Decision time for Hanrahan.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Bill Ballou

Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 0

Fenway Park, Boston 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

Toronto 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

Boston 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 x 5 10 0

Winning pitcher: Lester (5-0). Losing pitcher: Ortiz (0-1). Att: 33,606.

Armed, but not dangerous.

That might be the bottom line on Joel Hanrahan's Red Sox career, with possible season-ending surgery on his right arm looming. Hanrahan had his visit with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., yesterday and the diagnosis is that the pitcher has a damaged flexor muscle tendon near his right elbow.

Hanrahan has options - surgery, or rest and rehab. The former ends his season, and since he is under contract only through 2013, possibly his Red Sox career. However, the success rate for the surgery is high.

If Hanrahan chooses rest and rehab, he will be sidelined for at least six weeks before he can even begin to start throwing, but could be back later in the summer. However, rest and rehab is not always the answer, especially if there is ulnar ligament damage, also.

That would not be known for sure until Hanrahan's elbow is operated on.

These days, most pitchers choose surgery, but not all. Scott Atchison could have had it last year, chose to let the elbow heal without an operation, and was able to pitch effectively after missing almost exactly two months.

Hanrahan's injury, while it seemed like one of those "ouchie" moments, is probably a result of wear and tear, manager John Farrell said. The reliever has mentioned feeling something in there as long ago as 2009.

The Red Sox got Hanrahan in a trade with Pittsburgh last winter, sending Mark Melancon, Stolmy Pimentel and Ivan De Jesus Jr. to the Pirates, but did not consider him a health risk because he had never missed any time with elbow problems.

Red Sox record milestone win

The Red Sox won their 9,000th game last night, according to the online source Baseball Reference. That is the second-most victories in American League history behind the Yankees.

Boston's all-time record is 9,000-8,412.

Of the American League's original eight teams in 1901, four have stayed put - the Red Sox, Indians, White Sox and Tigers. Four have moved at least once - the Yankees, Orioles, Twins and Athletics. Those original eight franchises ranked by victories, according to Baseball Reference, but only including Friday's Sox results:

Yankees - 9,882; Red Sox - 9,000; Indians - 8,857; Tigers - 8,847; White Sox - 8,806; Athletics - 8,456; Twins - 8,377; Orioles - 8,262.

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