June 8, 2001

By The Associated Press

Todd Greene is doing just fine filling in for the New York Yankees. Now the Boston Red Sox need a replacement catcher, too.

Jason Varitek homered in the second inning of Boston's 8-1 victory over Detroit on Thursday night, then broke his right elbow while making a sliding catch of a foul ball in the seventh.

"He's fearless," Boston manager Jimy Williams said of Varitek before the extent of the injury was announced. "He couldn't throw properly. We had to take him out."

Varitek avoided injury last Monday night in a 7-6 loss to the Yankees when he made a catch on the top step of the New York dugout and grabbed a railing to avoid falling.

He overcame a slow start offensively and batted .304 in May, when he became the first catcher in team history to hit three homers in one game.

The Red Sox said more tests would be done Friday, and it's not known how long Varitek will be sidelined. Boston's backup catcher is Scott Hatteberg, who's batting .172 in 58 at-bats.