Francona: Pedroia won’t play tonight
Dustin Pedroia, who left the Red Sox yesterday to be with his wife, Kelli, for the birth of the couple’s first child, will not return to the club for tonight’s game, according to manager Terry Francona.
Francona, speaking on WEEI’s “The Dale and Holley Show,” said there is a chance the Red Sox second baseman could return tomorrow, but he is leaving Pedroia’s status up to the player.
“No, not tonight,” Francona said. “I just talked to him a little bit ago. He needs to stay back with Kelli, get her mom there, get some people around her. It’s been a tough pregnancy for her. And if he wants to come back [Thursday], which I think there’s a chance he will, he has my blessing either way. Nobody wants to win games more than me, believe me. But there is a perspective here and he needs to take care of his new baby . . . and get everything in order. When that’s in order and he’s comfortable enough to play, we’ll certainly welcome him back.”
Pedroia left the team at 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon, arriving in Boston in time to be present for the birth of his son, Dylan.
With Pedroia out of the lineup, Francona said Nick Green would start at second base for the second straight game. He also noted that Mike Lowell will get the day off against Jays ace Roy Halladay, with Kevin Youkilis starting at third, Victor Martinez catching, and Casey Kotchman starting at first base. David Ortiz will be the designated hitter.
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