BOSTON - Coco Crisp laced a shot into the gap in right-center in the eighth inning last night.

It looked off the bat like the normally speedy outfielder might have a chance for a triple. Instead, he cruised around first and into second with a double, clapping his hands a bit in frustration as he stopped at the bag.

Crisp, according to Francona, "tweaked his knee" earlier in the game and was unable to run at full speed, adding to the Sox' outfield injury problems.

Predictably, J.D. Drew, who left after the third inning Tuesday with a strained quad, was out of the lineup again last night.

``It's not worse,'' said manager Terry Francona before the game, ``but it's not good enough to send him out there. He feels it. We'll see how it goes.''

Jacoby Ellsbury was also out, limited by a right groin strain, but is feeling improvement.

``It feels better today,'' said Ellsbury yesterday. ``I came in early (Tuesday) for treatment and it feels a lot better.''

Ellsbury said the strain resulted from his attempted grab of Evan Longoria's homer Saturday night in St. Pete.

``That's when I felt it,'' he said. ``I've had it before. The last few days, there's been a lot of improvement. It's hard [to give a] time frame [for his return], but hopefully soon.''

Francona thinks Ellsbury should be ready to play tonight.

For now, the manager is limited in his moves, with just three healthy outfielders.

``It certainly takes away from your thinking,'' said Francona. ``You do what yuo do and hope the guys play good.''

Dustin Pedroia was in the lineup in the leadoff spot, with Kevin Youkilis hitting second and Mike Lowell returned to the fifth spot.

Francona said two lefties (Ellsbury and Drew) being out of the lineup led to the rehuffled order.

Bartolo Colon, who threw a 45-pitch side Monday, will throw another one tomorrow in anticipation of a rehab start Monday. ... Infielder Alex Cora (elbow) continues to make strides. He threw from a distance of 105 feet yesterday and will soon graduate to fielding grounders, making double plays and eventually, relay throws from the outfield. ... Dustin Pedroia, who felt a subluxation of his left shoulder in making his game-saving stop in the top of the ninth inning, felt fine yesterday and was in the lineup.