Colon

BOSTON — Bartolo Colon, who’s been on the disabled list for the last month with a lower back injury, had another successful mound session yesterday and could be sent on a rehab assignment within the week.

“He’s doing OK,” said manager Terry Francona. “John (Farrell, pitching coach) and Bartolo feel pretty good about things. He’s coming along. We’ve been trying to go at a pace where we don’t have any setbacks and get him back healthy.”

Under that timetable, Colon might be ready to rejoin the Sox in mid- to late-August, giving the Sox six starters.

“If it seems like there’s an abundance of pitching,” Francona said. “Good — we’ll deal with it.”

Colon and Farrell played long toss before heading into the bullpen yesterday afternoon and when the veteran right-hander walked back to the clubhouse he was all smiles. More importantly, how he feels today will be the key factor moving forward with his rehab.

“We’ve been trying to go at a pace where we don’t have setbacks,” said Francona. “Unfortunately, a couple of times this year we’ve started him up and there have been arm issues in the past that we don’t want to flare up. We’re trying to do it right and not force it. We’re doing this so we can get him back healthy.”

In six starts for the Red Sox this season, Colon is 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA. He’s recorded 26 strikeouts and walked only nine. When he’s healthy, he’ll be a welcome addition down the stretch.

“He showed what he can do when he started for us,” Francona said. “One day you think you’re sitting pretty with pitching, and three days later you look up and you’ve got no pitching.”

When the Red Sox signed him at the start of spring training, management knew what to expect from the former Cy Young Award winner. If he’s able to contribute effectively the last two months of the season, and into the playoffs, it will be money well spent.

Around the bases

Jacoby Ellsbury collected his first RBI since July 9, spanning 11 games. He has just two RBI in his last 18 games. … Dustin Pedroia was 0-for-5, just the fifth time he has gone without a hit in games in which he’s had at least five at-bats. The last time was May 30 in Baltimore. … Francisco Rodriguez has saved each of the last three victories by the Angels over the Sox and six of the last seven, dating back to Aug 19, 2007. Since the start of the 2005 season, Rodriguez has 10 saves against the Sox. Only Mariano Rivera, who gets to face them far more often as a division opponent, has more, with 17. … When first baseman Casey Kotchman homered, it was his third in his last four Fenway games. Lifetime, he’s hitting .340 (17-for-50) at Fenway.

smcadam@projo.com