After starting at first, Lavarnway hurts wrist

BOSTON -- The excitement Ryan Lavarnway had over making his first career start at first base on Thursday was washed away by the bottom of the fifth inning, when he had to exit the game with soreness in his left wrist.

The injury was enough of a concern that Lavarnway, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, will undergo an MRI on Friday.

"He felt it on one of the swings in that first at-bat. So we'll have more tomorrow," manager John Farrell said.

Lavarnway had just the one at-bat in Boston's 4-3 win and made four putouts in his debut at first.

"It was on one of the balls I fouled straight back in my first at-bat," said Lavarnway. "I felt a pain in my hand/wrist area. I thought I would be able to play through it. Tried to stay in the game, obviously, tried to play through it. When I got in the on-deck circle for my next at-bat, when Grady [Sizemore] ended up making the last out, I was having a real difficult time swinging. So I wanted to let a healthy guy have that at-bat instead of trying to force my way in and giving them an easy out."

While his natural position is behind the plate, Lavarnway gained comfort at first base in Spring Training and played 20 games there for Pawtucket this season.

With everyday first baseman Mike Napoli on the disabled list, Mike Carp and Daniel Nava have also seen time at the position.