Fenway clubhouse fumigated to flush flu germs

Leveled by a pesky flu bug that sidelined several key players - and even their play-by-play man - over the first week of the regular season, the Boston Red Sox are pulling out all the stops to eradicate the virus.

As the reigning American League East champions navigated a rough road trip that saw, among others, Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Joe Kelly, Robbie Ross Jr., and NESN broadcaster Dave O'Brien victimized by flu-like symptoms, the Red Sox had the home clubhouse at Fenway Park fumigated in an effort to get rid of the germs, reports Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com.

"This hasn't been able to be contained from one certain group to another or a couple of guys," manager John Farrell explained to ESPN's Scott Lauber on Saturday. "There's three different things that are going around -- one's a respiratory one, one's flu-like symptoms and one is the full-blown flu."

On Monday, one of the viruses claimed another victim, as reliever Tyler Thornburg's plans to have his shoulder strength checked - he opened the season on the 10-day disabled list due to trapezius discomfort - were scrapped due to the flu.

Still, despite Betts and Ramirez being limited to just two games apiece - and even though Andrew Benintendi was throwing up between innings Saturday - the Red Sox endured their trying first week with aplomb, going 3-2 with a positive run differential.

The Red Sox will head back to Boston following Monday's matinee against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, and will open a two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway on Tuesday.