Last-place Red Sox hoping for better health

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Red Sox look nothing like the team that won two World Series in four years. Or the one with the best record in the American League last season with only a month left.

Now they're a mediocre, injury-plagued bunch with fill-ins dotting the lineup and supposed aces struggling to win. No wonder they're at just .500 at the All-Star break.

On Sunday, they suffered a third loss in a four-game series against the New York Yankees, with Pedro Ciriaco, Mauro Gomez, Daniel Nava and Nick Punto in the lineup. At least David Ortiz, their best hitter this season, is still around.

It's hardly what he thought he was getting into when he decided to return with a $14.5 million, one-year contract.

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