Baseball notebook: Ellsbury’s injury recurs
Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury still has soreness in his left side and was out of the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
The Red Sox have sent Ellsbury for MRIs and he will be examined by team Dr. Thomas Gill.
“We’ve got to get to the bottom of this,” Francona said. “We don’t want to rush into putting him on the DL,” Francona said. “At the same time, he’s not ready to play yet.”
Ellsbury was injured in a game against Kansas City on April 11 when he collided with Adrian Beltre and was kneed in the ribs. He missed 37 games with a hairline fracture in four ribs on his left side before returning May 22 against Philadelphia. He played in three games and went 1 for 14 and hasn’t played since Monday.
Lohse out indefinitely
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Lohse is set to undergo surgery on his right forearm after being diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome.
Exertional compartment syndrome is an uncommon, exercise-induced neuromuscular condition that causes pain and swelling in legs or arms and can be difficult to identify. There is no timetable for Lohse’s return.
Unbridled Valverde
Jose Valverde points, pulsates and shouts.
The Detroit closer said he has been animated on the mound since he was 17, playing in the Dominican Summer League, and plans to let his emotions show for the rest of his career.
The Tigers simply hope he doesn’t change how he has pitched.
Valverde has blown only one of 12 save chances this year. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 19 appearances, the second-longest active streak in baseball and fourth best by a Tiger since 1952, according to STATS LLC.
Those are the results the Tigers were hoping for when they signed him to a $14 million, two-year contract.
When he has success, everyone knows it.
Valverde points to the sky and then from his left to right shoulder after each save. Following some outs, he contorts his body and screams things to no one in particular in an act that he insists is genuine each time.
“This is my game,” he said. “This is how I pitch.”