Boston Red Sox News

After missing Sunday's day-night doubleheader with tightness in his lower back, Shane Victorino was back in the lineup on Monday, batting second against the Athletics.

Joel Hanrahan took a significant step in his comeback from an injured right hamstring on Monday, when he threw roughly 30 pitches off a mound.

John Lackey had a strong opening to his Minor League rehab assignment on Monday, firing 3 2/3 shutout innings at Double-A Portland. Lackey gave up three hits while walking two and striking out five. He threw 67 pitches, 45 for strikes.

The Red Sox, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are joining together to donate $646,500 to The One Fund Boston, a non-profit organization established by Boston's mayor and Massachusetts' governor in an effort to aid those burdened by the attacks in the city over the past week.

With the voice of Mayor Thomas Menino playing in the background, the up-close style of Colin and Nick Barnicle's One Boston video gives it a personal touch that the brothers hope people from cities all across the country will feel.

Mike Napoli was a triple shy of the cycle and drove in a pair of runs, but reliever Andrew Miller walked in the go-ahead run in the 10th as the Red Sox dropped a 5-4 decision to the Royals in Sunday's nightcap of a twin bill at Fenway Park.

The A's will send A.J. Griffin to the hill on Monday to face the Red Sox's Felix Doubront in the series opener at Fenway Park.

Ryan Dempster allowed four runs over seven innings and fanned eight, but Boston's winning streak is over at seven games after the offense was held to two runs.

With the Boston Marathon bombing still on his mind, Jonny Gomes was using a pair of specially designed bats on Sunday. Along the barrel of the wood was inscribed, "Boston Strong," with the names of the four mortally wounded victims added beneath.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Shortly after David Ortiz let an expletive fly through the loudspeakers at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it had no gripe with Ortiz's comments.

Shane Victorino, who left Saturday's 4-3 win over the Royals with tightness in his lower back, was held out of the lineups for Sunday's doubleheader.

David Ortiz can give opposing pitchers heartburn and Red Sox fans adrenaline, but he skipped Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader. The Sox are still taking a cautious approach with Ortiz, who missed the first 15 games with discomfort in his right Achilles.

John Lackey is expected to take the mound for Double-A Portland on Monday for what could be his only rehab start before returning to the Red Sox. Lackey, on the DL since April 7 with a strained right biceps, is expected to throw about four innings, or 65 pitches. If all goes well, he'll be back with the Sox by week's end.

The Red Sox players were just as scared as everybody else seemed to be on Friday, but on Saturday afternoon, a sense of normalcy returned to Fenway as the club honored first responders and those impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings.

There was yet another subplot to Saturday's emotional day at Fenway Park, as David Ortiz made his return to the team, batting cleanup.

There should be a buzz in the air for the second game of Sunday night's day-night doubleheader, as Red Sox pitching prospect Allen Webster gets the start in his Major League debut.

Trailing by one in the eighth inning, Daniel Nava roped a three-run homer in the Boston bullpen as the Red Sox capped off an emotional Saturday at Fenway Park with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Royals.

Following an emotional return to Fenway Park on Saturday, the Red Sox will look to continue helping the city of Boston heal in the wake of this past week's tragic events when they host the Royals for a split doubleheader on Sunday.

The remedial powers of the summer game were summoned once more Saturday at Fenway Park. Raise a pennant, wave a flag. Wave a magic wand and make it all disappear. And it all worked. Boston had stood at attention, rigid and staring straight ahead, not wanting to look, for too many days. It was at ease again Saturday.