MINNEAPOLIS -- Outfielder Carl Crawford, who returned to Boston Tuesday to have his ailing left elbow examined again before returning to Fort Myers, is concerned enough that he will seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on the elbow in the coming days.
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made the announcement after the Red Sox' 11-2 win over the Twins Tuesday night.
Crawford's visit to Boston to have the elbow checked was his second in the last week. He came back to be examined two days before the home opener, and was scheduled for Tuesday's follow-up, too.
But apparently the elbow isn't healing as quickly as Crawford would like and he wants someone else to examine him as a pre-caution.
The Red Sox Tuesday night were working on setting up the second opinion, though the team didn't provide any further information on whom Crawford would see and when.
"He's feeling so good with his hitting and his wrist right now," said Valentine, "he doesn't want to have any setbacks. I think he's getting someone else to confirm that the elbow is what we think it is, which is just a little soreness. I'm not going to medically describe what it is."
Asked if the condition could be considered serious, Valentine said: "It's always serious, the way I look at it. It doesn't seem major, if that's what you mean."
Boston Red Sox
Crawford had been taking part in extended spring training games in Fort Myers, but hadn't been cleared to play the outfield or throw yet.
"His elbow is a situation that we really want to deal with sooner rather than later," Valentine had said earlier in the day, "and make sure that it's fine before he starts throwing."
Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed three runs over four innings in his first rehab start Monday night, will pitch again Saturday for Double A Portland.
"He threw a lot of strikes with his fastball," said Valentine. "He felt real good. The first home run (he allowed) was wind-blown; the next one was legit. He felt good when it was all over and is ready to progress."
Valentine said Matsuzaka threw some secondary pitches, but he was mostly focused on working on his fastball command.
Matsuzaka will be allowed to get up to 80 or so pitches in his next rehab outing.