Mueller Down Time

Bill Mueller left last night's game before the top of the fifth inning because of a sore right knee.

The Red Sox' third baseman, who had arthroscopic surgery performed on the knee on May 25, forcing him to miss 37 games, bruised the knee while making a slide in Seattle over the weekend, managerTerry Francona said after last night's 5-2 loss to the Devil Rays.

Francona said he was under the impression that Mueller aggravated his knee on defense early in the game. But Mueller, running down the first-base line, also had to move awkwardly to avoid being hit by a throw from first baseman Tino Martinez on a rare first-to-home double play that Mueller hit into in the second.

Mueller underwent an MRI last night. Francona said Mueller is day to day. Kevin Youkilis took over at third for Mueller, and made a nice diving play in the eighth.

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Projo.com
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