start early with shoulder discomfort, the Red Sox have placed Brian Johnson on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder impingement.

Boston promoted Austin Maddox from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Johnson on the roster, and it’s reasonable to expect that Mexican League import Hector Velazquez will replace Johnson in the Boston rotation on Monday in Kansas City.

Johnson left his start Wednesday in Philadelphia after just 2 2/3 . It was another stroke of bad luck for a pitcher who dealt with elbow trouble during his first call-up two years ago and then seemed to dodge a bullet two weeks when a hamstring cramp turned out to be nothing serious.

Velazquez took over for the Red Sox after Johnson left the game and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings -- a far cry from the shellacking he absorbed in Oakland in May. Boston’s options beyond Velazquez are limited at best, as neither Kyle Kendrick (6.34 ERA with the PawSox) nor Henry Owens (48 walks in 58 innings with the PawSox) has pitched effectively this season.

To make room for Maddox on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox shifted lefty Roenis Elias on the 60-day disabled list. Elias has not pitched in the major leagues this season; he suffered an intercostal strain before a spring-training start in March.

Maddox was one of a handful of intriguing minor-league pitchers on whom the Red Sox had to make a decision in advance of December’s Rule 5 draft. Others include Jalen Beeks, Ty Buttrey, Jamie Callahan and Chandler Shepherd -- all of whom now pitch for Pawtucket.

Boston’s 40-man roster is getting increasingly crowded, and that’s with Carson Smith -- whose return appears to be nearing -- still on the 60-day disabled list. The Red Sox have avoided having to make difficult roster decisions to this point, but that might change soon -- and will almost certainly have to chance before the Rule 5 draft.

* The Springfield Republican

Chris Sale pitches a gem, hits a double too, but Red Sox fall 1-0 to Phillies

Jen McCaffrey

PHILADELPHIA - Chris Sale threw seven scoreless innings and then hit a double in the eighth, but it wasn't enough to beat the Phillies.

Sale dominated from the mound, but so did his counterpart, Phillies rookie Nick Pivetta.

The Phillies jumped on Sale for one run in the bottom of the eighth and went on to win 1-0 to salvage the final game of the four-game, home-and-home series against the Red Sox.

Sale allowed just two hits over the first seven innings against the Phillies, but Pivetta held the Red Sox bats equally silent with seven scoreless frames of his own.

In the top of the eighth inning, Sale nearly took the game into his own hands, leading off of the inning with a wall-ball double to left field. It marked the first extra base hit of his career.

Sale moved over to third on a fly out, but Dustin Pedroia struck out and Xander Bogaerts flied out to strand Sale at third.

The quick turnaround might have gotten to the lefty.

Sale recorded the first out of the bottom of the eighth, but then allowed his third hit of the game, a single to No. 8 hitter Andrew Knapp. Ty Kelly, pinch-hitting for reliever Pat Neshek, doubled to drive in Knapp with the game's only run. He got the final two batters of the inning to fly out.

Sale finished the night with eight innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out 10. He threw 110 pitches, 81 for strikes and registered 19 swings-and-misses.

Pivetta tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine.

The Red Sox had one chance to score in the fifth when Sandy Leon hit a one-out single and advanced one a wild pitch. Sale struck out but Mookie Betts followed with a single to left, but Leon was thrown out at home trying to score from second.

MLB Draft 2017: 12 things to know about Red Sox draft picks from first-rounder to 16th rounder Kutter Crawford

Jen McCaffrey

First round: RHP Tanner Houck, Missouri The Red Sox drafted Missouri right-hander Tanner Houck with the 24th overall pick in the first round on Monday. This season, Houck led Missouri with a 3.33 ERA, 95 strikeouts and 24 walks over 94 2/3 innings in 14 starts.

The Red Sox envision developing him as a starter, according to Red Sox VP of amateur scouting Mike Rikard. The club hadn't drafted a college pitcher in the first round since Brian Johnson in 2012.

Second round: HS OF Cole Brannen, Westfield School, Ga. The Red Sox drafted Brannen in the second round on Monday night. The high school from has a quick bat and is known for this speed on the basepaths.

With several trades over the last few seasons, drafting Brannen should help replenish the organization's depleted outfield depth.

Third round: 2B Brett Netzer, UNC Charlotte Netzer is a left-handed hitter and batted .342 with a .934 OPS, five homers, 44 RBIs, 25 extra-base hits as a junior for the UNC Charlotte.

He excelled on the Cape League in 2016 for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.

Fourth round: RHP , Oregon State Thompson dominated at Oregon State this season going 14-0 with a 1.52 ERA while striking out 8.6 per nine innings and walking 2.7 per nine.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound righty has a "much more simplified delivery than he had in the past," according to MLB.com and hits 94-96 mph with his fastball. He also throws a slider and .

Fifth round: HS RHP Alex Scherff, Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) According to MLB.com, Scherff is considered one of the top high school right-handers in this year's draft. MLB.com documents his travels from in high school from Colleyville (Texas) Heritage as a freshman to Fort Worth (Texas) Christian as a sophomore to Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) as a junior, he hoped to transfer to Grapevine (Texas) for his final season, but he wasn't allowed to make that move and returned to Colleyville where he won Gatorade's state player of the year award. Though he's moved around a lot scouts have been impressed with his mid-90s fastball and changeup.

Sixth round: RHP Zach Schellenger, Seton Hall Schellenger was a closer at Seton Hall his sophomore season and in the Cape League for Harwich last summer where he gained attention for his swing-and-miss abilities, according to MLB.com. This season, he was limited because of biceps tendonitis to just 13 innings but still struck out 23.

Seventh round: HS OF Tyler Esplin, IMG Academy (Fla.) Esplin has a big, projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He hit .432 with four homers this season at IMG Academy. Here's a bit more on the outfielder who is committed to UNC Charlotte.

Eighth round: 1B Zach Sterry, Oakland U In 48 games this season, Sterry hit .346 with a 1.084 OPS, 14 doubles, one triple and 13 homers.

Ninth round: 2B Tanner Nishioka, Pomona-Pitzer College Nishioka is one of the most interesting prospects drafted by the Red Sox. The infielder hit .441 with a 1.430 OPS and 18 homers leading Division III hitters at Ponoma-Pitzer College, but he also majored in neuroscience.

10th round: OF Jordan Wren, Georgia Southern Wren, the son of Red Sox senior analyst Frank Wren, was drafted in the 10th round by the Red Sox. Wren hit .268 with an .842 OPS, 13 doubles and six homers in 55 games, 52 starts.

13th round: 3B Garrett Benge, Oklahoma State Benge hit .304 with a .970 OPS, 11 doubles, four triples and 10 homers this season. He was drafted by the Indians out of junior college at Cowley College two years ago. As a freshman that year, the third baseman was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Year. Instead of signing, he opted to head to Oklahoma State.

16th round: RHP Kutter Crawford, Florida Gulf Coast University Crawford went 7-1 with a 1.71 ERA and had 99 strikeouts in 84 innings for Florida Gulf Coast University. Until recently, he did not throw a cutter.

Sale doubles in eighth inning off Phillies reliever Neshek; Saves overworked Red Sox bullpen in loss

Jen McCaffrey

PHILADELPHIA - Chris Sale was almost as good at the plate on Thursday night as he was on the mound against the Phillies.

The lefty nearly had two base hits, but settled for just one, and fired eight innings of one-run ball.

The Red Sox offense, though, fell silent as the club fell 1-0 in the last of four games against the Phillies.

"Just an outstanding performance all the way around," manager John Farrell said of Sale. "He personally did everything he could to impact this game in all facets. An outstanding pitched ballgame. Complete game. Two very good at-bats."

Sale fired eight innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out 10. He threw 110 pitches, 81 for strikes and got 19 swings-and-misses.

But one mislocated pitch in the eighth inning proved the difference in the game as pinch-hitter Ty Kelly drove in the winning run with a double.

"Just hung a breaking ball. They hit a double. Scored a run," Sale said after the game. "My guys picked me up my last handful of starts and I really wanted to pick them up tonight. It's not a matter of if, it's when with this team. I really would've liked to get that one for them."

It wasn't for a lack of effort on Sale's part.

In the second inning, Sale, who had just 21 career plate appearances over eight seasons in the majors, hit a hard grounder to second with the bases loaded and nearly beat out the throw to score a run. He was a step too late and instead made the third out of the inning.

Sale struck out in the fifth inning, but in the eighth, with Phillies rookie Nick Pivetta, who held Boston scoreless all night out of the game, Sale jumped at a chance.

The Red Sox starter hit a leadoff double, the first extra-base hit of his career, off reliever Pat Neshek.

"Just figured he was going to throw a fastball and swung it," Sale said. "I didn't know where it went off the bat. Just started running."

Sale tagged up and advanced to third on a Mookie Betts fly out. But Dustin Pedroia struck out and Xander Bogaerts flied out to end the inning.

Sale had to get back to the dugout quickly before taking the mound in the bottom of the inning. That's when the Phillies got to him.

He gave up a one-out single to No. 8 hitter Andrew Knapp and then Kelly, pinch-hitting for Neshek, hit a double to drive in the run.

Sale said the inning on the bases didn't effect him, though.

"If anything I felt better, felt loose," he said. "Even during my warm-up pitches I felt a little better, moving around a little bit. I just threw the worst pitch of the game at the wrong time."

Despite the tough loss, Farrell noted the silver lining in Sale's eight innings of work. The ace lefty saved a taxed bullpen from another night of work. Red Sox relievers have thrown at least five innings in each of the last three games entering Thursday.

"Any day you get a day off, it's a benefit," Farrell said. "We're going to go up against a good Houston lineup. We know that. But, a key start to go deep into a ballgame was needed tonight, and we got it."

Rodriguez threw bullpen session for Red Sox ahead of schedule; still needs to do running, PFP drills

Jen McCaffrey

PHILADELPHIA - Eduardo Rodriguez threw a 33-pitch bullpen on Thursday, ahead of the schedule the Red Sox had set out for him.

Rodriguez partially dislocated his right knee during a start on June 1 and had started to ramp up baseball activities. The Red Sox expected him to beginning running on a treadmill and then flat ground before progressing to throwing off a mound, but Rodriguez felt good enough on Thursday to move right into a bullpen session.

"He was going through some towel work, some towel drills, and as he was in it, he felt like, 'You know what, this feels OK,'" Farrell explained. "He got through a normal bullpen today. That was way ahead of where we anticipated. He feels ecstatic about being able to complete what would be a normal bullpen, from the number of pitches to the intensity of throws."

Rodriguez is expected to begin running and doing fielding drills in Houston this weekend.

"He is really upbeat today after work he was able to get in," Farrell said.

With the time missed, Farrell still expects Rodriguez to need a minor-league rehab assignment but will get through this weekend before determining a timeline for that.

Smith injury: Reliever returning to Boston for exam, may still start rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Pawtucket

Jen McCaffrey

PHILADELPHIA - Carson Smith threw a simulated inning on Thursday at Citizen's Bank Park and came out of it "OK," according to manager John Farrell.

The reliever, who's 13 months post Tommy John surgery, just starting facing live batters and is experiencing what Farrell termed as "normal soreness."

Smith will travel back to Boston, as originally planned, for a checkup with team doctors.

"It was OK," Farrell said of Smith's latest mound session. "The stuff was OK maybe the consistency wasn't quite there. But honestly, I think that's to be fully expected. He's going to go through some minor peaks and valleys as he continues to build up to game competition. So I think what he's going through right now might be a little frustrating for him given all the rehab and time he's gone through but these are normal progressive steps to getting back to full strength."

Farrell said the intent is still to get Smith out on a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, likely Sunday with Triple-A Pawtucket. Assuming Smith's checkup in Boston comes back clean, that will remain the plan.

With news that Tyler Thornburg is headed for season-ending surgery on Friday, the return of Smith becomes even more important for the Red Sox bullpen.

Despite Smith's unorthodox delivery, which may or may not have contributed to his need for surgery, the Red Sox do not plan to alter his delivery in any way to prevent further stress on the arm.

"It's also what makes him so difficult for hitters to hit," Farrell said. "So, as far as adjusting an arm slot or arm action, those are things you really don't attack or mess with."

'Buyer beware' says Dombrowski following season-ending surgery announcement for Thornburg

Jen McCaffrey

PHILADELHPIA - After months of uncertainty, Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg is headed for season- ending surgery.

The right-hander first started experiencing shoulder issues in spring training and was diagnosed with a shoulder impingement after making just two appearances. He spent the first two months of the season trying to get back to a mound, but never progressed past long toss as he continued to feel symptoms.

On Thursday, the Red Sox announced Thornburg would undergo surgery on his right shoulder for thoracic outlet syndrome, which is a compression of the nerves, arteries, or veins in the passageway from the lower neck to the armpit.

"It's a situation where a lot of other avenues are exhausted before they get to this perspective," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "I know it was a frustrating situation for him at times because, he would feel good, and then wouldn't feel quite as good, and we keep going forward on it."

Dombrowski said Thornburg went to see a specialist in Boston three weeks ago who suggested Thornburg had thoracic outlet syndrome. At the time, the specialist treated Thornburg with Botox shots.

The shots helped Thornburg, according to Dombrowski, but then he reverted to feeling the same pain. At that point, Thornburg went to visit Dr. Robert Thompson at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which has a specific center for thoracic outlet syndrome, in St. Louis.

Thompson, who had performed the surgery on other pitchers, suggested Thornburg have the surgery.

"It's a very unfortunate situation for him," Dombrowski said. "But I think it's also relief that somebody has finally been able to come to the conclusion of what his problems have been."

Several pitchers have had thoracic outlet surgery in the past including Chris Carpenter, Josh Beckett, Daniel Bard and, most recently, Matt Harvey.

"I can't compare it to Matt Harvey's because I don't know enough about it," Dombrowksi said. "I can just tell you what the doctor said, that his anticipation is that it can be a major surgery, but they won't know until they get in there what they're actually going to do."

Dombrowski said he was told by doctors that Thornburg could be ready to pitch at the major-league level in nine months, though of course that's a fluid timeline.

Thornburg marks the second straight reliever the Red Sox have traded for, following Carson Smith last season, who needed season-ending surgery shortly after a trade to the Red Sox. Smith had Tommy John surgery last May.

The Red Sox acquired Thornburg from Milwaukee this offseason in exchange for Travis Shaw, infielder prospect Mauricio Dubon and two other prospects.

"It's just one of those things that happen," Dombrowski said. "When you make trades at times, it's buyer beware. There's no way you would know this. You just hope that you get a healthy player back for next year and it ends up taking place.

"I've had guys throughout my career that I've traded that unfortunately have gotten hurt in other places," Dombrowski said. "And I don't believe in any way, when I say that, that Milwaukee knew that this was taking place. They gave us all the information. There's no question that they were very upfront in that regard. It's just a very unfortunate situation and you just want to get the player healthy and move on from there."

Red Sox's Rusney Castillo bashes 2 homers for PawSox, batting .357 in June; Jalen Beeks wins again

Christopher Smith

If the Red Sox need an outfielder at some point this season, Rusney Castillo remains an option at Triple-A Pawtucket. He has been playing well this month.

Castillo has been very streaky this year but he's in the middle of one of his really hot stretches.

He went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, three RBIs and two runs to help lead Pawtucket 6-2 over Syracuse on Thursday.

Castillo is batting .357 with a .403 on-base percentage, .571 slugging percentage and .975 OPS in June.

Castillo, who signed a seven-year, $72.5-million contract in August 2014 and is earning $11.271 million this season, is hitting for some power this year. He has nine homers, 17 doubles and 27 RBIs in 53 games.

He stroked only two homers, 20 doubles and five triples while driving in 34 runs in 103 games last year.

Jalen Beeks earns another win

Jalen Beeks hurled 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, both earned, five hits (one homer) and one walk while striking out for four for Pawtucket. He earned the victory.

Beeks is becoming a depth option for the Red Sox. He's 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts for Pawtucket.

Beeks -- who impressed during spring training pitching for Boston against Team USA -- went 5-1 with a 2.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 58 strikeouts and 22 walks in nine starts for Double-A Portland to begin the season.

The Red Sox drafted the lefty in the 12th round in 2014 out of Arkansas where he played with Boston left fielder Andrew Benintendi.

Daniel Nava 'pumped' for Red Sox's Scott, a fellow Indy Ball alum who has been vital to Sox bullpen

Christopher Smith

We got to watch both the Boston Red Sox's past (Daniel Nava) and present (Robby Scott) Indy Ball success stories this week.

Nava, now the left fielder for the Phillies who just finished a four-game series against the Red Sox last night, was pumped when he heard about Scott making his big league debut last September.

Nava's professional career began with the 2007 Chico Outlaws. The Red Sox paid Chico $1 for Nava's rights Jan. 17, 2008.

The Red Sox signed Scott, a left-handed reliever, Aug. 9, 2011, after be began his pro career that summer with the Yuma Scorpions of the independent North American League.

"I remember when he first signed," Nava said about Scott. "We were in the locker room in the new (spring training) complex. ... I think the first time I met him was in 2012. We were talking about who we played with and things like that.

"And when he got called up last year, I mean, I was excited for him," Nava added. "I didn't get to know him that well. So I didn't have his (phone) number or anything like that. But any time I see a guy from Indy ball get called up, I get pretty pumped."

Nava's return to Fenway Park this week served as a reminder of how terrific a find he was by Boston's scouting department.

In the four-game home-and-home series, Nava stroked five hits and had two outfield assists. Meanwhile, Scott threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit during the series.

Nava ended up appearing in 424 for the Red Sox from 2010-15. He batted .267 with a .357 on-base percentage, 23 homers, 87 doubles and 169 RBIs. He slashed .303/.385/.445/.831 with 12 homers and 66 RBIs in 134 games during 2013 when Boston won a World Series title.

Scott is turning into just as impressive of a find for the Red Sox.

The southpaw has been incredibly valuable to Boston's bullpen this season with nine holds, a 1.65 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Lefties are just 2-for-28 against him.

His number of appearances (27) compared to his number of innings (16 1/3) shows how the Red Sox have used him as a specialist.

But Red Sox manager John Farrell also has used him more against righties lately than at the beginning of this season. And Scott has pitched well against them, too. Righties are 6-for-26 (.231) vs. him.

Farrell mentions how amazing a story Scott is every chance he gets to say it.

Scott's story is amazing.

Jose Canseco was Scott's Yuma manager. The team also included Canseco's brother Ozzie Canseco as well as longtime major leaguer Tony Phillips.

"He probably has some stories (from that team)," Nava said, smiling.

Scott ended up in Indy ball simply because didn't receive much of an opportunity at Florida State, which he said had a deep pitching staff at the time.

"Going into my senior year I thought I was going to be one of the guys, but it didn't work out that way," Scott told MassLive.com during spring training. "But everything happens for a reason. Everything works out for a reason."

Yes, everything has worked out for Scott and Nava. And Scott's story certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by his Red Sox Indy Ball predecessor.

The two are a reminder of how many talented players go overlooked and undrafted and how important it is for teams to scout thoroughly everywhere.

As former-Red Sox Ryan Hanigan, who went undrafted, told MassLive.com in 2015, "That's half the problem for a lot of guys: getting into pro ball. I played with guys in college and in summer leagues who were damn good players that might have had a career and it's just hard to get into pro ball. And then you see a lot of guys at the same time that they get into pro ball and you're like, 'How did that happen?'"

* RedSox.com

Bats unable to back Sale's 10-K outing

Ben Harris and Stephen Pianovich

PHILADELPHIA -- In seven shutout innings, Nick Pivetta logged the best outing for a Phillies starter all season and held his own against one of the game's best pitchers in Red Sox ace Chris Sale.

Pivetta struck out a career-high nine hitters in those seven frames as his pitch count reached 107, turning the ball over to the bullpen that sealed a 1-0 victory and the Phillies' first shutout of the 2017 season. He became the first Philadelphia starter to throw seven shutout innings since Jeremy Hellickson on Sept. 17, 2016.

"It's the first time I really faced a guy like that," Pivetta said of squaring off with a Cy Young-caliber pitcher. "It was really exciting for me. I just tried to go out there and go toe-to-toe with him. I knew he was going to go out there and do his best -- and he did. I just tried to stay with him as much as I could, and that's what I did tonight."

Sale silenced the Phillies up until the eighth when, with the game scoreless and one out, pinch-hitter Ty Kelly laced a double into the left-field corner to score Andrew Knapp.

"I'm pretty relaxed going into those kind of at-bats and don't feel a ton of pressure," Kelly said. "Those are the at-bats that as a player you want. It's way harder to hit down 10 or up 10 against somebody, because there's nothing riding on the at-bat."

Sale finished with 10 strikeouts, nine of which came in the first five innings. He allowed just two hits in the first seven innings. It was the ninth time this season in 14 starts that Sale recorded at least 10 strikeouts, and he recorded a punchout against eight different Phillies.

"It was an outstanding performance all the way around," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He personally did everything he could to impact this team in all facets." More >

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Back where he started: Howie Kendrick looked right at home at second base, the position he made a career playing and the spot where he is currently filling in for the injured Cesar Hernandez. Sale came to the plate with the bases full in the second and slapped a grounder up the middle. Kendrick scampered to his right, made a diving catch to snare the grounder and then fired to first to end the inning and two runs.

"That's a huge play," Pivetta said. "If that ball gets through, maybe one or two runs score and now we're behind in the game. That's really hard against a guy like that. For him to make that play, phenomenal."

Sale stranded: Hitting for himself in the eighth inning, Sale poked his first career extra-base hit over the head of Daniel Nava in left off reliever Pat Neshek. The Phillies' top reliever buckled down and set down three straight former All-Stars -- Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts -- on 11 pitches, 10 of which were strikes.

"We're going against Neshek, and he's extremely good against right-handers," Farrell said. "They matched up. They found their guys in the right spot in the order, and he made quality pitches. He had to go through the top of our order, and he did."

QUOTABLE "I would take that result against anybody, but it feels good against him. I don't know, maybe more of my friends will text me tonight." -- Kelly, on his game-winning hit off Sale

"I just threw the worst pitch of the game at the wrong time." -- Sale, on Kelly's double

WHAT'S NEXT Red Sox: Left-hander Drew Pomeranz takes the mound opposite Mike Fiers as the Sox play their first game against the Astros, who boast an MLB-best 45 wins, this season. First pitch on Friday is slated for 8:10 p.m. ET.

Phillies: Coming off his best two-start stretch of the season, (3-4, 4.40 ERA) will start the series opener vs. the D-backs at Citizens Bank Park on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live and free of blackouts on the official MLB Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mlb), and include an exclusive MLB.com pregame show.

Sale stranded in Philly: Ace gets edged out

Stephen Pianovich

PHILADELPHIA -- Representing the go-ahead run, Chris Sale was stranded on third base in the eighth inning of the Red Sox's 1-0 loss to the Phillies on Thursday night. In the bottom of the frame, the game's only run crossed the plate after Sale made one of his only mistakes of the night.

Sale struck out 10 and allowed only four hits in eight superb innings, but it wasn't enough for the Red Sox to complete a four-game sweep of the home-and-home series. He also smashed a ball up the middle with the bases loaded in one at-bat that resulted in a bang-bang play at first and had the Red Sox's only extra- base hit of the night in another.

"It was an outstanding performance all the way around," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Sale. "He personally did everything he could to impact this team in all facets."

On the mound, Sale added to his Major League lead in strikeouts. He hit the 10-strikeout mark for the ninth time in 14 starts this season and fanned two batters in each of the first four frames.

"Sale is a phenomenal pitcher," said Phillies starter Nick Pivetta, who struck out and grounded out in two at-bats vs. Sale. "We all know what he does. He threw 87 pitches through seven. The guy's phenomenal."

The six-time All-Star also kept the Phillies off the basepaths. Sale surrendered just one walk, and the Phillies put just one runner in scoring position prior to the eighth inning.

It was a good sign for Sale, who allowed 25 hits in his past three starts (18 innings) entering Thursday's outing. The Red Sox still won all three of those outings thanks to an average of 10.3 runs per game in them. Sale was hoping to return a favor to his offense.

"They picked me up my last handful of starts," Sale said. "I really wanted to pick them up tonight. It's not a matter of if, it's when with this team. I really would've liked to get that one for them."

The only inning in which Sale allowed more than one baserunner was the eighth. Andrew Knapp hit a one- out single, which was followed by an RBI double into the left-field corner by pinch-hitter Ty Kelly. The game's only run-scoring hit came on a slider Sale left over the plate.

"I just threw the worst pitch of the game at the wrong time," Sale said.

Offensively, two of the Red Sox's best scoring chances happened because of Sale. With the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning, Sale hit a sharp grounder (104.6 mph off the bat according to Statcast™) up the middle. Phillies second baseman Howie Kendrick made a diving stop and threw out Sale at first to keep the Red Sox off the board.

In the eighth, Sale led off the inning with a double over the head of left fielder Daniel Nava. Sale, who entered the game with 20 career Major League at-bats, admitted there was a little luck involved.

"I figured he was going to throw a fastball and swung at it," Sale said. "I didn't know where it went off the bat. I just started running."

Sale then ran to third base on a sacrifice fly to right field by Mookie Betts, but he would not get any further. Phillies reliever Pat Neshek fanned Dustin Pedroia and got Xander Bogaerts to pop out to end the threat.

"I don't do it very often," the career long American Leaguer said of hitting. "It was fun to mess around a little bit, but I would've liked to get the win. [I'd] trade it in."

Benintendi credits success to his father

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- As a child, Andrew Benintendi would build confidence in his Madeira, Ohio, backyard with some big rips against his favorite batting practice pitcher -- his father Chris.

But after some good rounds, Chris Benintendi would go from mere BP pitcher to "The Big Texan."

"We'd always go out back when I was a kid and throw tennis balls," said Andrew Benintendi. "He'll tell you that he was throwing them pretty hard. He would call himself, 'The Big Texan.' I don't know why, but it kind of stuck and he's been kind of my hitting coach, I guess, growing up. I never really had an instructor or anything."

Fittingly, the rookie left fielder for the Red Sox will be in Texas on Father's Day playing on against the Astros and facing the type of pitching that "The Big Texan" tried to prepare him for all those years ago.

When "The Big Texan" memory was relayed to Chris Benintendi, there was a chuckle.

"Funny," said Chris Benintendi. "Brings back good memories. After Andrew would get some good swings in, I would summon 'The Big Texan' to come in and heat things up. The first pitch would invariably go behind Andrew's back. In thinking back, the name was likely a reference to the big fireballer from Texas, . It seemed back in the day Ryan was the only guy who could bring it to the upper 90s or even 100 [mph]. Now those guys are all over the MLB. Of course, my impersonation of Ryan was topping out at 62 [mph]."

During Andrew's formative years, Chris did his best to prepare his son to not only reach his dream of playing in the Major Leagues, but succeeding at it.

Andrew Benintendi estimates that his father coached his teams from age 8 to 13.

"More than anything, he stressed the mental side of the game," said Andrew Benintendi. "It is what it is what you do when you play, but he would teach me just to mentally stay there. That's probably what he preached the most."

Clearly, it rubbed off. When you see Benintendi on a daily basis in the Red Sox's clubhouse, it's all but impossible to tell if he's on a hot streak or a cold streak or just chugging along. The expression on his face hardly changes.

"I think my impact on Andrew, probably more than anything, is just the emotional part of things, handling success and failure," said Chris Benintendi.

Though Benintendi now has two hitting coaches he works with on a daily basis in Chili Davis and Victor Rodriguez, "The Big Texan" still keeps in touch regularly.

"He'll usually text me after a game," said Andrew. "When I was going through that rough patch a couple of weeks ago, he would just give me little reminders. Nothing serious. He would tell me I was getting out in front and things like that. Nothing too serious."

One of the big thrills of this season for Chris was going to Fenway Park for and sitting in the front row of the Green Monster Seats at Fenway. Andrew had the biggest hit in that win for the Red Sox, a three-run homer.

"It was a day we'll never forget," said Chris. "It was a great time."

Chris Benintendi was able to push his son while also striking the right balance.

"He's awesome," said Andrew. "He's been involved in pretty much everything I've done, whether it be baseball, basketball or whatever. He's just been involved and supportive all the way through."

Thornburg to undergo shoulder surgery

Stephen Pianovich

PHILADELPHIA -- Red Sox right-hander Tyler Thornburg will undergo season-ending surgery on Friday for thoracic outlet syndrome in his throwing shoulder.

The 28-year-old Thornburg, who was acquired in a December trade from the Brewers for Travis Shaw, Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington, hasn't pitched all season after his shoulder began ailing him in Spring Training. The Red Sox anticipate Thornburg will be ready for next season.

"It's been a long process for Tyler," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "In Spring Training, he got shut down, and it's been a long exploration to find exactly what the problem has been. I'm not an expert on thoracic outlet syndrome, but it's an issue where a lot of other avenues are exhausted before they get to this perspective. I know it was a frustrating situation for him at times, because he'd feel good and then not feel as good."

Matt Harvey and Josh Beckett have also undergone surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which involves pinched nerves between the collarbone and first rib. Dombrowski said it's "probable" that Thornburg would have a rib removed during the procedure.

Dombrowski said Thornburg could be Major League ready in an estimated nine months after the surgery. Thornburg was acquired to bolster Boston's late-inning relief corps after the departures of Koji Uehara, Brad Ziegler and Junichi Tazawa. Thornburg was coming off a stellar 2016 season in which he struck out 90 batters in 67 innings while posting a 2.15 ERA.

"It's buyer beware," Dombrowski said of the trade. "There's no way you could have known this. You just hope you get a healthy player back for next year."

The Sox's bullpen, however, could be getting an additional member in the near future. Right-hander Carson Smith, who had Tommy John surgery last year, threw at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday before he headed back to Boston.

Manager John Farrell said he expected Smith, who hasn't pitched in a Major League game since May 14, 2016, to report to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.

Johnson placed on DL with ailing shoulder

Stephen Pianovich

PHILADELPHIA -- The Red Sox placed left-hander Brian Johnson on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder impingement on Thursday and selected the contract of right-hander Austin Maddox from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Johnson exited Wednesday's start vs. the Phillies after 2 2/3 innings, though he said after Boston's 7-3 win that he felt something was off during his warmup in the bullpen. The southpaw has a 4.29 ERA in four starts, with 17 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Johnson, who is ranked the club's No. 11 prospect by MLBPipeline.com, was headed to Boston on Thursday and was set to undergo an examination on Friday, said manager John Farrell.

Right-hander Hector Velazquez will take Johnson's spot in the rotation and start Monday at Kansas City. Velazquez, who was called up Wednesday, took over for Johnson and threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first Major League win.

Meanwhile, Maddox will add another arm for the Red Sox's bullpen. Maddox has so far posted an excellent season between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket. In 27 innings, the 26-year-old has registered a 1.33 ERA and a 1.037 WHIP in 18 games.

"I've been staying true to myself. Staying within myself, and trusting myself and attacking hitters," Maddox said of his 2017 season.

The move might be bittersweet for the two pitchers, as they were teammates at the University of Florida before being selected in the 2012 Draft by the Red Sox. Johnson was taken in the first round, while

Maddox heard his name called in the third round.

To make room for Maddox on the 40-man roster, Boston transferred left-hander Roenis Elias to the 60-day DL.

Pomeranz looks to find rhythm in Houston

Christian Boutwell

Mike Fiers appears to be finding his rhythm for Houston, which opens a series against the Red Sox on Friday night at Minute Maid Park. With four Houston starters on the disabled list, the Astros are one June loss away from tying their total in May at seven.

Houston (45-22) leads the by 11 games and has yet to face Boston this season. Opposing Fiers will be lefty Drew Pomeranz. Pomeranz (6-4, 4.48 ERA) last pitched 4 1/3 innings on Sunday, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in the loss.

For the Red Sox, the three-game series in Houston is amid a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Eleven of the games in that stretch are away from Fenway Park.

Fiers is the only Astros pitcher to have begun the season in the starting rotation and not need a trip to the disabled list. He's 4-2 with a 4.29 ERA and has allowed 68 hits in 65 innings. Fiers has picked up a win in three straight starts and is coming off an outing of eight strikeouts and two hits allowed over 7 1/3 innings.

Three things to know about this game • George Springer's 429-foot on Tuesday against the Rangers was the Astros slugger's eighth big fly this season to travel at least a projected 425 feet, according to Statcast. Only the Yankees' has more such homers this season.

• The Astros ended their three-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 13-2 win over the Rangers. Houston piled on 19 hits and a nine-run sixth inning, improving to an MLB-best 45 wins.

• The Red Sox took five of the seven games they played against Houston last season, including two of three during an April series at Minute Maid Park.

* ESPNBoston.com

Red Sox pitcher Tyler Thornburg to have surgery, out for season

Scott Lauber

Tyler Thornburg won't pitch for the Boston Red Sox this season.

Thornburg, a late-inning reliever identified by the Red Sox as a key offseason addition in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, will undergo surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome in his right (throwing) shoulder, the team announced Thursday. The procedure will be performed on Friday by Dr. Robert Thompson at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Tyler Thornburg was acquired by Boston in a trade that sent third baseman Travis Shaw and prospects Mauricio Dubon, Josh Pennington and Yeison Coca to Milwaukee. Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire The Red Sox expect Thornburg to be ready to pitch next season.

"It's a very unfortunate situation for him," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters Thursday in Philadelphia. "But I think it's also a relief that somebody has finally been able to come to the conclusion of what his problems have been."

The Sox have been vague about Thornburg's status since he was shut down in late February with shoulder soreness. In mid-March, he was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement, but a month ago, with Thornburg making little progress, Dombrowski said the team was still trying to get a handle on what was wrong.

On Tuesday, Red Sox manager John Farrell said surgery "hasn't been recommended" for Thornburg. But that outlook changed this week when Thornburg traveled to St. Louis to be seen by Thompson, a specialist in thoracic outlet syndrome who has performed surgery on several pitchers, including right-hander Matt Harvey.

"It's been a long exploration, basically, [to determine] what the problem has been," Dombrowski told reporters. "It's a situation where a lot of other avenues are exhausted before they get to this perspective."

Seeking an eighth-inning upgrade over 41-year-old setup reliever Koji Uehara, the Red Sox acquired Thornburg from Milwaukee for third baseman Travis Shaw, infield prospect Mauricio Dubon, pitcher Josh Pennington and 18-year-old infielder Yeison Coca. That trade now appears lopsided, as Shaw enters play Thursday night with 11 home runs and an .887 OPS for the Brewers.

The Red Sox complained to last year about the concealing medical information before trading left-hander Drew Pomeranz to Boston in July. But Dombrowski said he believes the Brewers were "upfront" in sharing Thornburg's medical history before the trade.

"I don't believe in any way that Milwaukee knew this was taking place," Dombrowski told reporters. "They gave us all the information. There's no question that they were very upfront in that regard. When you make trades, at times, it's buyer beware. There's no way you would know this. You just hope you get a healthy player back for next year."

In February, Thornburg said he had "never had shoulder issues whatsoever" and traced the issue to a possible miscommunication over the requirements of the Red Sox's shoulder-strengthening program, specifically a significantly higher volume of exercises than he was used to with the Brewers.

"If anything, it might have fatigued my arm a little bit before the first outing [in spring training]," Thornburg said in March. "Or it possibly could've pointed out some weaknesses in my shoulder or something that wasn't working properly. People can say it was this, say it was that. I'd love to say exactly what it was because it would help me out a lot in the future. But I can't really say anything specifically, honestly."

Thoracic outlet syndrome typically occurs when nerves bridging the neck and shoulder become compressed or constricted, often causing weakness in the shoulder and numbness in the fingers and hands. The list of pitchers who have had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome includes Josh Beckett, Chris Carpenter, Phil Hughes, Jaime Garcia, Matt Harrison, Tyson Ross and Matt Harvey.

In Thornburg's absence, the Red Sox have used several pitchers in the eighth inning of close games, with Matt Barnes handling most of those situations. Joe Kelly also has emerged as a late-inning reliever, and Carson Smith is expected to return from Tommy John elbow surgery after the All-Star break. Going into Thursday night's game, the Red Sox's bullpen has a 2.83 ERA, second best in the majors.

Also on Thursday, the Red Sox placed lefty Brian Johnson on the 10-day disabled list with a shoulder impingement after he left a start in the third inning Wednesday night.

Right-handed reliever Austin Maddox was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Maddox, 26, has a 1.33 ERA and three saves in 18 games between Double-A and Triple-A and has allowed one earned run in his past 13 innings.

* WEEI.com

Phillies 1, Red Sox 0: Pablo Sandoval is making things difficult

Rob Bradford

Remember when Pablo Sandoval was good?

"You couldn't throw him a fastball anywhere near the plate because he would jump all over it," said one American League scout whose job was to follow the Giants, Sandoval's former team, right up through their 2014 postseason run. "And when I heard he was having trouble defensively I was shocked. He played in so he didn't have to move a lot, but he had such great hands."

And this is what another scout said when asked about Sandoval, the player he witnessed before 2015: "Probably the best bad ball hitter in the game. Very aggressive. Tough with two stikes. Below average range, but great hands defensively and a really strong arm. Pitchers said what a tough out he was because his ability to make contact out of the zone. Back then he was strong and confident. Looks like injuries and lack of at-bats have taken away some of his mojo."

Flash forward to the final out of the Red Sox' 1-0 loss to the Phillies Thursday night, and it becomes hard to remember that third baseman. (For a complete recap of the Red Sox' loss, click here.)

The problem for the Red Sox and John Farrell is that they are grasping at hope that the old Sandoval -- the one that the Red Sox committed five years, $95 million to -- is going to somehow re-emerge. That's why the manager chose not to pinch-hit for Sandoval against Philly closer Hector Neris with the game-tying run at first with two outs in the ninth inning. The one thing that was left which there was some confidence that the switch-hitter might be good at is hitting against right-haned pitching.

But after watching Sandoval wave at an 87 slider to end the game, the idea of sending out right-handed- hitting options Hanley Ramirez or Chris Young sure seemed a whole lot more appetizing.

"No. Not against a right hander, no," Farrell told reporters when asked if he entertained pinch-hitting one of the righty hitters in that situation.

Who knows how we got here, because while the the Sandoval signing is trending toward becoming one of the worst in franchise history, it should be noted that both the Padres and Giants were willing to make the same sort of financial commitment. As the aforementioned scouts relayed, this was once a player a manager wouldn't even think of replacing in a big spot against any kind of pitcher with the game on the line.

Sure, he was out of shape, and maybe some of what Sandoval offered was a mirage born from a postseason hot streak. But, still, you were talking about a 28 year old who seemingly had figured out how to manage well enough to be at least a servicable starting third baseman for a few years.

Yet here we are, with Sandoval having played in 158 games in a Red Sox uniform, totaling 617 plate appearances. The third baseman has hit a combined .236 with a .646 OPS, with his team having gone 73-85 when he has played. During that span, he has totaled a .192 batting average and .450 OPS against lefty pitchers. And those close and late situations he made a reputation on during that '14 World Series run? That's resulted in a .196 average and .557 OPS.

So, where do the Red Sox go from here when it comes to Sandoval?

The guess is that Farrell keeps picking his spots to find out if there is anything there. The Red Sox have a few weeks to figure this out, not wanting to reach outside the organization for something that might not very well be much of an upgrade at all. (See recently DFA'd Trevor Plouffe.) If things keep going down the path we witnessed Sandoval entrenched on Thursday night, than a move has to be made. Josh Rutledge and can be valuable fill-ins, but they aren't most likely the hot corner solutions the Sox are ready to make a postseason run with.

And just a head's up: don't hold your breath waiting for a (18 homers, .887 OPS) acquisition. The Royals aren't going to deal the third baseman until they absolutely know winning isn't an option, and right now they are just four games out of first-place and have won five in a row. Maybe the Sox can take a flier on Chicago's Todd Frazier, who is mired in a Sandoval-esque season with a .206 batting average. He does, however, still hit home runs, as was evident the 40 he popped last season. And a righty in Fenway Park is always intriguing.

Then there is Rafael Devers. That conversation links of nicely with using the coming weeks to figure out what you have with Sandoval. By the time the final week of July rolls around, one would think Devers -- who has homers in each of his last two games and carries a .929 OPS with Double-A Portland -- would have gotten the Triple-A experience the Red Sox are seemingly mandating for the 20 year old.

For the time being, there is no way around the fact that Sandoval is making life uncomfortable for the Red Sox. It's a very expensive uneasiness the team -- and many in baseball -- may not have envisioned, but that Dave Dombrowski and Co. can't ignore much longer.

Chris Sale became just the fifth Boston pitcher to record an extra-base hit in the Red Sox' loss, joining Josh Beckett, , Derek Lowe and Jake Peavy thanks to his leadoff double in the eighth inning. He was stranded at third base, however, after Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts failed to plate the pitcher.

Tyler Thornburg to have season-ending shoulder surgery

Ryan Hannable

It's official, Tyler Thornburg will not pitch in a game for the Red Sox this season.

The Red Sox announced Thursday afternoon that the right-handed reliever will undergo treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder on Friday, June 16. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Robert Thompson at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, home of the Washington University School of Medicine Center for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in St. Louis.

He will miss the rest of the season, but is expected to be ready for the start of 2018.

Thornburg was acquired in the deal which sent Travis Shaw to the Brewers this offseason. The former Brewer felt discomfort in his shoulder during spring training and never has been able to get back to full strength.

The Sox had hoped to get Thornburg back to help boost the bullpen leading to closer Craig Kimbrel. Carson Smith is still working his way back from Tommy John Surgery, but is expected to join the bullpen in the coming weeks.

Red Sox to wear nicknames on back of jerseys

Rob Bradford

Major League Baseball is finally waking up.

According to Yahoo! Sports, MLB is planning a 'Players Weekend' from Aug. 25-27 in which players can wear nicknames on the back of their uniforms. During the three days, multi-colored cleats will also be allowed, along with a personalized patch celebrating somebody who was instrumental in their development.

(Red Sox president Sam Kennedy confirmed in an email to WEEI.com that the Red Sox will wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys even though the team typically doesn't wear names on the back of its home uniforms.)

When juxtaposing the event against other professional sports, this isn't ground-breaking. The NBA allowed for players nicknames for a stretch during the 2013-14 season, and the NFL loosened its footwear policy for a whole game. Then, of course, there was the XFL. But considering what MLB has represented, it's a pretty big leap.

The nicknames are the thing that of course will draw the most attention.

There is something appealing about having Dustin Pedroia bust out his short-lived moniker "The Muddy Chicken," or even having "Butter" but on the back of third base coach Brian Butterfield's jersey. Fun for a day, much like the Star Wars Night. But outside of those few days -- which, unfortunately for MLB, coincides with the weekend Floyd Mayweather is fighting Conor McGregor -- will it really matter?

But the true takeaway from this whole thing will be the opportunity to spice up the equipment.

As Jeff Passan points out in his piece:

"The items with minimal color restrictions include spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves and catcher’s masks. The colors, according to the memo, must avoid interfering with the game and an umpire’s ability to make a call. White gloves, wristbands and sleeves are prohibited."

Numerous players have been clamoring for MLB to loosen up its regulations on cleats. It was a topic that was even brought up in the most recent collective bargaining agreement negotiations, with player's association chief Tony Clark fully understanding the influence footwear has on the attention span of young people. But MLB didn't budge ... or did they?

Why there has been no formal rule changes when it comes to cleats, players have been getting a wink, wink, nudge, nudge when pushing the boundaries. One player said that the player's association has told them it's OK to no longer adhere to the previous rule that stated that cleats must exhibit at least 51 percent of the player's team's colors. (In the Red Sox case, that would have been black.) It hasn't been difficult to identify rule-breakers, yet an informal survey suggests no warning letters or fines have been sent out like in years past.

This is no accident. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And with the time of game going the wrong way this year, and other initiatives really not bringing down a shockingly old demographic, this would seemingly fit both forms of desperation.

Three days aren't going to fix things, but it can't hurt. And considering how much baseball has already taken two steps back with each step forward in recent years, it's a start.

* CSNNE.com

Drellich: Is there more to Farrell’s decision to not pinch hit for Sandoval?

Evan Drellich

PHILADELPHIA — If letting Pablo Sandoval bat in the ninth inning helps show Dave Dombrowski that Sandoval has no logical place on the roster these days, then Red Sox manager John Farrell might be more calculating than you think.

It’s sink or swim time for Sandoval, and Farrell’s top boss seems to want Sandoval to have that chance.

Chris Sale let the Sox bullpen breathe on Thursday night, returning to his most dominant form with his ninth double-digit strikeout game of the season in a 1-0 loss to the Phillies.

Three out of four wins vs. the Phillies is fine. But check back in October to see if Thursday’s loss stings more after the fact. In a sport where the best teams win 60 percent of the time, there might not be a game all season where the match-up better favors the Red Sox: a terrible team vs. the ace.

The way it ended, with an ugly Sandoval strikeout on a pitch way out of the zone and down, created some bad optics.

Why have Sandoval bat if Hanley Ramirez is available off the bench, Manager John?

He was quick with his answer after the game: he did not consider pinch-hitting Sandoval with Phillies closer Hector Neris on the mound.

“No,” Farrell said. “Not against a right-hander, no.”

What a dummy, right?

Look deeper. Farrell has been starting Josh Rutledge over Sandoval lately. This isn’t some sort of Sandoval love affair for the manager.

It’s one of two things, or maybe a combination thereof. Sticking by players usually includes letting them have at-bats. That’s an easy explanation. It’s the reason Chris Young batted against a right-hander early last season and everyone flipped out.

How else to get Sandoval going than to give him a chance, than to convince Sandoval he’s believed in? It’s not always defensible, but, managers do make choices for that reason.

Look even deeper, though. We already can tell Farrell doesn’t believe much in Sandoval. Rutledge’s usage lately shows us that.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, meanwhile, seems to be of the mindset that Sandoval needs a chance.

“I think you also have to remember that Pablo has done everything that we asked him to do,” Dombrowski said before the game. “He got himself in shape, he’s worked very hard. He’s continued to work hard. He’s worked on the dietary aspect of it. He’s worked on the skill aspect of it. When I came in here, he was working out. So he’s done everything he possibly can, he had a very good spring training.

"Early in the season his numbers weren’t great, but yet he hit the ball very hard. He was one of the top five in the league statistically as far as hard hit balls when he went down at that time. So he’s just come back for a short time period. I thought he had a very good game last night, offensively and defensively. So I think sometimes you have to give guys an opportunity before you just jump to the conclusions right away. And we’ll continue to monitor his situation. It’s up to him to do well and we’ll see what takes place.”

Sounds like the leader of the front office wants Sandoval to get at-bats, doesn’t it?

How many ABs would Dombrowski want to see, though, before deciding with Farrell on a course of action? To play him every day or cut him or whatever else?

“I can’t even answer that question,” Dombrowski said. “I don’t know that there is a 100 percent answer to that. Everybody’s different. Some guys get back quicker than others. In his case, he’s not playing per se every single day. He hasn’t been so far, at least. People forget he missed all of last year basically too. So I think that’s another part of it. So I don’t really have a certain number of specific at-bats.”

But he’s not there yet, it would seem. Again: sounds like the leader of the front office wants Sandoval to get at-bats, doesn’t it?

So if you’re Farrell, and Dombrowski wants Sandoval on the roster until some hazy number of at-bats are reached, you’re handcuffed. Don’t play him, and this grey-area at third base drags on. Play him, and give Sandoval a chance to get rolling — and a chance to show the top boss whether he truly can perform.

Sandoval’s played 29 games and has 105 plate appearances. It's not much. Different statistics stabilize after a different number of appearances, on average.

Dombrowski’s not exactly a stats wonk, though. He wants to see Sandoval play? Well, Farrell’s letting him. The visual’s saying something, and it might be exactly the message Farrell hopes is delivered.

Alarm goes off in Citizens Bank Park during Chris Sale’s start

Evan Drellich

PHILADELPHIA — Not even a fire alarm could slow down Chris Sale.

The Red Sox ace was warming up for the fifth inning when an alarm went off at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday night. Warning lights flashed in the stadium and a message displayed on the screen for fans to exit the stadium and use the elevator.

But no one seemed, well, alarmed. With the advisory playing audibly on loop, Sale started pitching to Daniel Nava.

"Yeah even the umpires asked, is this going to be alright?" Sale said. "I was like, 'Yeah, it’s just another noise going on in the stadium.' Once you get locked in those kind of things just drown themselves out. That was interesting."

The crowd — likely as confused as those in the press box were — cheered when the alarm was finally stopped. An announcement was made to the stadium apologizing for the interruption.

The Red Sox and Phillies were scoreless at the time, and the Sox lost 1-0. Sale's eighth-inning double, his first career extra-base hit, set up the Sox well but they couldn't capitalize.

"I think all pitchers like to hit and a small part of all hitters likes pitching too," Sale said. "We don’t get to do it very often, so, it’s fun to go up there and mess around a little bit. Would’ve liked to get the win. Trade it in."

Carson Smith’s progress hinges on medical exam in Boston

Evan Drellich

PHILADELPHIA — With Tyler Thornburg done for the season, all eyes for bullpen help turn to Carson Smith.

The righty reliever coming back from Tommy John surgery needs some medical clearance before moving any further.

Smith threw Thursday at Citizens Bank Park and could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday if an upcoming exam in Boston goes well.

He left Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, as did lefty Brian Johnson, who has inflammation in his throwing shoulder and is to be checked out in Boston as well.

Smith has dealt with soreness in his shoulder and lat as he’s come back. The Red Sox didn’t sound the alarm bells by having Smith go for an exam, with Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski saying it was a planned possibility.

At the same time, it doesn’t sound like a simple formality.

“It was OK. I would say OK,” Farrell said of Smith’s mound session Thursday. “The stuff was OK maybe the consistency wasn’t quite there. But honestly, I think that’s to be fully expected. He’s going to go through some minor peaks and valleys as he continues to build up to game competition. So I think what he’s going through right now might be a little frustrating for him, given all the rehab and time he’s gone through. But these are normal progressive steps to getting back to full strength.

“Where he’s needed some added time, the last time to give him a couple extra days was more of the lat muscle, not necessarily the shoulder or the elbow. So he’s getting back into shape. That’s where getting accustomed or re-accustomed to the volume is coming in play.”

Smith said at the start of June that his shoulder has bothered him at times. But he and the team said they feel it's expected.

“I don’t know if he’s going to go on rehab or what we’re going to do with him at this point,” Dombrowski said. “But it was always the plan, the possibility for him to go back there [to Boston] and we’ll just evaluate how he feels tomorrow and then go from there.

“He’s having normal soreness as anybody would at this time. … Not even necessarily in his elbow, just normal soreness when he’s throwing. So we’ll just analyze it, see how he’s doing.”

Righty Hector Velazquez, who filled in admirably for Johnson on Wednesday night after Johnson left after 2 2/3 innings, is to make Johnson’s next start in the rotation.

Johnson is on the disabled list and Austin Maddox was added to the roster in his place. Roenis Elias was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Maddox, who's in the majors for the first time, on the 40-man roster.

* Associated Press

Kelly's pinch-hit leads Phillies past Sale, Red Sox 1-0

PHILADELPHIA -- Nick Pivetta figured that if the Phillies were going to end their losing streak he needed to keep up with Boston ace Chris Sale.

Pivetta did just that with the best performance of his young career in a pitchers' duel with Sale. Pinch-hitter Ty Kelly doubled home the only run in the eighth inning to lead the Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday night.

"It was the first time I faced a guy like that," Pivetta said. "It was really exciting. I tried to go toe to toe with him and stay with him as much as I can."

Sale (8-3) was cruising until a one-out single by Andrew Knapp set the stage for Kelly's game-winning hit that ended the Phillies' eight-game losing streak. Kelly lined a slider into the left-field corner. Andrew Benintendi's throw sailed over the cutoff man and was a tad late, allowing Knapp to score from first for the only run of the game.

Kelly said the hit was in the top five moments of his big league career.

"It feels good," he said. "Maybe more of my friends will text me tonight."

Sale allowed four hits with 10 strikeouts, upping his major league-leading total to 136. It was his 44th career double-digit strikeout game and ninth this season.

"He was outstanding once again," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He's one of the best pitchers in baseball."

Said Sale, "It was fun, but I would have liked to have gotten the win."

Pat Neshek (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Pivetta and Hector Neris earned his sixth save in seven tries with a scoreless ninth to help Philadelphia win its first interleague game of the season.

"That was nice to see," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.

The Phillies salvaged a game in the four-game home and home series with the Red Sox to improve to 1-8 in interleague games.

Pivetta went past the fifth inning for the first time in his seventh start. He allowed four hits in seven innings and nearly matched Sale with nine strikeouts against two walks.

"He just pounded the strike zone," Mackanin said. "He didn't get in trouble and start nitpicking."

The Red Sox threatened in the eighth against Neshek when Sale led off with a double, his first career extra- base hit that drew the large contingent of visiting Red Sox fans to their feet. Sale went to third on Mookie Betts' lineout to right field, but Neshek struck out Dustin Pedroia and got Xander Bogaerts to pop out in foul territory to first baseman Tommy Joseph to end the threat.

STREAK CONTINUED

Joseph singled in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Joseph is batting .364 with four doubles, a homer and seven RBI over the stretch.

STREAK STOPPED

Pedroia finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, ending his streak of five straight multi-hit games.

RARE FEAT

Sale became just the fifth Boston pitcher to record an extra-base hit, joining Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Derek Lowe and Jake Peavy.

NO EMERGENCY

The game continued in the fifth inning despite a fire alarm that rang loudly throughout the stadium and a message on the scoreboard that asked fans to leave the ballpark. The alarm stopped just before Sale struck out Daniel Nava for the first out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: 1B Mitch Moreland returned after he was out of the lineup on Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch on the left foot in Tuesday's game against Philadelphia. ... RHP Tyler Thornburg will undergo season- ending surgery on Friday for thoracic outlet syndrome. Thornburg hasn't pitched all season after feeling discomfort in his throwing shoulder this spring. ... RHP Carson Smith will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday at Triple-A Pawtucket. Smith hasn't pitched this year after having Tommy John surgery last season.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz (6-4, 4.48) pitches for Boston against Astros RHP Mike Fiers (4-2, 4.29) on Friday night in the first of a three-game set in Houston.

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 4.40) opens a three-game home series against Arizona on Friday night. LHP Patrick Corbin (5-6, 5.38) goes for the Diamondbacks.

* Philly.com

Ty Kelly stays calm, delivers for Phillies in a pinch

Marc Narducci

Ty Kelly had to come off the bench cold against one of the best pitchers in baseball, but the Phillies utility man was surprisingly calm.

“I didn’t feel a ton of pressure,” he said after his eighth-inning, pinch-hit double off lefthander Chris Sale drove in the game’s only run in a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park “If anything, it is less pressure against somebody like that.”

Sale was pitching, well, like Chris Sale. The five-time all-star, who was acquired in the offseason from the , allowed just four hits in eight innings, striking out 10 and walking one. It was his 44th career double-digit strikeout game and his ninth this season.

“The expectations are kind of tempered a little bit because he was pitching so well,” said Kelly, who began the season with the New York Mets, was with Toronto for two weeks and then was acquired by the Phillies on April 22 for cash considerations.

In the eighth inning, Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp hit a one-out single to left field. Kelly came in to pinch-hit for winning pitcher Pat Neshek.

Ahead of the count at 2-1, he then drilled a Sale to the left-field corner, scoring Knapp with the run that enabled the Phillies to snap their eight-game losing streak.

“I never faced him before,” said Kelly, who stepped to the plate just 3 for 27 as a pinch-hitter in his career. “I was fortunate that he left a breaking ball over the plate and I was able to keep it fair.”

Kelly has had just 29 at-bats this season for the Phillies but has made the most of his seven hits. Five have been doubles and each of his three runs batted in have been go-ahead RBIs, two of which have been game- winners.

Even though Sale was his usual dominating self, this was the type of situation that Kelly relished.

“Those are the at-bats as a player you want,” he said.

The 28-year-old Kelly was asked where this hit ranked in his career. “Top five,” he said. “I haven’t put together a list, but it is up there for sure.”

He mentioned a pinch hit single for the New York Mets in last year’s 1-0 loss to the in the wild-card game.

“I had a pinch-hit single … against [Madison] Bumgarner and that is pretty high,” Kelly said. “For it to be a game-winner tonight puts it up on the list.”

Phillies shut out Red Sox and beat Chris Sale

Matt Gelb

Andrew Knapp runs well for a catcher, but he is a catcher, and he was trying to score from first base Thursday night on a double to left field. The Phillies had lost eight games in a row. They owned the worst record in baseball. They were in the eighth inning of a scoreless tie.

Juan Samuel, the third-base coach, waved Knapp home.

"We're facing Chris Sale. How many runs are you going to get?" Samuel said. "So you try to take as many chances as you can."

They did it. The Phillies won a game. They beat Sale, 1-0, with a rookie on the mound. They won on a pinch-hit double by little-used Ty Kelly and Boston's botched relay play.

"It's a pretty sweet win," Knapp said.

Every win is sweet for these Phillies. The way Nick Pivetta matched baseball's strikeout leader to submit the best Phillies start of the season was most impressive. He had not thrown a pitch beyond the fifth inning in any of his first six starts in the majors, then completed seven scoreless innings against a potent Boston lineup.

"It's the first time I really faced a guy like that," Pivetta said of Sale. "It was really exciting for me. I just tried to go out there and go toe-to-toe with him. I knew he was going to go out there and do his best. And he did. I just tried to stay with him as much as I could."

Pivetta, 24, showed growth. No Phillies starter had thrown seven scoreless innings since Sept. 17, 2016, when Jeremy Hellickson had a shutout.

Pivetta succeeded with his fastball, which touched 97 mph and hovered at 95. It is a fine pitch, especially when thrown down in the zone. He threw 107 pitches Thursday and 75 of them were fastballs. If his secondary pitches improve, the Phillies have an interesting arm in their rotation.

He looked impressive from the very beginning. Pivetta fired 12 first-inning pitches, the last a slider that Xander Bogaerts could not meet. Pivetta struck out nine. He walked two Red Sox, both in the second inning, when he escaped a bases-loaded jam.

His last pitch, in the seventh inning, was 95 mph. Sandy Leon, Boston's catcher, lined it right at Maikel Franco. Pivetta returned to the dugout, where pitching coach Bob McClure told him he was done at 107 pitches.

"Why is he taking me out?" Pivetta asked McClure, referring to manager Pete Mackanin.

"That's enough," McClure said.

Mackanin laughed about it.

"It's exuberance," the manager said. "This guy is really into it. You have to kind of slow him down at times. His previous outings, you could tell he was a little ahead of himself. Tonight, he appeared to be a lot more poised. We still had to slow him down."

Much of the recent attention devoted to the Phillies is about the players not here. So a night like Thursday offered catharsis.

"Right now, my job is to handle the 25 players I have," Mackanin said. "I want them to know I have confidence in them. I'm not going to talk about who I'd like to see, if anybody, to come up and take their place. I don't think that's fair to them. It's important that they know that I believe in them, that they're going to improve. So all I can do is encourage them to get better because they're my 25 players."

Kelly is the 25th man on the roster and has been with three organizations in 2017. He has three RBIs with the Phillies and all three have been go-ahead runs. Was this one, against Sale, more special?

"I don't know," Kelly said. "Maybe more of my friends will text me tonight."

For 2 hours and 25 minutes, at least, the Phillies were not the worst team in baseball.