Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan struggling with sore right hamstring

Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan will sit out several days with a sore right hamstring, but plans on avoiding the disabled list. (Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Boston Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan is dealing with soreness in his right hamstring that has contributed to his early struggles, manager John Farrell revealed on Sunday.

Farrell called the injury "manageable" and said he plans to sit Hanrahan for the next few days.

The 31-year-old right-hander, acquired in a trade with the Pirates during the offseason, has allowed six runs in 4.2 innings for an 11.57 ERA in his first six appearances, giving up three home runs and issuing five walks.

He allowed five runs in the ninth inning in a blown save against the Orioles on Wednesday.

From The Boston Globe's Scott Lauber:

Hanrahan said he told the Red Sox' training staff, not Farrell or pitching coach Juan Nieves, after initially tweaking his hamstring while throwing a slider during a scoreless ninth inning April 3 at Yankee Stadium. He dealt with the same injury in the same spot last season with the Pirates and missed only a few games. Based on that experience, and with the Red Sox having several days off early in the season, Hanrahan hoped he would be able to pitch through the discomfort. "That guy that's been out there the last couple games, that's not Joel Hanrahan," Hanrahan said. "I know that. The fans here, they don't know much because they haven't seen me pitch much. But that's not the way that I pitch. I feel like once I get my legs underneath me, I can get back to where I was."

...

If necessary, Andrew Bailey will be used in the closer role today against the Rays. Farrell said it's prematrue to determine if Hanrahan will have to go on the disabled list, a course of action Hanrahan was able to avoid last season when his hamstring flared.