ST. PETERSBURG - In his final tuneup before returning to the Red Sox, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez had an encouraging Sunday afternoon for Triple-A Pawtucket. Pitching a home game against Buffalo, Rodriguez scattered six hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings while walking none and striking out seven.
Rodriguez last pitched for the Red Sox on June 1, the date he suffered a right knee subluxation when he fell down warming up in the bullpen at Camden Yards.
Before the injury, Rodriguez was displaying the best consistency of his career, going 4-2 with a 3.54 in 10 starts.
Because of a doubleheader in the third day back after the All-Star break, the Red Sox will go with a six-man rotation coming out of the break.
Once they go back to a five-man rotation, Rodriguez will likely take the spot of Doug Fister, who could slide to the bullpen.