ESPN

CHICAGO -- Jose Iglesias has played 334 games in professional baseball since defecting from Cuba, including 41 in the big leagues.

Tuesday afternoon in Pawtucket, the 23-year-old Iglesias played his first-ever game at third base, which improbably could be his ticket back to the big leagues.

No, the Sox are not planning to convert Iglesias to third baseman. If they do so with any of their shortstop prospects, it would be Xander Bogaerts, who has the build and power to play a corner position. But as Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reported on Monday, the PawSox began having Iglesias taking groundballs at second -- a position he told reporters he has played in Cuba -- and at third, an entirely new position for him.

The idea, Red Sox manager John Farrell said here Tuesday, is to increase Iglesias' versatility in the event they need to call up a backup infielder. Earlier this season, when there was some question as to whether third baseman Will Middlebrooks would be able to play with sore ribs, infielder Brock Holt was on standby in case the Sox needed to summon another player.

"Not unlike other guys that have come to the big leagues, Jed Lowrie, for example, is another guy we exposed to multiple positions, we're looking to do the same with Jose right now," Farrell said. "In the event something happens to someone, prepare the best we can if he comes to us in a role we might call on his versatility.

"We know he can play shortstop. If we get him consecutive days, multiple days at second or third [we'll do so]," he said.

The Red Sox have a veteran infielder who can play second, third and short in Drew Sutton, but he was on the disabled list earlier this month with Pawtucket after straining a muscle in his side. Iglesias would give them another option.

Iglesias made an error at third Tuesday. He also singled and walked after hitting a home run on Monday.

He is batting .209 overall.

* Daniel Bard is throwing only side sessions for Double-A Portland for the time being, Farrell said. No time has been set for him to return to game action, but he remains on the active roster.

* David Ross, who continues his recovery from concussive symptoms, will be sent on a brief rehab assignment before the end of the week, Farrell said.

* Shane Victorino remains day to day with a left hamstring strain. The Sox are holding off on any move to the DL.

CHICAGO -- The Boston Red Sox took a soaking in any number of ways Tuesday night.

Colombian left-hander Jose Quintana held them without a hit until David Ortiz's broken-bat single with one out in the seventh.

The skies opened up and poured down on U.S. Cellular Field for the final two innings.

Jeff Keppinger spoiled an otherwise good night by Felix Doubront with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Alex Rios doubled home a run in the eighth, as for the second straight game the opportunistic White Sox scored all of their runs after two were out.

And the White Sox made it two straight wins over the Red Sox with a 3-1 win in which the Sox loaded the bases in the seventh and failed to score, and were given a gift run on an error by Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez in the eighth, only to have Ortiz hit into an inning-ending double play.

Small comfort for the Sox? Jacoby Ellsbury ended an 0-for-10 skid with a ground-ball single in the eighth.

Doubront was sharp, allowing just five hits in six innings, three coming with two out in the fifth.

On the downside, Dustin Pedroia's 11-game hitting streak came to an end. Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew whiffed against Jesse Crain with the bases loaded in the seventh.

CHICAGO -- If you've been watching, you don't need an explanation for why Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said dropping Jacoby Ellsbury from the leadoff spot in the order has been considered.

"Consider it yes, but we're sticking with him," Farrell said Tuesday. "Giving him the opportunity to get out of the situation he is in now. But I can say this: Whether he's hitting first or hitting somewhere else in the lineup, there are still things we have to address, and he has to address."

But we'll enlighten you a little further with this breakdown of his plate appearances in the six games in which he has played on this trip (he sat out Sunday).

Ellsbury has grounded out a dozen times, including four times to second base in Monday night's 6-4 loss. He has popped up twice, struck out twice, flied out four times and lined out once. He has drawn three walks, been hit by a pitch once. And he has three singles -- a ground ball up the middle, an infield hit to short, and a line single to center.

Ellsbury came into Tuesday night's game with a slash line of .241/.303/.335/.638. His OPS of .638 ranks 26th among major league leadoff hitters with enough at-bats to qualify. He went 1 for 3 with a walk on Tuesday.

Among big league hitters with at least 75 plate appearances in May, Ellsbury ranked last with a .179 batting average heading into Tuesday. He is third from last this month in on-base percentage (.256), second from last in slugging percentage (.218). He has two extra-base hits -- a double and triple -- in 81 at-bats this month. He has gone 165 at-bats since his last home run, which came April 7 in Toronto, one of six Sox hits that day. That's the longest homerless drought by far on the ballclub.

Ellsbury has had little success this season when he has pulled the ball. He's 6-for-41 (.146) when hits to the right side. In his breakout season, 2011, he batted .462 (72-for-156) when he pulled the ball.

Since returning from his shoulder injury last July 12 and through Monday, Ellsbury had played in 111 games, and has had 468 at-bats, close to a full season for many players, and certainly not a small sample size. Even allowing for the time needed to come back from such a long layoff, Ellsbury's performance over that span has been a disappointing .263/.309/.361/.670. That OPS is 258 percentage points below the .928 he posted in his career year, 2011, and 100 percentage points below the .770 he posted in 2009, which may be a more accurate barometer of his ability.

"It comes down to timing," Farrell said Tuesday afternoon. "Timing at the plate. Whether it's four ground balls to second base or three line drives to third base. He's in a situation where he's working to do what he can to get out of this, and we're working there with him. This isn't a matter of effort, it's a matter of maybe being a little more free of mind and letting that natural ability take over."

An obvious potential burden mentally is the fact that Ellsbury is in his walk year, and with free agency looming, he recognizes that a prolonged slump could cost him millions in the future.

"To say that's the sole reason, no, I wouldn't say that's the issue that he's dealing with right now," Farrell said. "I also know that he's human, and understands where he's at in his career and what's ahead of him. But the point we keep trying to make is the routine of today is the most important point and that's the focal point.

"What's going to take place throughout the remainder of the season and into the offseason, time will indicate that and it will be addressed at the appropriate time. So I can't say pending free agency is the cause of his inconsistency at the plate."

Farrell might have been moved to drop Ellsbury in the lineup Tuesday night, but couldn't because of the unavailability of Shane Victorino, who is day-to-day with a tight left hamstring.

"We're trying to keep some element of speed at the top of the order," he said. "But that's not the overriding thing. It's still where Jake has hit most of his career. With Shane out of the lineup, yeah we'd like that blend of speed and on-base ability, even though the on-base ability right now has been less so."

The Sox have reason to be concerned about Ellsbury's performance, though some perspective is required. Even with Ellsbury slumping, the Sox are still second in the majors with a .342 OBP.

And on this date in 2009, some folks were writing David Ortiz's professional obituary, because he was batting .211 with one home run and a .642 OPS. After that point, Ortiz hit 27 home runs and posted an .848 OPS over the remainder of the season.

It's always risky to play amateur psychologist. Slumps, at least most of them, defy explanation. The same may hold true for Ellsbury's.

UPDATE: Ellsbury broke an 0-for-10 skid with an eighth-inning single up the middle in Boston's 3-1 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday night. He finished 1-for-3 with a walk, raising his average to .242.

After dazzling in his first two Grapefruit League starts in spring training, Rubby De La Rosa became one of the most talked-about young players in Red Sox Nation. After all, it was his first time pitching in a Red Sox uniform after being sent over from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason to complete the August 2012 megatrade, and he looked dominant while lighting up radar guns with a fastball that grazes triple digits.

However, after those first two outings, the reality set in that he still had work to do in developing as a pitcher and returning to form following Tommy John surgery in August 2011. De La Rosa allowed seven earned runs in his next two Grapefruit League outings over 2 2/3 innings, and was optioned back to minor league camp soon thereafter.

He headed north with the Pawtucket Red Sox to begin the season, and the same problems he experienced late in major league camp seemed to carry over early on for him there. In his first three starts with the team, De La Rosa posted an ERA of 13.50 over 6 2/3 innings to go along with seven strikeouts versus six walks.

His fourth start of the season was a turning point, though, and since then he has not allowed an earned run in 18 innings, while striking out 22 and walking eight.

"I think he got beat up a couple outings, and I think that kind of humbled him a little bit," Pawtucket manager Gary DiSarcina said. "He realized -- talking to [pitching coach] Rich [Sauveur] too, Rich has been on him on a daily basis about pitching -- I just think his demeanor has changed over the last [five] outings."

Since he is still working back from Tommy John surgery and has maxed out at 110 1/3 innings pitched in a past season, the organization has taken a cautious approach and kept him on a strict pitch count so far this season. In his first six starts of the season he was allowed to throw around 50-55 pitches, but in his past two that limit has been upped to 70-75 per game. The manager thought the expanded workload may be relieving some pressure on the 24-year-old right-hander.

"He kind of sees the light at the end of the tunnel as far as cutting him loose a little more with each positive outing he has," DiSarcina said. "He gets to go out there a little bit longer. He wants to get a win. All these guys want to get wins, and when you're on a pitch count and limit, it's tough to feel the motivation to go out there and go for the win. We're all competitors."

Sauveur had a slightly different explanation for his turnaround, however.

"To be honest with you, I think a talk with myself and I think talking with Pedro Martinez has helped him a lot," his pitching coach said. "He needed to focus [on] what his job was out there -- not worry about the pitch count, not worry about innings, just worry about what his goal is. And every day his goal is to pitch scoreless innings, and he's been doing that, he's been doing a great job [recently]."

Back in De La Rosa's home country of the Dominican Republic, his grandmother was Martinez's nanny, so they share a natural connection. He said they have a strong relationship that has helped him a lot already this season.

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- One potential obstacle to Clay Buchholz's remaining undefeated when he takes the mound Wednesday was removed when the White Sox announced that ace left-hander Chris Sale has been scratched because of what the team called a mild case of tendinitis.

Instead of facing Sale, Buchholz (6-0) is scheduled to oppose left-hander Hector Santiago, who didn't make it out of the fourth inning against the Angels in his last start.

One of the keys to Buchholz's success this season has been the effectiveness of his cutter, demonstrated here by numbers provided by Michael Bonzagni of ESPN Stats & Information.

In his last start Saturday night, in which he allowed two runs in seven innings in Minnesota and was not involved in the decision, Buchholz threw his cutter 21 times. Twins hitters went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk in at-bats ending with the cutter.

Bonzagni compared Buchholz's cutter this season with last and noted a drop in average velocity of 1.5 miles per hour, from 89.3 to 87.8 mph. The drop in velocity, however, was accompanied by a significant change in the pitch's horizontal movement, from 1.8 inches last season to 3.4 inches this season. That change has resulted in a huge difference in opposing hitters' slash lines against the pitch. Last season, they batted .248 with a slugging percentage of .323. This season, it's a .135 average, with a .154 slugging percentage. The strikeout percentage on the pitch also has risen, from 13.8 percent last season to 17.2.

I presented Bonzagni's numbers to Buchholz, and he acknowledged that he is basically throwing two different cutters this season. “I throw one that's a get-me-over pitch that I throw a little harder," he said, “and the other is more of a put-away pitch, which I take something off. It's almost like having two different pitches. It's a matter of changing the grip and how much pressure I apply to the ball with my fingertips."

According to Inside Edge, Buchholz has allowed only two well-hit balls in 52 at-bats ending with his cutter (.038 well-hit average). Last season, he allowed 25 well-hit balls in 133 at-bats ending with his cutter (.188 well-hit average).

“I think it's more feel on Clay's part," manager John Farrell said. “When you reduce the velocity, you're probably going to increase the break. Those go hand in hand. So, this is more about Clay getting a better feel for his pitch mix and what he's determined to be most effective in the four-pitch mix that provides more definition in keeping his fastball and cutter from blending into each other.

"I think the swing and miss and reaction of the hitters tells you more than anything. And it's clear that he's got very good stuff."

CHICAGO -- Two months into what is supposed to be a three-year tour of duty in Boston, the last thing Shane Victorino wants is to become known as the Limpin’ Hawaiian.

But Victorino, who has been tormented by back problems that caused him to miss seven games altogether and come out of several others early, was forced to leave Monday night’s game when he felt his left hamstring grab in the sixth inning while running the bases.

Victorino had just beaten out an infield hit with two out in the sixth and was sprinting from first to third on Dustin Pedroia’s drive to center field that was caught on the track when he felt the muscle grab.

“I tried to keep running,’’ he said, “but I didn’t have the strength I usually have there.’’

Victorino actually returned to his position in right field at the end of the at-bat, but gave in to prudence, trotting back into the dugout.

Daniel Nava finished the game in right field, while Jonny Gomes took over for Nava in left.

“Frustrating,’’ Victorino said. “I want answers why. I don’t know if it’s all connected, but I just want answers.’’

Manager John Farrell said Victorino is day to day. Victorino said he’d have to wait and see how he feels before deciding whether to give it a go Tuesday night. With leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury in a prolonged slump (3-for-24 on the current road trip, including four ground balls to second base Monday), the Sox can ill afford to lose Victorino at the top of the order.

CHICAGO -- Jon Lester and the Red Sox can live with this pace, one loss every 10 starts.

The distinction of being undefeated in the Red Sox rotation now rests exclusively with Clay Buchholz, who will be putting his 6-0 record on the line Wednesday against the same White Sox team that handed Lester his first loss Monday night, 6-4, on a summery, 86-degree night in Chicago.

This is a city that has held its share of disappointments for Lester. It was here in 2010 that Lester came down to his last start of the season needing a win to reach 20 for the season, still the gold standard for big-league pitchers.

Instead, Paul Konerko hit a grand slam and the White Sox chased Lester in the fifth after scoring eight runs.

On Monday night, it was another White Sox strongman, Adam Dunn, who put the squeeze to Lester, following a two-out single by Alex Rios and a walk to Konerko with a towering three-run home run in the first inning, sending the White Sox on their way to victory.

Overall, Lester has a 5.43 ERA in 10 career starts against the White Sox, his highest against any American League team, which is something he can’t even begin to explain. The last thing he wants to do is allow the White Sox to get in his head.

“I’m not going to shy away from me,’’ he said. “They want us to overthink things.’’

Lester had allowed just one first-inning run in his first nine starts. Dunn’s home run was only the second he has allowed this season to a left-handed hitter, and the first he has allowed with two outs in an inning.

The White Sox did all their damage with two outs, tacking on two runs on three consecutive two-out doubles in the second, the runs knocked in by Alejandro de Aza and Alexei Ramirez, and an unearned run in the fifth, an RBI single by Dayan Viciedo bringing home Ramirez, who had reached on an error by Will Middlebrooks.

The Red Sox made a game of it, getting two runs back on Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s fifth home run of the season, which came off White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod in the third, and a two-run double by Middlebrooks in the seventh. They led off each of the last four innings with base hits, and ended four of the last five innings with fly balls that were caught on the warning track.

“I know no matter whether I give up 10 runs or no runs, these guys are going to battle every at-bat,’’ Lester said. “You know that. You’ll never hear anyone in this clubhouse question that. It’s just like they expect me after the first inning to continue to battle, after the second, try not to let the bullpen go in too early.’’

Lester lasted six innings, but was left to lament the first. Specifically, the walk to Konerko, and the 2-and-0 cutter he threw to Dunn that landed 391 feet later in the right-field seats.

“I’ve got to do a better job with Paulie there, just not walking him, giving him a chance to bat in that inning,’’ Lester said. “I didn’t do a good job there. I ended up leaving a guy that’s got stupid pop a cutter down the middle, and he did with it what he’s supposed to.’’

Lester rejected the suggestion that given Konerko’s track record against him (.435 average, 3 home runs), it made sense to pitch around him, especially with first base open, and take his chances with the left-handed hitting Dunn.

“It was only the first inning,’’ he said of going after Konerko. “I felt like I was throwing pretty well downhill, but for whatever reason, I got out of sync with him, left some balls off the plate.

“Really the guy right now swinging the bat is Dunn. That’s the one you have to be be careful with. I was kind of trying to stay away, maybe get him to fly to left, but just left a cutter middle, middle up. I threw him the same pitch later in the game and he popped it up.’’

Dunn came into the game batting just .169, but his home run was his fifth in the last seven games, and 11th overall.

CHICAGO -- Jon Lester’s teammates would not let him go down to defeat without putting up a fight.

Down 5-0 after two innings, Lester having served up a three-run home run to White Sox strongman Adam Dunn in the first and three two-out doubles that produced two more runs in the second, the Red Sox put the leadoff man on base in each of the last four innings and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

But White Sox closer Addison Reed, after being greeted with a single by Mike Napoli to start the ninth, allowed the Sox to draw no closer, although not without an anxiety-producing moment for Chicago manager Robin Ventura. Reed struck out Daniel Nava, then watched as Will Middlebrooks launched a drive that died on the warning track in the center. First baseman Paul Konerko then made a sprawling stop of Stephen Drew’s ground ball and flipped to Reed to end it.

Reed was credited with his 15th save of the season.

Lester lost for the first time in 10 starts as he was unable to become the first Sox left-hander to open a season 7-0 since Rogelio Moret won his first 10 decisions in 1973. All six runs he allowed came after two were out.

Ells has no pull: Jacoby Ellsbury’s miserable trip continued, as he grounded to second base on all four of his plate appearances, once for a double play. Ellsbury is batting just .125 (3-for-24) on this road trip, and this is a ballpark in which he traditionally hits well. He came into the game batting .325 in the Cell.

Ellsbury has had little success this season when he has pulled the ball. He’s 6-for-41 (.146) when he pulls to the right side. In his breakout season, 2011, he batted .462 (72-for-156) when he pulled the ball.

Victorino departs early: After beating out an infield single in the sixth, Shane Victorino returned to his position in the bottom of the inning but decided he could not go on. The Red Sox announced during the game that Victorino had tightness in his left hamstring. Nava moved from left to right, with Jonny Gomes finishing the game in left.

Pedroia extends streak: Dustin Pedroia’s infield single in the fourth extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He went 1-for-4 Monday night and is batting .449 (22-for-49) during the streak.

Double the pleasure for Will: Middlebrooks hit his 12th double Monday night, driving in two runs, giving him seven RBIs in eight games on the trip. But the third baseman also was charged with an error and was unable to glove two balls down the line that went for doubles.

Drew back: Shortstop Stephen Drew was back after being kept out of two games with back stiffness and had a busy night afield, handling nine chances. He walked and scored a run, flied out to the track in left and was called out on strikes.

CHICAGO -- Red Sox catcher David Ross, who hasn't played since May 12, when he was struck in the catcher's mask twice by foul balls and sustained a concussion, has passed the ImPACT concussion testing, a necessary step to return to playing, manager John Farrell said Monday.

"The symptoms have resolved,'' Farrell said. "He threw today, rode the bike for 30 minutes. There were no repeat of symptoms, so he's turned the corner. We look to increase the intensity to work tomorrow.''

Ross is eligible to be activated and may be ready to play by Thursday, when the team returns to Boston. Farrell said the club has yet to decide whether Ross would benefit from a short rehab stint before being activated.

BOSTON -- Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona is setting himself up for a spirited return to Boston this week. His Cleveland Indians are in first place in the AL Central, 2½ games ahead of Detroit, where the Indians visit for two games prior to arriving in Boston for a four-game set beginning Thursday night.

The Indians have won five in a row, including three walk-offs in the span of four games against the Seattle Mariners, who managed to lose, 10-8, Monday afternoon despite hitting home runs in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings.

Sox manager John Farrell and Francona are close friends, having worked together in both Cleveland and Boston, where Farrell was Francona’s pitching coach for four seasons. Asked if he’d heard from Tito lately, Farrell said no. “He’s too busy winning,’’ Farrell said.

Yes, Farrell said, he’s been paying attention.

“I think everybody in baseball is watching,’’ he said. “They’ve got a very good baseball team, they’re playing with a heck of a lot of confidence, they walk a win off seemingly every day. We’ve got our work to take care of in this series [in Chicago] but this weekend will be a strong challenge for us.’’

CHICAGO -- Red Sox reliever Andrew Bailey, who was activated Monday after being out since April 28 with biceps tendinitis, said Monday he “feels as good today as I did day one” and looks forward to returning to closing for the Sox.

Bailey said he first experienced discomfort April 29, the day after facing the Astros in Fenway Park, and the Sox elected to shut him down at that time. He made a rehab appearance for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, giving up a couple of hits, including a home run, while striking out two.

“My fastball was there, curveball, slider, everything’s good,’’ he said. “To me, I’m ready to go.’’

Manager John Farrell plans to slide Bailey right back into the closer’s role, but has said he may protect Bailey from back-to-back usage, at least early on. Bailey said he doesn’t foresee pitching consecutive days being an issue.

Bailey returns with a 1-0 record, five saves and a 1.46 ERA in 13 appearances. To make room for him on the roster, the Sox optioned Jose De La Torre to Pawtucket.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Through his first three years in Boston, it would have been tough to classify John Lackey as anything other than a disappointment. The right-hander, who signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the team before the 2010 season, had a 4.40 ERA in his first season -- which ballooned to 6.01 in 2011 as he faltered during the Red Sox's late-season collapse -- and he missed all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery.

It's been difficult at times to tell whether Lackey's fourth season in Boston will be the one where he finally delivers a solid return on the Red Sox's significant investment. But in a year that's been all about resurgence for the Red Sox, Lackey has delivered some hints that he might be part of a turnaround.

One of those hints came on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins, as Lackey took a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed just one hit through six innings. A three-hour rain delay truncated Lackey's outing to 84 pitches, but for the third time in five starts, the big right-hander allowed only one earned run.

If he can put together more outings like the one he had on Sunday, 2013 might finally be the year Lackey puts it all together for the Red Sox.

"I thought John was very crisp. He was powerful," manager John Farrell said. "I thought he threw some good cutters, particularly to their left-handed hitters to get down underneath their swings. (He was) consistent with the stuff he had two starts ago when he faced Minnesota, and really, the stuff he had (last Tuesday in) Tampa. He cruised through the first three, four innings with no men on base. Even when he did get in the one inning where the one guy gets on base, I thought he made a quality pitch. Overall, just a solid performance for him."

Lackey is now 2-4 for the season, but he lowered his ERA to 3.31 on Sunday. The Red Sox are 27-17 in part because of brilliant starts from Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, but for the $15.25 million they're paying Lackey this season, they expect him to be at least a solid No. 3 starter.

He has shown signs of that this season, striking out 32 batters in 32 2/3 innings. His average of 8.81 strikeouts per nine innings is currently the best mark of his career, and the only time he's had a rate over eight strikeouts per nine innings came in 2005, when he broke out at age 26 with a 14-5 season for the Angels.

Whether Lackey has the stuff to keep missing bats at age 34, and a year removed from Tommy John surgery, remains to be seen. But the right-hander was encouraged by the fact that he was able to be so effective on a day where he didn't feel great.

A modest 50 of Lackey's 84 pitches went for strikes, but he got nine ground-outs and managed not to walk anyone.

"I was getting ahead in the count. That was probably the biggest thing," Lackey said. "Honestly, I felt better the last couple times than I did today. I warmed up terrible today, but I found some location when the game started."

Lackey is under contract through next season, and the Red Sox have a $500,000 vesting option for 2015, which was reduced to the league minimum after Lackey's Tommy John surgery last season. If he can maintain some consistency, he could be a reliable pitcher for the Red Sox this year and next year, and a bargain in 2015.

"The record doesn't indicate how well he's pitched," Farrell said. "Now, some of that was self-induced two starts ago. But I think he's shown better power, better quality of repertoire, than the win-loss and ERA might indicate. Most importantly, he continues to come out of every start feeling great, physically. His work in between has been consistent, and there's no reason that type of performance shouldn't continue."

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Red Sox left Minnesota much later than they had planned on Sunday afternoon. But they left with the sweep they were looking for.

John Lackey was perfect through four innings, allowed one hit through six, and after a three-hour rain delay cut the right-hander's day short, the Red Sox bullpen fended off a late Twins rally to secure a 5-1 victory on Sunday at Target Field.

It gave the Red Sox their first five-game winning streak since April 24-28, and a 4-3 record at Target Field for the season. And because the Yankees were rained out on Sunday, Boston pulled within a half-game of the AL East lead.

Lackey rebounded from a subpar outing last week in Tampa Bay with probably his best performances of the year. He threw just 50 of his 84 pitches for strikes, but didn't walk anyone, struck out five, and got nine of his other 12 outs on the ground.

He likely would have pitched deeper into the game, and was on the mound to start the seventh inning when a steady rain turned into a downpour, sending Justin Morneau on a return trip to the Twins' dugout as umpires halted play.

The delay lasted so long, the Twins moved their scheduled post-game showing of "The Sandlot" into the middle of the game, as a handful of players remained in the dugout to watch part of the 20-year-old baseball film. And when the game resumed, the Twins loaded the bases in the eighth inning against Koji Uehara.

They weren't able to score, though, and the Red Sox extended their lead when Dustin Pedroia's fly ball bounced off the heel of a leaping Josh Willingham's glove, skidding over the left-field fence and giving Pedroia his second homer of the year.

Boston will now head to Chicago for a three-game series with the White Sox before returning home. And with a number of players coming back from injury -- Shane Victorino returned to the lineup on Sunday, while shortstop Stephen Drew and closer Andrew Bailey should be in action during the next series -- Boston seems primed to get on a roll after a 2-9 slide earlier this month.

Pedroia continued his impressive start to the season, going 2-for-5 and driving in three runs, and David Ortiz had another two-hit game. He is now hitting .488 (21-for-43) in his career at Target Field.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Red Sox and Twins went into a rain delay at 4:30 p.m. ET, with the Red Sox leading 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning as they looked for a series sweep at Target Field.

John Lackey took a perfect game into the fifth inning, and had given up only one hit. Having thrown just 84 pitches, he was heading back to the mound to face Justin Morneau when the rain picked up, umpires halted the game, and Morneau spun on his heels back toward the dugout.

The Twins, who were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the movie "The Sandlot" all weekend, had planned to show the film after the game. Instead, they started the movie during the rain delay, as a number of players remained in the dugout to watch the 1993 movie about a group of friends playing baseball in the 1960s.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Closer Andrew Bailey is likely to be activated from the disabled list in time for Monday's game in Chicago after making a rehab appearance at Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday night.

Bailey, who has been on the disabled list since April 29 with a strained right biceps, was scheduled to join the Red Sox in Minneapolis on Sunday, manager John Farrell said. He threw 17 pitches in an inning of work at Pawtucket on Saturday night, and Farrell said "physically, he came through it fine.

"He showed consistent velocity," Farrell said. "He'll get checked up on it, as anybody would, in a situation like this, but he came out of last night fine."

For a team that has already endured some bullpen turmoil this season, with closer Joel Hanrahan undergoing Tommy John surgery, Bailey's return will bring some stability back to Boston's bullpen.

Farrell said the team will be careful about using Bailey on back-to-back days initially, but when he is available, the Red Sox relievers will know their roles.

"To slide guys back a little bit earlier, it gives us that flexibility with Junichi (Tazawa) a little more, rather than holding him back to close out games," Farrell said. "I think just getting guys back one slot earlier in the game certainly makes us stronger and gives us added depth in the pen."

The starting pitcher for Pawtucket on Saturday night -- left-hander Franklin Morales -- was also there on a rehab assignment, but his results weren't very encouraging.

Morales, who is recovering from a pectoral strain, allowed five runs on three hits in four innings, walking three and surrendering two home runs. He will make another start for Pawtucket later this week, Farrell said, and the Red Sox will have to decide after that whether they want to make room for Morales in their rotation or their bullpen.

And while the Red Sox got outfielder Shane Victorino back on Sunday, starting him in center field to give Jacoby Ellsbury a day off, they were still without shortstop Stephen Drew, who strained his back on a headfirst slide on Friday.

"He still needs another day to get over that jarring sensation he felt," Farrell said. "We don't think it should be a prolonged situation."

Farrell said the jarring Drew felt was confined to his back, and added the Red Sox are not worried about any concussion-related symptoms with the shortstop.