BALTIMORE — Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia did not play in Saturday night’s 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles because of a sore left knee and ankle, the result of a takeout slide by Manny Machado the previous evening.
It is not expected Pedroia will land on the disabled list.
“I’ll be all right,’’ he said. “If I have to go in the game, I’ll go in the game.’’
Pedroia had surgery on his left knee in October to repair a torn meniscus and his initial concern was that Machado’s slide had caused another injury. But the medical staff did not feel an MRI was necessary.
“The fact that his left foot was not stationary or planted maybe helped absorb some of the impact,’’ Sox manager John Farrell said. “Based on the exam in the training room [Friday], how he felt throughout the night and then coming in [Saturday], at least at this point there’s not the feeling that there needs to be any imaging or further testing.’’
Pedroia watched the replay of the slide, which resulted in Machado’s right foot slamming into the back of his knee.
“I saw it. I don’t care,’’ he said. “It’s baseball. We’re trying to get one out. I just put my foot on the back part of the base to try and get that out. If he had slid into the part of the base that I gave him, he’d have been safe. Luckily he didn’t and we got the out.’’
Pedroia did not offer an opinion on whether the slide was too aggressive.
“I’m not the baseball police, man. I got three kids, I don’t have time for that,’’ he said.
Machado sent a text message to Pedroia after the game to express his concern. Pedroia said he thanked Machado for reaching out but didn’t share the details.
“Want me to add you to the text or something? This isn’t a group chat, man,’’ he said.
Many of the Red Sox players and coaches were upset with Machado’s slide.
Farrell termed it “extremely late’’ several times and said it was illegal. But Pedroia claimed not to care.
“I don’t have an issue with anything,’’ he said. “My job’s to play baseball and win. This isn’t seventh grade, man. You know what I mean? I just play baseball. That’s it. I care about our guys. I don’t care about anybody else. We just play the game.’’
Hernandez gets nod
Marco Hernandez started in Pedroia’s place at second base. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts was the leadoff hitter.
Bogaerts did not start Friday night because of a jammed left thumb, but was able to wrap it up sufficiently to swing the bat.
It was the ninth start of the season for Hernandez, a 23-year-old the coaching staff is steadily developing more faith in. After going 1 for 3 Saturday, he is hitting .290. He has started games at three positions.
“He’s made an impact. He’s swung the bat well,’’ Farrell said. “It’s the primary reason why he’s been the one guy . . . when opportunities have been presented.
“He’s done a very good job. He’s carried the momentum he gained in spring training to the beginning of this year. Good-looking young hitter.’’
Hernandez, 24, came up through the minor leagues as a shortstop but was introduced to second base and third base after the Sox obtained him from the Cubs in 2014 for lefthander Felix Doubront.
“I feel comfortable anywhere in the infield now,’’ Hernandez said. “Shortstop was home but third base is fine and second base, too.’’
Farrell said Hernandez has shown the bat speed to handle quality pitching and the needed defensive versatility. With Brock Holt on the disabled list, Hernandez is the primary backup at three positions.
“He gives you confidence,’’ Farrell said. “He’ll be, I think, a key contributor as we go forward.’’
The Sox do not plan to use Hernandez in the outfield. He did some work there last season and was not comfortable.
Protecting Betts
When Pedroia left Friday’s game, third baseman Pablo Sandoval moved to second base and Steve Selsky came in to play third. Hernandez had been pinch hit for in the top of the inning.
Farrell said no consideration was given to the idea of using right fielder Mookie Betts at second base.
Betts played second base in the minors and for 14 major league games in 2014.
After watching Pedroia get taken out, Farrell wasn’t about to put Betts in that situation.
“I’m not going to take that chance with Mookie Betts,’’ he said.
Selsky has appeared twice at third base this season. He did not play there in the minors.
“Happy to do it,’’ he said. “There’s a lot of value in being versatile. Whatever they need.’’
Benintendi rests
Andrew Benintendi, who grounded into a pair of double plays Friday, was out of the lineup against Baltimore lefthander Jayson Aquino. Chris Young was in left field. Prior to Saturday, Benintendi has played every inning of every game. “Just felt like in watching some of the at-bats [Friday], today might be a good day for him,’’ Farrell said . . . David Price played catch from 90 feet during the afternoon. What day he next throws in the bullpen hasn’t been determined. It will likely be Monday or Tuesday. The lefthander is coming back from an elbow injury . . . Eduardo Rodriguez, who starts Sunday afternoon in the finale, is 2-1 with a 1.63 earned run average in five career starts at Camden Yards. The former Orioles prospect missed his last start due to the birth of his son but pitched a scoreless inning of relief in Toronto on Wednesday. He also threw an extra bullpen session. “I feel fine, pretty normal,’’ Rodriguez said.
