Red Sox notes: Dlugach dislocates left shoulder

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By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Brent Dlugach was a distinct longshot to make the Red Sox 25-man roster at the start of the season. Now, whatever slim hope he had is gone, too.

Dlugach, a utility infielder, suffered a dislocated left shoulder when he charged a pop-up bunt in the fifth inning Tuesday and his momentum sent him to the ground, where he landed on the shoulder.

He left the field holding the shoulder in place and was examined soon after by a member of the Minnesota Twins' medical staff.

"You could tell right away that he was injured," said Terry Francona after the Red Sox blanked the Twins, 5-0. "We feel bad. The kid was coming in, trying to show what he can do. He dove on a bunt, made a real nice play. We're going to have to some follow-up to see the severity of it.''

Dlugach was to undergo a scan of the shoulder Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning.

The injury was the culmination of a rough week for the infielder. He was drilled in the backside during live batting practice Sunday before committing two errors and hitting into two double plays in Monday's win before the injury struck Tuesday.

Jonathan Papelbon looked sharp in his Grapefruit League debut, tossing a scoreless 1-2-3 fifth inning in the Red Sox' 2-0 win over Minnesota.

"I was pleased,'' said Papelbon. "It's something that I've taken from the end of the season last year when I was throwing the ball really well and I've been able to take that into this spring. So, I was pleased.''

Two weeks ago, Papelbon said he was already locked into his proper delivery, a rare occurence for him this early in spring.

"I felt as locked in as I'm probably going to get all spring,'' he said, "and hopefully, I'll be able to continue that throughout the spring and into the season.''

After missing most of the second half of last season following surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, Mike Cameron has had a blistering start this spring. He had a hit and a stolen base Sunday night against the Twins and added two hits in three plate appearances Tuesday.

"Right now,'' said Cameron, "it just feels good to go out and work on baseball things without having to overload the body with so much protection. Now I just go and get the body warmed up and go and play. The biggest thing is the body is starting to respond to certain things and I feel a litle bit stronger.''

"It's nice to see him not having to think before he runs,'' said Francona. "He looks good.''

Jon Lester's early spring starts have been about as efficient as his starts in April most years, which is to say, not very.

But Lester tossed two shutout innings Tuesday in his first spring start and pronounced himself satisfied with the outing.

"I was just glad to get the first one done and over with,'' Lester said. "The first one is always hard - getting in front of a crowd, different hitters . . . so it's good it's over with."

Lefty reliever Dennys Reyes faced hitters on a back field for the first time Tuesday morning and will have another outing Thursday before seeing game action sometime this weekend.

Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam

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