Red Sox lose pitcher Uehara to pectoral strain

Koji Uehara of the Boston Red Sox pitches at Fenway Park on July 19, 2016 in Boston, Massa
AFP

New York (AFP) – Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara of Japan was placed on Major League Baseball’s 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a right pectoral muscle strain.

The 41-year-old right-hander suffered the injury after throwing only seven pitches, grabbing his right arm in pain in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 4-0 Boston victory over San Francisco.

Uehara, 2-3 with a 4.50 earned-run average so far this season, exited to the clubhouse after being examined.

“I can’t tell you at this point how much time Koji will miss,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “As we have had to go to other guys to step up, we will look to do that.”

Uehara threw for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants from 1999 through 2008 before moving to North America, where he pitched for Baltimore and Texas before joining the Red Sox in 2013 and helping them to a World Series crown that season.

The Red Sox were already without closing reliever Craig Kimbrel because of a knee injury.

Brad Ziegler, a 36-year-old right-hander who made 18 saves for Arizona before being traded to Boston on July 9, is likely to move into the closer role. His is 2-3 with a 2.61 earned-run average this season.

Noe Ramirez was called up from the Red Sox’s top developmental squad to fill Uehara’s roster spot.

At 52-39, the Red Sox are one win behind American League East division leader Baltimore and only one game ahead of third-place Toronto with just over two months remaining in the regular season.

The Red Sox and Toronto are each in position to claim wildcard playoff berths if they don’t overtake Baltimore.

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