Daisuke Matsuzaka left the Red Sox game before the fifth inning with "fatigue in his right shoulder," according to the Red Sox.

That diagnosis did not come until after the game (the Associated Press story that was sent immediately after the game, and which appeared in today's Press Herald, speculated that Matsuzaka's problem was with his back).

But later reports, including a blog from the Providence Journal indicate shoulder fatigue.

But just what is shoulder fatigue? Used to be we said a pitcher had a sore arm. But maybe that raises too many red flags these days.

Either way, it seems Dice-K could miss a start. Maybe the DL (attention Mr. Buchholz).

In Pawtucket, pitcher Kyle Snyder was coming off the DL (groin injury). He did not get out of the second inning in his start Tuesday (1 2/3, 3 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 K)
... Dusty Brown hit his fourth home run ... Jose Vaquedano pitched 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief (1 BB, 1 K)

In Portland, Dustin Richardson (5 1/3, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 K) picked up his first win in over a month ... Bubba Bell continues to come back from a somewhat slow start. He is up to .285 after batting .486 (17-35) with four homers over the last 10 games ... Tony Grandaillo continues to come back from a really slow start. He's up to .181 after going .571 (8-14) in his last four games.

In Greenville, starter Felix Doubront, 20, of Venezuela, put in another strong start (5 2/3, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K). He is 6-2, with a 2.25 ERA.

E-mail this entry to a friend