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Casey Sitting Out

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Sean Casey is sitting out the second game of his three-game suspension for his part in the June 5 brawl with the Rays.

Watching the first game wasn't easy, on two counts, for Casey, who dropped his appeal on Monday.

"It was weird because you feel alienated from the team," said Casey, the Sox' backup first baseman. "That's the way it will be for a couple of days."

Adding to Casey's restlessness was the fact that starting first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, had to leave the game before the start of the fifth because an errant throw during infield practice from Mike Lowell struck him under the eye.

That thrust rookie Brandon Moss into the game. Moss, normally an outfielder, was making his big-league debut at the position, and his inability to come up cleanly with a grounder in the seventh gave Arizona what proved to be the winning run.

"When that happened to Youk I wondered if I could re-appeal my appeal," said Casey with a laugh.

Casey could sympathize with Youkilis.

"I never got hit in the eye like that, but I've been hit on the lip," said Casey. "You know, it's between innings, you're not really grinding to go out and make that "pick" and boom, something like that happens."

Casey will return to the active roster on Friday, in Houston.

"You've got two more days and then out of jail," good-naturedly yelled Alex Cora to Casey in the clubhouse this afternoon. "Eating pizza, drinking beer and watching a game. That would be nice."

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 8:14 PM | Permalink