--OF Brandon Moss was optioned to Class AAA Pawtucket, presumably to clear space on the 25-man roster for DH David Ortiz. Moss is batting .295 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 34 games with the Red Sox over three stints this season. On Friday, the Sox are expected to activate Ortiz. Ortiz hit .294 (5-for-17) with three homers, six RBIs, and five walks in six games on a rehab assignment with Pawtucket and Class AA Portland.

--SS Alex Cora had his name mentioned prominently in trade rumors with the White Sox for SS Juan Uribe, but reports surfaced Thursday night that talks had cooled about a potential swap of the infielders. Rookie SS Jed Lowrie has had a promising start both offensively and defensively for the Red Sox while subbing for injured SS Julio Lugo, and Cora is still being called upon to serve in his customary utility reserve role.

--3B Mike Lowell opened the post-All-Star break portion of the schedule mired in a 1-for-18 funk, but the veteran is again getting into a groove at the plate. Lowell collected a pair of hits in each of the last two games at Seattle on the road trip, and the right-handed hitter contributed the key hit in Wednesday afternoon's win -- a two-run single in the 12th inning that snapped a 3-3 deadlock. Lowell is expected to remain in the No. 5 slot in the batting lineup when DH David Ortiz makes his return from injury on Friday.

--2B Dustin Pedroia stole his 10th base of the season Wednesday afternoon, and in doing so became the fourth Sox player to reach double digits in steals this season. Jacoby Ellsbury (35), Coco Crisp (14) and Julio Lugo (12) are the other three players who have reached double-digit totals. They became the first Sox quartet of teammates to steal double-digit bags since 1995. 3B John Valentin, OF Lee Tinsley, 2B Luis Alicea and 1B Mo Vaughn were the last group of Sox to each eclipse 10 steals.

--OF J.D. Drew is known as a patient hitter, and in 171 career at-bats with a 3-and-0 count has only swung at the next pitch six times. Drew has never put any of the balls in play when he's given himself the green light. The aforementioned patience is one reason Drew has been proposed as a potential leadoff hitter if OF Jacoby Ellsbury is temporarily moved out of the leadoff spot. 2B Dustin Pedroia is another name that's been mentioned as a possible leadoff alternative.

BY THE NUMBERS
13 -- The number of wins for Sox starting pitchers that have been blown by a wildly inconsistent bullpen thus far this season, including five along for RHP Tim Wakefield.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"For me, I think what matters is that the team gets the win -- also, going five or six innings without any earned runs isn't that bad, is it?" -RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, to the Boston Herald amid criticism that he's not working deep enough into games.

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