Beckett to Miss Friday Start due to Back Spasms

BOSTON (AP) – Red Sox manager Terry Francona says pitcher Josh

Beckett will probably miss Friday's start because back spasms kept

him from making his usual off-day workout.

Francona says that Beckett was checked out Tuesday morning by

doctors after experiencing tightening in his lower back and side.

The manager says Beckett just needs to rest.

Beckett had already been pushed back from Wednesday to Friday

because of the injury. Tim Wakefield will pitch Wednesday, and

there is an off-day on Thursday that will allow the rotation to get

back in order.

Francona also says that J.D. Drew is back in the lineup on

Tuesday after missing Monday with vertigo.