Awaiting word on Lackey.

Byline: Bill Ballou

RED SOX 3, ORIOLES 1

FENWAY PARK, BOSTON

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

Balt. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0

Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 x 3 5 0

Winning pitcher: Buchholz (2-0). Losing pitcher: Chen (0-1). Att: 37,008.

The Red Sox remain in a positive frame of mind about the state of John Lackey's right arm, but a quick flashback to last July brings back memories of a similar frame of mind regarding an injury to David Ortiz's right Achilles' tendon.

"I think it'll be all right," Ortiz said as he left the clubhouse on the night of July 16, with manager Bobby Valentine adding that he thought Ortiz might have to miss a few days.

Ortiz has played one game since.

New manager John Farrell said Monday that the results of tests done that day on Lackey had not come back, but earlier tests showed no tear. The Sox believe it is inflammation in his right biceps.

However, when a pitcher leaves the mound in the obvious pain like Lackey on Saturday, it seems as though there may be more than normal inflammation.

"Before he gets back on a mound," Farrell said, "we put him through a good test."

It is unlikely Lackey will be able to pitch in his normal turn on Friday, Farrell added, but there remains a chance that Lackey can simply be pushed back and given extra rest and not have to go on the disabled list.

Alfredo Aceves is a strong candidate to step in for Lackey.

Roster round the world

The Red Sox' 25-man roster for the home opener was one of the most diverse in franchise history, if not the most diverse. It included players from seven countries - including the United States, Cuba (Jose Iglesias), Mexico (Alfredo Aceves), the Dominican Republic (Pedro Ciriaco), Canada (Ryan Dempster), Venezuela (Felix Doubront) and Japan (Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara).

Dempster is merely the third native of British Columbia to play for the Sox and the first pitcher since Ted Bowsfield in 1960. Jason Bay is the other British Columbian.

Boston's roster is, at present, quite homegrown with 10 of the 25 being farm system players, including six draft choices - Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, Will Middlebrooks and Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Sox also have an eclectic mix of players from the states. It includes Shane Victorino as the second Hawaiian in team history; joining Benny Agbayani; Clayton Mortensen, one of just two Idahoans to wear a Boston uniform (Mike Garman was the other); and Joel Hanrahan, only the second Iowan to play for the Red Sox...