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Xander Bogaerts out of Red Sox lineup Thursday

Bill Koch
bkoch@providencejournal.com
Xander Bogaerts, shown on defense Monday, missed out on Thursday'starting lineup.

BOSTON --- Xander Bogaerts was out of the starting lineup for the Red Sox on Thursday.

The shortstop was removed for the final five innings of Wednesday’s 9-5 defeat against the Rays. Boston manager Ron Roenicke said during his weekly Wednesday appearance with WEEI radio he was looking for a day to sit the 27-year-old.

“He’s got little stuff going in his lower half – some fatigue there,” Roenicke said Thursday. “I wanted to give him a day off. It was either yesterday, today or tomorrow. He thought today was the best day to do that.

“He’ll be back in there the next day. It’s not anything he’s going to be out for, and I can use him tonight too. If a big situation comes up, we’ll use him.”

Bogaerts battled hamstring tightness toward the end of Summer Camp and rarely played the full nine innings during the club’s intrasquad games. He leads the Red Sox in runs scored, total bases and hits among several other categories.

“We go through this period where we try to break guys in slowly to the point where they can play nine innings,” Roenicke said. “Then all of a sudden the season starts and you’re obligated to go nine innings all the time. It makes it hard on some of the guys who have had some issues, and especially their legs.

“He’s fine. I’m hoping after we get through this stretch here – I know we have some off days coming up after this.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter:@BillKoch25