CLEVELAND — Right-hander Jimmy Lambert, who was off to a promising start with two scoreless relief appearances in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, was placed on 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain. Right-hander Matt Foster was recalled from the Schaumburg training facility.
Lambert pitched the ninth inning in the Sox’ only victory, against the Twins Sunday, and he worked the fifth inning of the Sox’ 5-3 loss to the Indians in Game 2 of Tuesday’s doubleheader. Lambert allowed one hit and struck out one.
Foster, 25, combined to go 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA, five saves and 74 strikeouts over 43 relief appearances and 64 2⁄3 innings between Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte last season. He averaged 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings and limited opponents to a .211 batting average.
Lambert was pitching in relief but has been viewed as a potential starter in the near future.
“He’s going to continue to get evaluated and we’ll know more after the evaluation,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It’s preliminary, hopefully nothing bad but we’ll know more [going forward].”
Foster, who has no major-league experience, has been working with the taxi squad in Schaumburg, where live batting practice and bullpens ruled the day.
“It was kind of laid back in terms of letting us do things on our own and get ready, but it’s also you go out there and get after it,” he said.
