--RHP Bartolo Colon allowed only one hit over six innings in what could be a final tune-up Class AAA Pawtucket start prior to getting called up to the big leagues. Colon had four strikeouts in the outing and hit 95 mph on the radar gun, and seems the clear-cut favorite to make a start when the Sox need a pitcher for Tuesday night's game. Colon threw 64 pitches through the six innings of work, and will likely pass his final hurdle provided he comes out of the start healthy Friday.

--LHP Hideki Okajima has allowed 11 of 14 inherited baserunners to score this season after allowing only four to score all of last year. The left-hander has been excellent when he's been able to come in at the start of an inning and has allowed runs in only two of his 18 appearances this season. Part of Okajima's struggle can be directly related to the troubles experienced by the Sox bullpen in the seventh innings of games this season, as RHP Manny Delcarmen and RHP Mike Timlin have both faltered in the set-up role and added to Okajima's burden.

--RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka has had an excellent start to his 2008 campaign, and the Sox are on an amazing run that has seen them win the last 10 of Matsuzaka's starts dating back to Sept. 22, 2007. The run is the longest for a Sox pitcher since the Sox won 11 straight games started by former RHP Bronson Arroyo in 2005.

--OF Coco Crisp missed the last game in Baltimore with what sounded like the symptoms of a migraine headache, but hoped to be available for the upcoming series against the Brewers. The speedy outfielder was vomiting just after coming out of Tuesday night's game in Baltimore, and reported that he was still feeling "woozy" Thursday. Barring any setbacks, Crisp should be ready for action in the depleted Sox outfield Friday.

--OF J.D. Drew reported that his sprained left wrist feels better than expected and the Sox are going to skip plans for an MRI on the injury. The wrist was stiff and swollen after it bent back awkwardly in a dive Tuesday night, but the outfielder expressed optimism that the injury felt better than he thought it would. "I'll try it out before the game, take some swings and fly balls, and if the pain is minimal, I should be able to play through that," Drew said. "I don't think there's any major damage."

BY THE NUMBERS
2-9 -- The Red Sox record in domes this season through the end of last weekend. The record includes getting swept in both the Rogers Centre in Toronto and Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Depends on what you're trying to do. If you're looking to get paid, you hit more home runs. I'm just trying to take a good swing at the ball. It's just happening." -- 1B Kevin Youkilis, talking about his power surge after hitting four home runs in four days against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

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