Boston Red Sox left fielder, Carl Crawford, earned AL Player of the Week honors this week for his offensive outburst during Boston’s seven-game roadtrip over the past week.

After a historically slow start to the season, Crawford has been on a surge as of late, batting .423 over the seven game stretch with two doubles, two triples and three home runs to go along with eight RBIs.

Crawford also led the majors in slugging percentage (1.000) and total bases (26) during the week.

The outfielders offensive onslaught was highlighted by back-to-back four-hit games against Cleveland and Detroit on Wednesday and Thursday. Crawford went 8-of-9 from the plate over the two days, tallying five extra-base hits and five RBIs, while raising his batting average from .212 to .244 through the stretch.

Boston won both games in blowout fashion, 14-1 vs. Cleveland followed by a 14-2 pummelling in Detroit.

This marks the fourth time in his career that Crawford has been honored with the weekly award. Last receiving the honor on June 21, 2010.

Crawford will receive a gold watch from the league to commemorate winning the award.

The 29-year-old batted .300 in May, blasting three homeruns and driving in 15 RBIs during the months, and raised his average to a much more respectable .232 heading into June.

The most important part of Crawford’s turnaround might be the fact that there will be a lot more leeway for manager Terry Francona in the Red Sox lineup moving forward. The $142 Million man has been stuck at the bottom of the batting order for the better half of two months and with the sudden surge is now batting sixth and may even find himself back at the top very soon.

BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Red Sox have activated right-hander Bobby Jenks(notes)
from the 15-day disabled list.

Jenks was in uniform and available for Tuesday night’s game against his old
team, the Chicago White Sox.

To make room for Jenks on the roster, the Red Sox optioned righty Michael
Bowden(notes) to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Also Tuesday, the Red Sox said injured shortstop Marco Scutaro(notes) has been
cleared to resume baseball activities. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka(notes) went for a
second opinion on his injured right elbow.

Jenks has been on the disabled list since May 2 with a right biceps strain.
He has pitched in 11 games in Boston this year, going 1-2 with a 9.35 ERA and 10
strikeouts.

BOSTON – Bobby Jenks is back and healthy, ready for a second try at getting his Red Sox career off the ground.

The right-handed relief pitcher was activated Tuesday, four weeks after a biceps strain sent him to the disabled list.

To make room, reliever Michael Bowden was returned to Pawtucket.

“It’s something we could have caught sooner, but I was being stubborn and not telling everybody about it,” said Jenks, reflecting on the injury that cost him a month.

“I’m anxious to get back and pitch the way I can and start earning my paycheck.”

The Red Sox signed the former Chicago White Sox closer to a two-year, $12 million contract in the offseason.

He had a tremendous spring training, which was unusual for Jenks, then flopped in April. In 11 games, Jenks went 1-2 with a 9.35 ERA.

Frustration may have aggravated the biceps problem, causing Jenks to overthrow.

“It was a day game, he was mad and he was firing at about 97 miles an hour. That may have been part of the problem,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

By mid-May, he was anxious to resume pitching, but the Red Sox moved with caution.

“I think we did it the right way, letting him shake off the rust. Hopefully we can get him on a little roll,” Francona said.

Jenks made two Triple-A rehab outings. Francona said it would be nice to ease the pitcher back in less stressful situations, but not necessary.

“I’d prefer to bring him back when we’re up 11-0, because it would mean we’re up 11-0,” the manager said.

“He’s a veteran, though. We’ll probably use him pretty much in the normal way.”

Jenks’ return coincides with the Fenway visit of his previous team. He left on sour terms with the White Sox, and verbal sniping between Jenks and Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen continued for part of the offseason.

Jenks took swipes at Guillen’s handling of the bullpen. The Chicago manager fired back with his own criticism of Jenks.

“Sure, I regret that. I spent a lot of time there and have a lot of good memories,” Jenks said.

“It’s water under the bridge now, though. I’m with the Red Sox now, and my focus is on this organization.

“We’ve been playing the way we were supposed to play. The ballclub you see now is the one we knew we had.”

GO BRUINS: The Red Sox are considering a time change for Saturday’s game against Oakland. The scheduled start of 7:10 could be moved to a day start, most likely 1:10, to avoid a conflict with Game 2 of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup finals game at Vancouver.

The Bruins’ game Saturday starts at 8.

IMPROVING: Shortstop Marco Scutaro has been given the green light for all baseball-related activities. A left oblique strain sent Scutaro to the disabled list May 8.

Outfielder Darnell McDonald (quadriceps strain) has begun a Triple-A rehab stint. Left-handed reliever Franklin Morales (forearm strain) is also improving physically, but a timetable on his progress is undetermined.

BOSTON – Carl Crawford was named American League player of the week for the period ending May 29.

The Red Sox left fielder hit .423 (11-for-26) with two doubles, two triples, three home runs and eight RBIs in seven games. He led the majors in total bases (26) and slugging percentage (1.000).

Other players he considered included New York outfiielder Curtis Granderson, who had 10 hits and batted .417.

By SportsDirect

POSTED: 1:53 pm MDT May 31, 2011

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BOSTON (AP) — Alexei Ramirez and Carlos Quentin each had a pair of RBIs in a four-run sixth inning as the Chicago White Sox snapped Jon Lester’s seven-game winning streak and beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 on Monday night.

Paul Konerko added a solo homer for the White Sox, who halted a three-game losing skid and won for the 11th time in their last 13 games against the Red Sox.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homer for Boston, which lost its second straight but only its fourth in its last 17 games.

Jake Peavy (2-0), making just his fourth start after working back from season-ending right shoulder surgery last July, held Boston to three runs, six hits, striking out two and not walking anyone over seven innings on the eve of his 30th birthday.

Jesse Crain got two outs, but was hit on the side by Gonzalez’s hard grounder, and Matt Thornton recorded the final four outs.

With the score tied 3-3 in the sixth, Chicago chased Lester (7-2) with four runs. Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham, back in the lineup after missing the previous two games after getting hit below the left eye with a relay throw, singled. Juan Pierre walked to load the bases before Ramirez’s bloop fell in behind first baseman Gonzalez for a two-run double.

Dan Wheeler relieved and Quentin singled in two more, making it 7-3.

Lester gave up seven runs and eight hits, and walked and struck out four apiece in 5 2/3 innings, halting his eight-game unbeaten stretch. He gave up eight runs in his only career start against the White Sox last season.

Chicago had increased its lead to 3-1 in the third when Konerko homered off an advertisement above the Green Monster seats before Boston tied it with two runs in the bottom of the inning. It was his 376th career homer, tying him for 66th all-time with former White Sox and Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who was in Fenway Park and shown on the center field video board as a one of Boston’s legends.

Dustin Pedroia’s two-run single tied the game. The former AL MVP had been just 3-for-30 with three RBIs with runners in scoring position and less than two outs.

The White Sox had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first. Ramirez singled and Quentin was hit by a pitch, the first of two times that Lester hit him in the game. After Konerko singled to load the bases, A.J. Pierzynski drove in a pair with a single up the middle.

Gonzalez homered into the White Sox bullpen to cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning.

NOTES: Quentin entered the game with nine hit by pitches, leading the AL … White Sox DH/1B Adam Dunn, hitless in 38 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, was taken out of the lineup against lefty Lester. But Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen was sticking by him. “I know he’s had a tough year,” Guillen said. “I hope he’s not thinking, ‘They paid me all this money.’ I talked to him in Toronto and told him don’t worry about it. As long as he’s healthy he’s going to be in the lineup.” Dunn signed a $56-million, 4-year contract as a free agent during the offseason. … Boston manager Terry Francona said RHP Bobby Jenks, who made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, is expected to be activated off the 15-day DL today. He was sidelined with a right biceps strain. … Francona also said Red Sox LHP reliever Franklin Morales, acquired from Colorado on May 19, had an MRI Monday on his strained left forearm. … Guillen switched Ttoday’s and Wednesday’s starters. Gavin Floyd, who took the loss in relief of Saturday’s 14-inning game in Toronto, will now go in Wednesday’s series finale. Phil Humber was moved up to Tuesday.