Pedroia placed on DL with hyperextended thumb

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a hyperextended right thumb -- the same finger he hurt earlier in the season.

"I'm pretty frustrated by it," the 2008 AL MVP said before Friday night's game against the New York Yankees. "You work so hard in the offseason to prevent injury and you get a couple of freak accidents, same thumb. It stinks. I'll be fine. I'll produce in a major way this season to help our team, I promise you guys that."

The move was retroactive to Wednesday. Infielder Pedro Ciriaco was selected from Triple-A Pawtucket to take his place, and Rich Hill was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Ciriaco on the 40-man roster.

The Red Sox also activated outfielder Scott Podsednik from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Pawtucket.

Pedroia hasn't played since injuring his thumb on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics when he landed on the back of his thumb trying to make a diving catch. The team said in a statement that the injury was not related to the one that sidelined him for six games in May.

"My other injury is healed. It's 100 percent healed," Pedroia said. "That's the part that's frustrating. I was about to get on a huge run the rest of the way, like I always do, and this happens. But there is still a lot of games left, I'll heal this thing up, get out there and it will make a huge difference.

"I'm a lizard. I heal while I play. I'm a freak healer. I heal great."

Pedroia is batting .266 with six home runs and 33 RBIs.

Ciriaco hit .301 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 64 games with Pawtucket this year while appearing at every infield position except first base.

Hill has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 10 with a left elbow strain. Podsednik had been on the DL since June 19 with a left groin strain.

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