BOSTON -- With David Price already sidelined indefinitely, the Boston Red Sox lost another starting pitcher to injury Friday night.
Drew Pomeranz, the Red Sox's second-best starter this season, left in the fourth inning of the team's 9-6 win over tge New York Yankees because of back spasms, according to the team. The team will know more within the next few days, but at this point, neither Pomeranz nor manager John Farrell expects the lefty to miss a start.
"My back just tightened up on my lower right side. It happens sometimes," Pomeranz said. "My hop gets all jammed up and starts pulling on muscles back there. I should be fine in a couple of days - or tomorrow even."
The Red Sox sensed something was wrong after Pomeranz's 1-0 curveball to Chase Headley missed the strike zone. A trainer and manager John Farrell came to the mound, and after a brief conference, Pomeranz threw two warmup pitches and was unable to continue.
Pomeranz said he began feeling the spasms while throwing his warmup pitches in the fourth inning. According to Farrell, Pomeranz has dealt with this injury before, including last season after getting traded to the Red Sox.
"We're not going to take any chances right there," Farrell said. "He's been getting treatment throughout the course of the game, and we'll see where he's at tomorrow."
Pomeranz, a 28-year-old lefty, is 12-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 24 starts this season. He has a 2.71 ERA over his past 18 starts, including the 3⅓ scoreless innings in the series opener against the Yankees, and recently said he believes he's pitching better than he did in the first half of last season when he was an All-Star with the San Diego Padres.
The Red Sox traded for Pomeranz midway through last season. His health became a focal point when a Major League Baseball investigation confirmed the Red Sox's suspicion that the Padres provided incomplete medical information at the time of the trade. Padres general manager A.J. Preller received a 30-game suspension, but the Red Sox didn't take the opportunity to rescind the trade.
Pomeranz missed some time late last season and in spring training with a forearm strain.
Price hasn't pitched since a July 22 start because of inflammation in his elbow. After playing catch almost daily for the past few weeks, he has been shut down because of stiffness in his arm. On Friday, manager John Farrell said the Red Sox remain hopeful that Price will pitch again this season but noted that he's running out of time to get healthy and rebuild his arm strength.