Baldelli, Byrd to Join PawSox This Week

by abournenesn

Aug 16, 2009

Injured Red Sox outfielder Rocco Baldelli will make a return to Pawtucket when the Cumberland, R.I., native plays in a rehab game sometime this week at McCoy Stadium.

Baldelli landed on the disabled list earlier this month after he fouled a ball off his ankle in batting practice. The 27-year-old is set to come off the DL on Friday and with Pawtucket facing a 10-game home stand starting Tuesday, a rehab stint in his home state could be just what the doctor ordered.

"We'll get him out for maybe a game or two this week to get him ready when he comes back," manager Terry Francona told projo.com. "I got [PawSox manager Ron Johnson] checking on potential pitching stuff. It'd be nice to have him face a lefty. That doesn't necessarily have to happen. We'll wait until RJ gets back to me."

Baldelli is hitting .261 with five homers and 17 RBIs for the Sox this season and .288 with three homers and 11 RBIs, against southpaws.

Veteran pitcher Paul Byrd, who was picked up by the Sox last week, will start for Pawtucket on Wednesday. The 39-year-old righty pitched his second minor-league game for the GCL Red Sox on Friday, going four innings and allowing six runs (two earned) with two strikeouts.

Byrd started eight games for the Sox last summer, going 4-2 with a 4.78 ERA. In 338 career games (250 starts), he has a 108-93 record and a 4.38 ERA.

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