Sox activate Sale; Bogaerts, Benintendi rest
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BALTIMORE -- Brandon Workman, who pitched twice in the series against the Orioles, was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Chris Sale, who returned from the disabled list on Sunday to strike out 12 across five innings in the Red Sox's 4-1 series-sweeping win over Baltimore at Camden Yards.
Right-handed pitcher William Cuevas, who served as the 26th man during Saturday's doubleheader, also returned to Pawtucket.
Bogaerts, Benintendi rest
The consequences of three games in 24 hours have taken a toll on the Red Sox.
Xander Bogaerts jammed his left pinky sliding into third base in Boston's Game 2 win over Baltimore on Saturday night. X-rays taken after the game were negative, manager Alex Cora said, but the shortstop sat in Sunday's series finale to get extended rest with an off-day on Monday.
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Cora does not foresee Bogaerts' injury impacting his availability past Sunday.
"Last night, he was like, 'I'm ready to play now,'" Cora said. "I get it, but no. But we'll use him if we need him."
Andrew Benintendi also got the day off on Sunday -- his second game in a row -- as Cora described his legs as a little heavy following the midweek series on Toronto's turf field. Benintendi pinch-hit in Game 2 on Saturday, but he struck out to snap a 10-game hitting streak.
Like Bogaerts, Benintendi is not expected to miss more time; rather, Cora said he wanted the left fielder out about two and a half days, without starting Saturday night or Sunday, plus the Monday off-day.
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"After I pinch hit him, I was like, 'What am I doing?" Cora said jokingly. He added, "They were giving me a hard time because he had a 10-game hitting streak. I killed it, so he was what, 46 away [from the record]?"
Johnson enters from 'pen
The series against Baltimore has weighed heavily on Boston's bullpen, but it got an addition on Sunday. Brian Johnson, who had been in line to start during the upcoming series in Philadelphia, came out of the 'pen to toss a scoreless seventh inning. He also warmed up momentarily during Game 2 on Saturday, but he was never used.