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April 22, 2008
Josh Beckett, scheduled to start tonight's game against the Angels, was scratched from the assignment because of a stiff neck.
Beckett had been bothered by the flu bug/chest cold issue that has been running rampant through the Red Sox clubhouse. Manager Terry Francona said he didn't know whether the illness was a contributing factor to the stiff neck, but he and the medical staff didn't think it was worth the risk to send him to the mound tonight.
The Sox made a hasty call to Pawtucket and plucked right-hander David Pauley to take Beckett's place tonight. Pauley had been scratched from his scheduled start for Pawtucket on Sunday in case Clay Buchholz, also feeling the effects of the flu, wasn't able to make his start on Patriots Day. Buchholz did start, so Pauley is available tonight.
Pauley spent last night in a hotel in Boston. The Sox called him around 2 o'clock and told him he wouldn't be needed, but they called back at 4 o'clock and told him he'd be pitching tonight.
Francona said he didn't know how long Beckett would be out of action. It's possible he could be re-inserted into the rotation in a matter of days, or he could just miss a turn and pitch again in Tampa on Sunday, which would be his next scheduled start.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:19 PM | Permalink
