BOSTON -- The all-important trade deadline came and went yesterday and while the Red Sox did not make a deal, there still was some news from the team. Trot Nixon , the Sox' right fielder, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade II strain in his right biceps.

In the bottom of the third inning against the Angels on Sunday, Nixon was at the plate with a 2-1 count against John Lackey . On the next pitch, Nixon swung awkwardly and was in obvious pain. Manager Terry Francona pulled him from the game and replaced him with Wily Mo Pena. Francona called Nixon's injury "moderate" but also said it's not insignificant. General manager Theo Epstein echoed that statement later in the day. Nixon was injured on a similar swing on July 26 last year at Tampa Bay, when he suffered a left oblique strain and spent time on the DL.

Nixon had an MRI taken yesterday and team doctor Thomas Gill told him he could begin his rehab immediately, but there's still no timetable on a possible return.

With Nixon out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Pena will step in. He's used to that fill-in role -- he produced a solid performance earlier in this year when Coco Crisp was on the DL.

"He played a lot when Coco was out and he did a great job," said Francona. "I'm sure he's going to get a lot of at-bats, and again, we want to play Gabe (Kapler ) in center and in right, so we'll make it reach. . . . he's not a bad outfielder, and as we've seen when people haven't played our right field there can be some adventures. It's a tricky place to be, but he'll be fine. The more homers he hits the better he'll be defensively."

Pena collected his third career triple in the bottom of the second inning last night, scoring two runs, and he added a colossal solo home run in the fourth inning that sailed through the left-field light tower. He was sound defensively, too.

Hopefully not a twist of fate

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek was lifted from the game in the bottom of the third inning after suffering a twisted left knee.

Varitek led off the second with a base hit and advanced to second base on Crisp's single. Varitek seemed to lose his footing around the bag and struggled as he jogged home on Pena's triple.

Varitek will have the knee reevaluated today. Backup catcher Doug Mirabelli took his spot behind the plate.

Step backward for Foulke

Reliever Keith Foulke , who was scheduled to make a rehab appearance for the PawSox on Sunday but was scratched due to a stiff lower back, was still experiencing some discomfort yesterday.

Francona said Foulke's back is still "grabbing at him a little bit" and he did not play catch yesterday, which was the original plan.

"We're at the mercy of his back right now," said the manager. "Once he's better we'll get him moving again."

Foulke has been on the DL since June 12 with tendonitis in his right elbow.

Shoppach returns

Former Red Sox catching prospect Kelly Shoppach was behind the plate for the Indians last night, his first trip back to Boston since he was traded to Cleveland as part of a six-player trade involving Crisp during the offseason.

Shoppach, who was drafted by the Sox, made his major-league debut for Boston last season at Yankee Stadium as a pinch-hitter.

During his first start behind the dish in a Red Sox uniform he caught David Wells , and he used that experience to his advantage last night. In the second inning, Shoppach belted a two-run double to center off the veteran lefty. However, Wells struck him out swinging in the fourth.

Loose lips sink ships

It was just a coincidence that Red Sox second baseman Mark Loretta was given Sunday off, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline. Because his name was not on the lineup card, there was speculation that he was about to be traded.

According to Francona, he was told by a member of the media 10 minutes before Sunday's game that Loretta had in fact been traded. The manager pooh-poohed the notion, but was told Loretta was seen in street clothes leaving the clubhouse, and that his wife was crying.

Francona double-checked just in case and found the information he received was false.

He said yesterday he wasn't too pleased with the situation, as did Epstein.

"It's not fair," said the manager. "If media people are not professional, it creates havoc for us, which I don't appreciate."

Around the bases

Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen (sore thumb) threw yesterday and Francona said the young right-hander is getting better. Delcarmen has been experiencing slight discomfort and said he's having trouble with his breaking ball. He was available to work last night, but Francona said they don't want to rush him back. . . . With his homer in the first inning last night, Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez reached No. 464 and jumped ahead of Jim Thome for 27th all-time. In fact, Ramirez has hit safely in 16 consecutive games, his longest hitting streak as a Red Sox. . . . Pitcher Bryan Corey , who the Sox acquired from the Texas Rangers on Sunday, arrived at Fenway Park around 4:30 p.m. yesterday.

jmcdonal@projo.com / (401) 277-7340