--RHP Josh Beckett was relieved to hear that the ligaments in his right elbow are structurally sound after meeting with Dr. James Andrews on Friday afternoon in his Florida offices. Beckett underwent an arthrogram procedure that revealed no ligament damage in Beckett's golden arm, and the 28-year-old ace is now penciled to start next Friday against the Texas Rangers. Despite the positive news, Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 18, with the inflammation in his right elbow. While Beckett seems to be on tap for the start next week, the Sox still voiced a willingness to push him back if encounters any arm problems along the way.
--RHP Michael Bowden has been called up to make his Major League debut at Fenway Park on Saturday night. The 21-year-old pitching prospect -- the top arm still in Boston's minor league organization -- has appeared in seven games for Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) and is 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA with 29 strikeouts and five walks in 40 innings pitched. The young right-hander was dominant at the Class AA level earlier this season, and will bring a low-90's fastball, curveball and changeup to the mound on Saturday. --1B Sean Casey had his sore neck examined by a doctor and then was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck strain. Casey hadn't played in a game since Aug. 19 due to the sore neck, but had voiced optimism in recent days that it was starting to feel better. The move to the DL is retroactive to Aug. 20 and the lefty swinging first baseman will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 2.
--2B Dustin Pedroia scored three runs in Boston's Friday night victory and in doing so broke a Sox franchise record for runs scored by a second baseman with 104 on the season. The previous Sox record had been set by former 2B Bobby Doerr in 1950 when he scored 103 runs for the Sox. In addition to the little piece of Sox history, Pedroia also stole a pair of bases and his 14 steals on the season are the most for a Sox second baseman since Jose Offerman swiped 19 in 1999.
--C David Ross had his contract purchased from Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) on Friday afternoon and replaced RHP Josh Beckett on Boston's 25-man roster. Ross was given uniform No. 28 by the Sox after hitting .250 with a homer and three RBIs in six games played for the PawSox. Ross was signed by the Sox as a free agent on Aug. 22 after he had been designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds. Ross was hitting .231 with three homers and 13 RBIs for the Reds and will act as Boston's third catcher for the remainder of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Seasons that Jason Varitek has hit 10 or more home runs for the Sox during his career, a franchise record for Sox catchers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Pedroia is always going to be like a 16-or 17-year old because he's little and he's got a baby face, but he just rakes. Dude, he comes up with some lines and you'll be laughing. He hit a ball off the Green Monster once and he came back to the dugout and said to me 'Hey Big Punish. You know it's gonna rain, right?' and I was like 'Why?' He goes, 'Didn't you just see the lightning show?' " -- DH David Ortiz talking to the "Hacks with Haggs" blog about Dustin Pedroia.
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