Rays/MLB

Red Sox rookie pitcher has treatable lymphoma

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 2, 2006

BOSTON - Red Sox rookie pitcher Jon Lester has a form of lymphoma and will begin treatment within the week, the team said Friday.

The left-hander, 22, went on the disabled list Monday with back pain, but tests revealed enlarged lymph nodes. The team said Lester has a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Manager Terry Francona visited Lester on Thursday.

Before the diagnosis was announced, teammate Curt Schilling referred to the melanoma his wife dealt with several years ago.

"Having been in a situation where cancer was an operative word, it's an incredibly scary thing," Schilling said. "You're talking about a kid at the beginning of his life."

Also, DH David Ortiz will wear a heart monitor for the next few days and will be examined next week to determine when he can start playing again. Ortiz returned to Boston from Seattle on Tuesday, one day after feeling heart palpitations for the second time in August.

YANKS CLOSER SITS: Right-hander Mariano Rivera was unavailable for New York's game against Minnesota because his right elbow felt stiff. Rivera pitched Wednesday and Thursday against Detroit, and the Yankees and the reliever said he will not pitch three days in a row for the foreseeable future. An MRI exam showed he has a mild muscle strain at the elbow, and Rivera said he anticipated being available today.

RADKE AILING: Twins right-hander Brad Radke has a stress fracture in his pitching shoulder, an injury Minnesota doesn't necessarily think will end his season. The former Jesuit High standout already is pitching through a torn labrum.

ANGELS: First baseman Darin Erstad was activated from his second stint on the disabled list this season with a right ankle injury. Also, outfielder Curtis Pride, on the DL with lower back tightness, was activated, right-hander Chris Bootcheck and catcher Jeff Mathis were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake and infielder Dallas McPherson was recalled from a rehabilitation assignment for lower back spasms and optioned to Salt Lake.

MARINERS: Right-hander Emiliano Fruto was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. Fruto had a 5.68 ERA in 14 games in three previous big-league stints this season. He had a 3.18 ERA and 10 saves in 28 games at Tacoma.

ROYALS: The contract of right-hander Ryan Braun, a sixth-round pick in 2003, was purchased from Triple-A Omaha. Braun had a 2.19 ERA and 13 saves in 43 games with Omaha and Double-A Wichita and had struck out 80 and walked 29 in 65²/₃ innings.

TIGERS: Right-hander Jordan Tata and infielder Ramon Santiago were recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

[Last modified September 2, 2006, 01:57:42]