FEVER PITCH
State, Sox stricken by second wave of brutal flu strain
A brutal, late-season flu strain that is racing through Massachusetts has left its mark on the Red Sox roster and forced the team to quarantine a handful of congested and feverish starters in the hopes of containing the bug that is depleting the clubhouse.
The type-B flu strain, which accounted for more than half of the new confirmed Bay State influenza cases at the beginning of the month, appears to be gaining steam despite the onset of more spring-like weather, according to state numbers.
Right fielder Mookie Betts is expected to be back in the lineup today after returning from a threeday flu quarantine. The latest ballplayer to fall victim was reliever Joe Kelly, who was sent away from Comerica Park yesterday before the opening pitch. Hours later, left fielder Andrew Benintendi threw up in the middle of the game.
And though their players appear to be dropping like flies, the Red Sox were crossing their fingers.
“We’re hopeful that was just a one-time deal,” manager John Farrell said of Benintendi. “And we’ll see how he feels when he comes in tomorrow.”
The flu bug has been relentless after it settled into the Red Sox clubhouse during spring training. Left-handed reliever Robbie Ross Jr. is on the disabled list with a diagnosed case of influenza. Designated hitter Hanley Ramirez has also been diagnosed and was left behind in Boston.
“He’s dealing with a pretty highgrade fever,” Farrell said. “So his status for this entire series is questionable.” Utility infielder Brock Holt and first baseman Mitch Moreland have each returned after missing time with the illness. Third baseman Pedro Sandoval has said he feels sick, but isn’t dealing with the same kind of illness as the teammates around him.
Farrell said symptoms in the clubhouse range from respiratory issues to simple flu-like symptoms to full-blown influenza.
“We’ve removed people to quarantine them,” Farrell said, “and yet this hasn’t been able to be contained.”
The virus even made its way to the broadcast booth. NESN announcer David O’Brien’s midgame departure yesterday forced studio host Tom Caron to take over the play-by-play.
Peter Chai, a doctor in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital emergency department, said a clubhouse would be a tough place to try to control a wildfire virus like the late-season type-B flu that’s exploding from coast to coast.
“I don’t know how you tell a locker-room full of guys, ‘Don’t cough on one another and wash your hands more,’ ” Chai said.
“If I were managing this, I would say, it’s never too late to get your flu vaccine,” he added. “The way the flu is spread is like many of the communicable diseases, it’s all aerosol. It’s coughing and getting droplets on people. The more you can protect yourself from that, the better you are doing.”