Victorino, Ellsbury exit early with nagging injuries

BOSTON -- After grounding out to end the sixth inning on Sunday, Shane Victorino took a few steps out of the batter's box and slammed his helmet to the ground in frustration.

Boston's fiery outfielder is tired of the nagging injuries that have dogged him all season, and in this 7-6 win over the White Sox, he sustained a left hip contusion.

At that point, Victorino exited the game and was replaced by Jonny Gomes.

The Red Sox hope Victorino will be able to start Monday's game against the Tigers.

"When he slid into first base [in the fourth], he re-aggravated it," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "He's got a contusion he's dealing with and it begins to affect some of the other areas that he's been managing for a while. We fully expect him to be on the field tomorrow but when he aggravates it, it begins to kind of shut some things down on him and he doesn't feel the explosiveness."

In the top of the ninth, Jacoby Ellsbury also exited, thanks to a nagging injury in his left thumb.

"Jacoby, there were a couple of at-bats where he got jammed and that bat is kind of banging on that bone inside the thumb," Farrell said. "We're hopeful and expect him to be on the field as well tomorrow. We'll check them both obviously in the morning."