Carlton Fisk isn`t exactly the picture of health these days.
”Hopefully I can make it to the dugout without collapsing,” the Sox catcher said before walking onto the field Thursday.
Fisk still is feeling the lingering effects of a virus that has plagued him for more than a week. Manager Jim Fregosi said Fisk probably won`t start until Monday, when the Sox play at Cleveland. Joel Skinner started in his place Thursday.
Fisk pinch hit in the ninth inning and tapped into a fielder`s choice, pitcher to home.
Fisk, who has lost 10 pounds from the illness, worked out with weights Thursday. His strength obviously isn`t back yet, because he then spent an hour sleeping in the corner of a noisy clubhouse.
”I`m tired of being tired,” Fisk said. ”I feel weak, but I don`t feel sick. I want to bounce back, but I don`t know exactly how to go about it. I have to build up my strength, but at the same time, I don`t want to wear myself out. It`s a fine line.”
— Skinner made his seventh consecutive start Thursday, and will reach 10 straight if he opens every game of the Yankee series.
”Knowing I`m going to be in the lineup helps,” Skinner said. ”It helps me prepare mentally.”
— Steve Lyons wasn`t in the lineup Thursday against lefty Dennis Rasmussen. But he figures he has a good chance to play the last three games of the series, because the Yankees are starting right-handed pitchers.
”That means my All-Star break is four days long, instead of three,”
Lyons said.
— The Sox made a minor deal Thursday, sending minor league pitcher Al Jones and outfielder Tom Hartley to Milwaukee for pitcher Ray Searge.
Searge, 31, was 0-1 with a 6.95 earned-run average with the Brewers this year, before being demoted to Triple A Vancouver July 13. Searge will report to the Sox`s Triple A team at Buffalo.
Jones was 2-4 with a 4.56 ERA in 27 games at Buffalo.
