BOSTON -- Second baseman Rey Sanchez
, as expected, was placed on the disabled list because of a pulled right hamstring.
To take his place on the roster, the Sox called up first baseman/designated hitter Juan Diaz
from Pawtucket. Diaz was batting .247 with 10 homers and 24 RBI in 58 games for the Pawsox. In other important numbers, Diaz, 28, has dropped his weight from 298 at spring training to 265-270.
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound native of Cuba will be used mainly as a pinch hitter at the outset of his stay in Boston, his first taste of the big leagues. While surprised at the timing, Diaz couldn't have been happier.
"I left my family in Cuba. I came to the United States to play in the big leagues, not to play in Triple A," said Diaz.
Diaz's stay could be brief if Sanchez's hamstring responds to treatment. Sanchez's placement on the DL was backdated to June 4. So Sanchez, who suffered the injury on May 26 and last played on June 3, would be eligible to come off the DL on June 19, when the Sox are in San Diego.
Pitchers take BP
Pitchers took batting practice yesterday for the first time in preparation for the interleague games that will be played in National League cities, where a designated hitter is not used.
Darren Oliver
and Willie Banks
went deep. Rolando Arrojo
dented the Green Monster a few times.
Pedro Martinez
did not participate. Martinez, slated to open the road trip in Atlanta on Friday, said he wants to hit off a tee a few times first.
Martinez is leery of taking BP. When he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992, his first taste of the majors as a September callup, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder while swatting an inside pitch that was about to hit him.
In twisting out of the way, his left shoulder continued the follow-through with the bat while the rest of his body continued the other way, causing his shoulder to pop out, he said yesterday.
Martinez popped his shoulder back in, he said. Martinez, who continued to pitch in a relief role that month but never batted, had postseason surgery to repair ligament damage. The surgery has left him with about a two-inch scar.
Burkett gets new 'do
Pitcher John Burkett
showed up yesterday with his hair dyed a yellow that approached orange. Seems his son, Max, 7, had his hair dyed yellow about 10 days ago because other kids in his first-grade class had done it. Max wanted his dad to do the same. Burkett said only after he lost a game. Sunday he lost to the Diamondbacks.
"When I got home, Max was ready for me," said a smiling Burkett, who had never dyed his hair before. "So he helped me do it. I'll look good in the first-grade community."
This and that
The Yanks' Jorge Posada
had the last homer off Derek Lowe
, on Aug. 21, 2001. . . . Jason Varitek
swiped his first base of the year and fifth of his career. . . . Lou Merloni
was called out on a close play at the plate, trying to slide around a tag from catcher Bobby Estalella
after a Jose Offerman
single to right. Larry Walker
made the throw. Plate umpire Jeff Nelson
's call was disputed loudly by Merloni and on-deck batter Nomar Garciaparra
, before manager Grady Little took up the debate, without satisfaction. . . . Merloni has hit in eight straight, extending his career high.
