NEW YORK — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia will return to Boston today to have his right knee examined and is facing the possibility of surgery that would sideline him for at least a month.
Pedroia was injured on the first play of the game May 16 when the Orioles’ Brian Roberts hit a ball off the chest of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Pedroia fielded the ball and landed on his knee. “I banged it hard and it has been bothering me ever since,’’ he said.
He described the procedure, which will be done at Massachusetts General Hospital, as a “needle with a camera on it’’ that will determine the extent of the damage. If necessary, Pedroia then would have the surgery immediately.
“It could keep me out a month,’’ he said after last night’s 11-6 victory against the Yankees. “It’s not what I want. But I have to get it checked out. It’s been bothering me a lot.’’
Pedroia said his lack of production at the plate — he is hitting .247 with a .338 on-base percentage — is attributable to his knee and surgically repaired left foot.
“It’s hard to hit with something wrong with your legs,’’ he said. “I’ve been trying.’’
If Pedroia is placed on the disabled list, the Sox could use Jed Lowrie at second base and Marco Scutaro at shortstop. Drew Sutton also has experience at second base.
Jenks back on DL
Bobby Jenks is returning to the disabled list, this time with a strained muscle in his back.
The righthanded reliever was taken out of Tuesday’s game against the Yankees after throwing four pitches. He said later that he expected the injury to knock him out for only a few days. Instead it will be at least 15.
Jenks has appeared in 15 games and has a 6.57 earned run average after signing a two-year, $12 million contract in December.
The Sox faced the Yankees with only six relievers last night as catcher Luis Exposito was recalled from Pawtucket to take the place of Jenks on the roster.
With Jarrod Saltalamacchia out with a stomach bug, the Sox needed a backup for Jason Varitek. Exposito, 24, was hitting only .223 with a .608 OPS, but is on the 40-man roster. He arrived approximately 45 minutes before first pitch, having traveled from Norfolk, Va.
“We have a lot going on right now,’’ manager Terry Francona said.
Saltalamacchia caught nine innings Tuesday and said afterward he felt nauseous. The Sox sent him to a hospital to be checked out yesterday, with one concern appendicitis, but he checked out OK.
“He was scuffling. He’s pretty sick,’’ Francona said.
After a slow start, Saltalamacchia has hit .292 with five home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 14 games and become a steady presence behind the plate.
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