Trot Nixon on the DL...

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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2117983

 

 

Nixon strained oblique muscle while battingAssociated Press

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained muscle in his side, and the team recalled left-handed pitcher Lenny DiNardo from Triple-A Pawtucket.

 

Nixon, batting .293 with 11 homers and 50 RBI, strained his left oblique muscle while swinging at a pitch from Tampa Bay's Mark Hendrickson in the third inning of Boston's 10-9 win Tuesday night. He immediately left the game for pinch hitter Adam Hyzdu.

 

After missing the pitch, Nixon grimaced and clutched his left side.

 

"There is some fluid in there that they already know, which means there is some damage done," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He's tender. He's sore. This one [injury] is a hard one to nurse along."

 

Nixon had played in 89 of Boston's 100 games. Last season, he played in just 48 games because of a herniated disk in his back and a strained left thigh. He hit .315 with six homers and 23 RBI and played all seven games of the AL Championship Series and the four games of the World Series.

 

Nixon was hoping to get through the entire season without any health problems.

 

"I'm not going to do it," Nixon said, adding that he had spoken with several players sidelined in the past by similar injuries. "You have to be patient with it."

 

The Red Sox can use first baseman Kevin Millar in right field and also have outfielders Hyzdu and Adam Stern.

 

Gabe Kapler, who signed with Boston after playing sparingly in Japan this year, is on the disabled list with a back injury and eligible to return Saturday. He has been on a rehab assignment at Pawtucket.

 

DiNardo, in his third stint with Boston this season, fills a need for a reliever after the Red Sox designated lefties Alan Embree and John Halama for assignment in the past two weeks.