Red Sox notes: Pedroia, Carpenter

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TORONTO -- After a three-day paternity leave to be with his wife Kelli for the birth of the second son, Dustin Pedroia rejoined the Sox lineup Saturday.

"They're good,'' declared Pedroia, who flew to Toronto Friday night. "We had the baby Thursday morning and she was in labor all night. But it was awesome. He's big -- he's almost nine pounds. Not much rest, but it was worth it.''

He left Wednesday's game against the Yankees when he learned that his wife had gone to the hosptial.

"She was having some problems the last couple of days,'' said Pedroia. "She was in so much pain that she had to go in. That's when Bobby (Valentine) came up to me (on the field). I thought he was going to yell at me because a line drive almost hit me in the
head. I thought he was going to joke around.

"But when he told me, I got nervous. He was all calm. He just came out and said it. He was all calm about it. I was like, 'Bobby, just spit it out.' He was like, 'Oh, she's in the hospital.'
I kind of panicked. But it all worked out. I got to experience the whole thing this time. It was crazy.''

Pedroia was hitting third in the lineup Saturday. Before he left, Pedroia had hit three homers in his previous five games. Since Aug. 5, Pedroia is hitting .381, tops in the majors for that span and has reached safely in 37 of his last 39 games dating back to August 1.

Chris Carpenter earned his first major league win Friday night, stranding a runner to finish the eighth inning in the Red Sox' 8-5 victory over the Blue Jays.

Over his first four appearances with the Sox since being recalled from Pawtucket, Carpenter has pitched 3 13 scoreless innings.

"He's pitched very well since he's been here,'' said Valentine. "I've been impressed with his velocity and his breaking ball and his re-set command. He'll fire one that looks like it really got away from him and he'll come back right back and make a real good pitch.

"Right now, he seems very good. There's nothing not to like so far.''

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