--3B Mike Lowell took live batting practice for the first time on Monday afternoon and felt good after taking roughly 35 batting practice swings along with 35 swings in the cage. The third baseman has been on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique since Aug. 14, and is aiming to take several more round of batting practice before returning to the Sox fold. If all goes according to plan, Lowell, who his hitting .270 with 14 home runs and 67 RBIs, hopes to return to the lineup in time for next weekend's series against the Rangers in Texas.
--RHP Josh Beckett is scheduled to start Friday night against the Rangers after nearly three weeks of inactivity due to right elbow troubles. The 28-year-old righty will have both a long toss session on Tuesday and a side session on Wednesday before he is cleared for a return to the mound. Beckett has been erratic this season with an 11-9 record and a 4.34 ERA, but Sox officials are hoping that three weeks of rest will leave the righty ready for a strong finish. "Health-wise, I think we think he's ready to go," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He missed two weeks. I guess we always reserve the right to make a change. I don't anticipate that happening. I think he's revved up about it and I think all systems are fine to go."
--RHP Bartolo Colon had one of his best minor league outings to date on Monday afternoon when he pitched six innings of one-run ball. The 35-year-old right-hander, who may have one more start in Class AAA Pawtucket (R.I.) before he returns to Boston, allowed four hits and one run while walking two and striking out two. Colon threw 66 pitches over his six innings of work, and is still likely to make a start during Boston's doubleheader with Toronto on Sept. 13. The 5-foot-11, 245-pounder is 4-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six starts for the Sox this season, but hasn't made a start since June 16.
--C Jason Varitek led off the bottom of the second inning Monday night with his 157th career home run while catching with the Red Sox, which tied Carlton Fisk for the franchise record for backstops. The blast was Varitek's fourth home run since Aug. 1 and has signified a sea change for the team captain's performance at the plate -- as he has now seemingly returned offensively from the horrendous two-month slump in June and July.
--OF J.D. Drew was eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, but Sox manager Terry Francona indicated that his back won't quite be ready to come off the injured list. The right fielder took some swings within the indoor batting cages on Monday afternoon, which signified a step-up in baseball activities for the outfielder. OF Mark Kotsay and OF Coco Crisp have both filled in ably in Drew's absence, and may continue to do so -- as Drew's return doesn't appear to be imminent.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2.21 -- the ERA of RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka in five starts this season against the likely playoff offenses in Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Chicago and Los Angeles.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We put it off because everybody is scared at some point, both me and the organization. I just wanted to -- and not that I think Dr. Andrews is a clown, because there's no one that I respect more -- but I just wanted to hear it from the clown's mouth, as the saying goes." -- RHP Josh Beckett, talking about the relief after getting a clean medical report on his right elbow from Dr. James Andrews.
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