Lowell limping along

Third baseman still giving his all BOSTON— Mike Lowell returned to the starting lineup last night, but his torn left hip labrum is obviously still bothering him. Lowell went 0 for 4 in Game 1 of the ALDS, sat out Game 2 to rest his hip, then went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Game 3 last night as the Sox lost to the Angels, 5-4, in 12 innings. After he walked on a close 3-2 pitch in the 10th to load the bases with two outs, Alex Cora pinch-ran for him. Jed Lowrie then lined to right to end the threat. Lowrie then replaced Lowell at third and Cora took over at shortstop. Lowell didn’t move well in the field and allowed a Mark Teixeira grounder to bounce off his glove for a single in the eighth. The Angels tried bunting on Lowell only once. Leading off the 10th inning, Howie Kendrick hit a hard one-hopper to him and Lowell... [read full story]