Josh Beckett won�t work under any pitch limits when he returns from the disabled list tonight, but manager Terry Francona said he�ll be cautious with him.
Beckett had his streak of victories in consecutive starts to start the season halted when he had to come out after four innings after tearing skin on the tip of the middle finger of his pitching hand on May 13.
It wasn�t the blister problem that had landed Beckett on the disabled list six times while he was with Florida, but it was at least a cousin to that condition.
Francona said Beckett could have pitched last week and avoided a trip to the DL, but the club wanted to take a cautious approach to make sure the finger was completely healed before putting him back on the mound. It will be interesting to see if Beckett shows any hesitancy to use his curveball, since he suffered his latest injury throwing that pitch.
Manny Delcarmen, who appeared in just one game since being recalled on May 21, was optioned to Pawtucket after last night�s game to make room for Beckett.
David Ortiz sat out his second straight game with sore hamstrings.
The problem apparently started with illness before a doubleheader May 17 against Detroit, then somehow morphed into a hamstring problem.
Ortiz may be back in the lineup tonight � or not.
As with Beckett, the club is being careful with Ortiz, trying to keep him healthy for the whole season. Having a double-digit lead in the standings makes that kind of decision easy, but Francona said the club would do the same thing no matter what the circumstance.
With Ortiz out, Wily Mo Pe�a played left field and Manny Ram�rez was the DH. Kevin Youkilis batted in Ortiz�s third spot.
Tonight�s Pawtucket-Columbus game will have a major league feel with Jon Lester starting and Mike Timlin expected to pitch an inning of relief.
Lester will be limited to 80-85 pitches as he rehabs from cramping in his forearm. When Lester gets to 100 pitches, the club will have to figure out what to do next.
Timlin, who is on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, made his second rehab appearance with Pawtucket on Sunday, and it didn�t go well. He was supposed to pitch a complete inning, but was yanked with two outs as he neared his pitch count of 20. He gave up two hits, two runs and a walk.
Timlin, who declined to speak with reporters before yesterday�s game, also will pitch an inning for Pawtucket on Thursday.
The Sox have matched a 1904 club record when they won their 34th straight game when scoring five runs or more. � Dustin Pedroia was on base four times and had a pair of hits. He�s riding a career-best, eight-game hitting streak, batting .444 during the run. His average is now up to .298. Youkilis insists that he�s a faster base runner, though. .� The Sox observed the death of New England Patriots defensive lineman Marquise Hill with a moment of silence.