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Crisp, Kielty, on the mend, among those off for Japan

07:19 AM EDT on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

By JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

Coco Crisp’s performance in an intrasquad game yesterday was enough to earn him a plane ride to Japan.

AP / Charles Krupa

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Red Sox will leave for Japan later today with outfielders Coco Crisp and Bobby Kielty in tow.

Crisp (groin) and Kielty (calf) have both been hampered by injuries for much of spring training, leaving their availability for the 12-day, three-country trip with the rest of the team questionable. Along with shortstop Julio Lugo (back), all three participated in intrasquad games yesterday morning at the minor-league complex.

Crisp went 1-for-4 with a home run, Kielty went 1-for-5 and Lugo went 1-for-4. Lugo, who is much further along in his rehab, also will accompany the team to Japan. Crisp was the biggest question, but he said yesterday he’s looking forward to the trip.

“Coco has worked his fanny off,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “We don’t think he’s ready to play. I don’t think he feels like that either. Saying that, he’s done a great job to get to this point where we can take him with us and he can keep doing his baseball activities. There’s actually a chance he might be active, but that’s to be determined.”

Crisp and Kielty will play in the two exhibition games in Japan and, depending how they feel, could be activated.

The Red Sox also announced the rest of their 30-man roster yesterday: Pitchers — David Aardsma, Clay Buchholz, Bryan Corey, Manny Delcarmen, Jon Lester, Javier Lopez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Hideki Okajima, Jonathan Papelbon, Kyle Snyder, Julian Tavarez, Mike Timlin, Tim Wakefield. Catchers — Dusty Brown, Kevin Cash, Jason Varitek. Infielders — Sean Casey, Alex Cora, Mike Lowell, Jed Lowrie, Lugo, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis. Outfielders — Crisp, J.D. Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kielty, Brandon Moss, Manny Ramirez.

Curt Schilling will also make the trip even though he’s on the 60-day DL.

jmcdonal@projo.com

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