Saberhagen Is Back Pitching Big Games

Boston Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams saw Bret Saberhagen walk off the mound that day in early May, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it would be the last time the veteran right-hander walked off a mound.

“This kid,” Williams said, “could not lift his arm.”

Saberhagen was diagnosed with a strained muscle in his right shoulder and was put on the disabled list May 7. Two weeks after being reinstated, Saberhagen went on the disabled list June 12 because of a cut on his left foot. Saberhagen’s shoulder stiffened in August, so back to the disabled list he went.

The former Reseda Cleveland High standout, who missed 1996 and most of ’97 because of shoulder surgery, had already won American League comeback player of the year honors in 1987 and 1998. Could he handle three comebacks in one season?

The answer can be found in today’s pitching matchups for Game 2 of the American League division series: Saberhagen, 35, will face Cleveland right-hander Charles Nagy.

“You know he loves to compete, so it’s not surprising he could handle [his rehabilitation] mentally,” Williams said. “I wasn’t sure he could handle it physically.”

Saberhagen’s shoulder is not 100%, and he will need surgery again this winter, but with strong anti-inflammatory pills and continued therapy, Saberhagen was able to pitch again, and effectively, this season.

“It seems like I’ve gone through spring training four times this year because of all the time for my injuries,” Saberhagen said.

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Reserve outfielder/designated hitter Reggie Jefferson was so upset the Red Sox left him off their playoff roster he left the team and returned home to Florida.

“We would have loved to have Reggie here supporting us,” Saberhagen said, “but he decided he wants to get away and clear his head a bit.”

Jefferson hit .277 in 83 games and leads the team with eight pinch-hits. His exclusion leaves Boston with one left-handed bat on the bench, reserve catcher Scott Hatteberg.

With Saberhagen, Ramon Martinez (shoulder) and Kent Mercker (rib cage) nursing injuries, Williams went with 11 pitchers instead of the normal 10. With third baseman John Valentin nursing a sore knee and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra a sore wrist, Williams carried an extra utility infielder, Lou Merloni. Jefferson was the odd man out.

TODAY’S PITCHERS

RED SOX’S BRET SABERHAGEN (10-6, 2.95 ERA) vs. INDIANS’ CHARLES NAGY

(17-11, 4.95 ERA)

Jacobs Field, Cleveland, 1 p.m. PDT.

TV--ESPN.

* Update--Nagy has a 7-1 record and 2.86 earned-run average against the Red Sox in his career but was hit hard in his only start against Boston this season, giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 11-7 Cleveland victory Sept. 3. After going 11-4 with a 4.43 ERA in the first half this season, Nagy struggled with a 6-7 record and 5.49 ERA in the second half. Saberhagen gave up one run and six hits in four innings of an April 24 start against Cleveland, his only appearance against the Indians this season.