With Colby Lewis lost for the season with an elbow injury, the Texas Rangers will turn to young Martin Perez on Tuesday in the second test of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Lewis, Texas' Opening Day starter, spent some time on the disabled list recently with what was called forearm tendinitis, but he returned on Wednesday and was effective against Oakland. However, his arm again tightened up and this time an examination showed a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. Lewis will undergo surgery later this week and could be sidelined up until nine months.
"I feel bad for Colby, he's been a warrior," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "He's pitched a ton of innings and he's been such a leader by example."
So, tonight it will be the 21-year-old lefty Perez, who split his only two major league starts, posting a 3.18 ERA in place of Lewis earlier this season.
"The guy has proved he can pitch here, so we didn't hesitate to bring him back," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.
Texas relied on another injury replacement to win Monday's opener, as Scott Feldman made a spot-start in place of Roy Oswalt and fanned five while scattering seven hits in the Rangers', 9-1 victory.
The 29-year-old hadn't pitched since July 8 when he earned a win with two scoreless innings of relief in a 4-3, 13-inning Texas triumph over the Minnesota Twins.
"Tremendous outing," Washington said. "We certainly needed him to give us a chance tonight and he went way beyond what we expected."
Oswalt received a cortisone shot in his lower back Monday and is expected to make his next start.
Josh Hamilton provided an RBI double and a sacrifice fly, while Craig Gentry racked up two hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the Rangers, who won for only the second time in their last five tries.
Felix Doubront (10-5) was charged with six runs on eight hits and three walks over five-plus frames for Boston, which has dropped four straight.
"We got to go out there and battle," Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalammachia said. "We got to pitch better, we have to play better."
Tonight, Boston turns to righty Clay Buchholz, who was terrific on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, allowing just a run in eight innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 3-1 win. He is 8-3 on the year with a 5.19 ERA.
Buchholz has faced the Rangers four times and is 1-3 with a 3.91 ERA.
Texas has won all three of its meetings with the Red Sox this season.
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