Mike Napoli Dislocates Finger; Red Sox Drop Series Opener in Chicago

Mike Napoli cringes on second base as he looks at his dislocated finger. (NESN screenshot, via Boston.com)

When it rains, it pours for the Boston Red Sox on the injury front.

The Red Sox entered Tuesday’s series opener against the White Sox in Chicago with Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks already on the 15-day disabled list. Dustin Pedroia (wrist) and Koji Uehara (shoulder) have been nursing injuries of their own.

Mike Napoli became the latest starter to fall victim to the injury bug, jamming his left finger into the second base bag after recording his first stolen base of the year. Napoli, the team leader in home runs (3) and RBI (9), was pinch-run for by Pedroia, who was not expected to return to game action until Wednesday.

Replays showed Napoli’s ringer finger out of place, forcing the slugger out of the game as Mike Carp took over the duties at first base. The Red Sox announced that Napoli suffered a dislocated finger, but X-Rays were negative.

The White Sox went off to win in dramatic fashion, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth via a throwing error by Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to walk off with a 2-1 victory in front of their home crowd. 

Red Sox place Shane Victorino on 15-day disabled list, recall Jackie Bradley Jr.

Shane Victorino will start the 2014 season on the DL (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

The Boston Red Sox placed right field Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, just hours before their opening day tilt against the Baltimore Orioles. Victorino injured his right hamstring while running the bases in Saturday’s Grapefruit League finale against the Minnesota Twins. His DL stint is retroactive to March 30.

Rookie outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Victorino’s spot on the roster. Bradley Jr. batted just .158 in a dismal spring training, totaling almost double the amount of strikeouts (17) as hits (nine) in 19 exhibition contests. Bradley Jr. lost the competition for the starting center field spot to veteran Grady Sizemore, who emerged as one of the biggest surprises of spring training.

Manager John Farrell does not believe Victorino’s injury is serious, noting that his club will simply have to adjust in the short term without the “Flyin' Hawaiian."

“I don’t know that you look at it as troubling,” John Farrell said, per the Boston Herald. “You look at it as a situation that has to be managed. You’ve got to remain aware that you might have to change on the fly.”

The depth of the Red Sox will be relied upon in the absence of Victorino. Backup outfielder Jonny Gomes should see extended playing time with Victorino sidelined, along with utility man Mike Carp, who will start in left field and bat fifth for the Red Sox in their regular season opener.