BOSTONThe Red Sox have six games remaining against the Orioles, the team that helped to knock the Sox out of the playoffs last season. But with the Os a game behind the Yankees in the American League East and tied with the As for the wild card lead, manager Bobby Valentine is not interested in playing spoiler.
I dont get a lot of glee out of other peoples misery, Valentine said. But I want our team to play as well as they can in front of our fans. This is our last homestand and you know theyve given everything theyve got every time theyve gone out on the field. Guys with a lot of pride and well try to do our best.
Valentine said he has no plans to shut down any other starters other than skipping Matsuzaka, who is expected to make one more start this season.
As CSNNE.com reported on Thursday, the Sox called up right-handers Zach Stewart and Pedro Beato and infielder Danny Valencia Friday. Stewart is expected to make a start next week, in place of the struggling Daisuke Matsuzaka. Beato and Valencia will be used as needed, Valentine said.
Pawtucket manager Arnie Beyeler and hitting coach Rich Sauveur were also brought up to help out the major league staff for the rest of the season.
Really good guys, really great baseball men who both came off a season with a lot of the guys on our team playing for them on and off and winning a championship, Valentine said. Im going to use them as much as I can to help define what Im looking at as often as possible. Theyre really good guys. I really enjoyed being with them in the spring and Im sure Ill enjoy having them here.
Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is not in the starting lineup. He was not in the starting lineup Thursday in Tampa Bay, but went in to replace Pedro Ciriaco who was making his first start there with the team wanting to give him a test in center field. On Friday though, Ellsbury was out with an undisclosed ailment.
Boston Red Sox
He has a little situation that were making sure that its nothing more than a little situation, Valentine said. He really shouldnt have played yesterday.
Im not even sure how to define it so Im not going to try to.
Scott Podsednik is in center field batting second, with Ciriaco playing third and leading off.