Red Sox await results of Friday's MRI on Carson Smith

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BOSTON -- The Red Sox are awaiting the results of an MRI performed on Carson Smith earlier Friday, but will be without the reliever for at least the next two weeks either way.

Smith, who missed the first month of the season after experiencing a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm on March 21, had appeared in three games since being activated on May 3.

He felt some soreness in the forearm earlier this week in Kansas City and was held out of action.

"It felt good for the most when I came back up,'' said Smith, "and then I threw against Oakland and had an extensive outing and a number of warmup pitchers to go into that game and since then, there's been small symptoms of what it was back in spring training.

"Right now, we're just awaiting the results. I'm not too sure. You never know what's going on inside until you get a doctor to look at it.''

Smith was expected to be a key member of the bullpen when he was obtained last December, but the injury has limited his participation while also upping his frustration level.

"To see the roll this team's on right now and to not be able to contribute and do my part is frustration,'' allowed Smith. "But that's part of it, so I have to deal with it. But it's frustrating going out there and not being 100 percent, too.''

Smith has experienced some discomfort while throwing, but the biggest indication something was wrong was how long it was taking him to recover from one outing to the next.

"I can recover,' said Smith, "but it's taking me longer than normal. But as I throw, I do feel [something].''

Manager John Farrell said the soreness Smith is dealing with is "in the same area'' he felt in March, and that the elbow appears to be structurally sound.

He added that Smith feels more soreness when he throws his slider, an important pitch for the reliever.

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