"Lefthanded reliever Rich Hill, who left yesterday's game clutching his arm, has a serious injury according to a major league source and is likely to require season-ending surgery.

Hill and the Red Sox will seek a second opinion, but the MRI taken yesterday confirmed what seemed obvious as he walked off the mound.

It is devastating news for Hill, a Milton native who underwent shoulder surgery in 2009 and resurrected his career as a sidearm reliever. Hill had appeared in nine games this season and not allowed a run in eight innings. He gave up only three hits, walked three and struck out 12.

With Hill out, the Red Sox do not have a lefty reliever. They could remedy that before tomorrow night's game against Oakland by recalling Felix Doubront. Other alternatives would be Hideki Okajima or Andrew Miller. In those cases, however, a 40-man roster move would be needed."