FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie has mononucleosis.
Lowrie has not played since March 11 and had been feeling fatigued. He went for tests this week.
"He can play as tolerated," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterdayy. "There's a reason he was feeling run down last week. He was on the bike yesterday. I don't think he's going to feel like he has a ton of energy for the next whatever, week or two. But he can do physical things as tolerated. So we'll monitor him. I don't think we want him kissing anybody, but we'll keep an eye on him."
Lowrie was Boston's opening-day shortstop last season but got off to a 1-for-18 start at the plate after playing with an injured left wrist for much of the second half of the 2008 season, He had surgery April 21, nine days after going on the disabled list, and didn't return to the Red Sox until July 18.
He went back on the DL Aug. 18 because of an irritated left forearm and wasn't activated until Sept. 8. He wound up hitting .147 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 32 games for Boston.
nnn
Boston starter John Lackey gave up two hits in four innings before the New York Mets rallied with four runs in the eighth for a 4-2 win over the Red Sox yesterday.
Lackey struck out two and walked none. In nine combined innings this spring, Lackey has not allowed a run — earned or unearned — or issued a walk. He has given up just five hits.
Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey nearly matched Lackey's outing, going four innings, giving up one run on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
New York's Fernando Martinez hit his third home run of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth inning off Ramon S. Ramirez, who allowed four runs on two hits and three walks without recording an out.
