The Tampa Bay Rays’ Akinori Iwamura, right, extends a hand to Gabe Gross after Gross’ solo home run off Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield during the second inning of last night’s game at Tropicana Field.

AP / Steve Nesius

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –– As had to be expected, third baseman Mike Lowell was out of the lineup for the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays last night, resting his right hip, which worsened in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at Tropicana Field.

Lowell has battled hip pain for much of the season, but twice Tuesday –– once while charging an infield chopper in the fourth and again, after singling in the ninth –– he could be seen limping.

He’s been told that he’s suffering from a labral tear in the hip, which will require an offseason surgical procedure.

“They believe my labrum may have popped in and out of the joint (Tuesday)and that’s why it has flared up today,” said Lowell. “I think that’s good news. I was on the phone with a lot of people today — (Terry Francona and Theo Epstein) were as well — seeing if this can

get worse. They really say it can’t. I look at that as a positive.”

Still, yesterday was a taxing day for Lowell, who was still limping by mid-afternoon in the clubhouse.

“This morning was very uncomfortable,” he said. “Whatever the movement [it] kind of bothered me. Usually when you wake up, you feel better, and I was very stiff. That’s when I immediately called the trainers to see if this could get worse. They made phone calls and were told, not really, that that popping thing made sense and it will flare up after that.

“In a couple of days, it should feel a lot better. So with [today] being a day off, I’m hoping (to play tomorrow).”

“He’s exhibited an unbelievable ability to go out there when most people couldn’t,” Francona said.

In the meantime, the Sox sent Lowell’s MRIs to a couple of hip specialists and are hoping for some direction. Lowell and the Sox are otherwise resigned to the fact that for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs, he’s going to have to tolerate some discomfort.

“I know running bothers me, but I still think I can contribute,” Lowell said. “If it gets to the point where I’m a hindrance to the team, we’ll have to look in another direction. I’ve always said it doesn’t hurt me to swing, except for that last at bat yesterday, but I think that was caused by that play earlier. As long as I can swing pain free and manage to play third base. … If we can make minor adjustments and I can still be productive, I would like to play.”

The one positive for Lowell is, according to the experts he’s spoken to, he can’t aggravate the condition further by continuing to play.

“It can’t get worse,” he said. “I don’t think the labrum can come off the hip, something as drastic as that. I (also) asked if this means I’ll need a hip replacement down the road. They said you might need a hip replacement in your other hip before, just because.

“I’m all for doing what I can to be on the field, but I’m not in the mood to sacrifice my health later on in my life. That’s a question I asked and definitely something they ruled out.”

Around the bases

Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, who played for both the Red Sox and the (Devil) Rays in his career, threw out the ceremonial first pitch…. By exiting in the third inning, trailing 5-2, Tim Wakefield lost the opportunity to post his 10th win of the season, which would have made him just the second pitcher in club history to win 10 or more games in 10 seasons. Roger Clemens remains the only pitcher in the history of the franchise to do so. … The Rays attracted 36,038 for their sixth sellout of the season.

smcadam@projo.com