Oil Can Boyd Is Loser, Sox Win in Arbitration

Pitcher Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd of the Boston Red Sox lost his salary arbitration case Wednesday, giving management victory in two-thirds of the cases heard thus far. The loss was the 14th for the players in 21 decisions.

Arbitrator Glen Wong, a law professor at the University of Massachusetts, ruled in New York that the right-hander should be paid the club’s proposed salary, $550,000.

Boyd and his agent, George Kalafatis, were seeking $695,000. Boyd posted a 16-10 record and a 3.78 earned-run average last season while earning $375,000.

“We’re just happy it’s over,” Red Sox spokesman Jim Samia said. Boyd could not be reached for comment.