BOSTON -- Given his success against Wednesday's scheduled stater, Ubaldo Jiminez, it was thought that Pablo Sandoval might be in the lineup for the series finale.
Instead, he's heading to the disabled list.
The Sox placed the third baseman on the DL with what manager John Farrell labeled a "left shoulder strain." To take his spot on the roster, the Red Sox recalled infielder Josh Rutledge.
"To give you the exact moment when it took place, I don't have that, to be honest," said Farrell. "He's been hitting a lot extra, before BP and during the game in the cage. He's got very limited range of motion that was revealed after he went through a battery of tests with the medical staff, so he's unavailable."
Sandoval told the staff when he reported to the ballpark that he was unavailable. He later was seen going into Farrell's office, where he met with the manager, general manager Mike Hazen and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
After losing the starting third base job to Travis Shaw during spring training competition, Sandoval had started just one game in the first seven, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk. He was also charged with a throwing error at third base that game.
"I woke up this morning and there was soreness," said Sandoval. "I couldn't even move my arm, so that's when I worried about it. I haven't got a lot of (range of) motion in there, so something happened, so I wanted to see the doctor later when I got here. I've had this before, in 2011, (from) swinging a bat during the game, but I don't know what happened right now.
Boston Red Sox
"I’ve been working hard to be ready for the game. I don't think (it happened from pre-game work)."
In 2011, Sandoval said he had soreness in his labrum.
"But I don't know what it is (this time)," he said. "I'm just waiting for the doctor."
Sandoval said he was eager to hear the diagnosis from the doctor. "I just want to be happy, keep working hard and keep working hard to be back," Sandoval said.
Sandoval said he has had "great communication" with John Farrell and despite the disappointment of his reduced role, he remains positive. "You have to be here for your teammates," said Sandoval, "be here for your team. Whatever they need you (to do), you have to do it."