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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was out of the starting lineup Sunday after taking a blow to the head on a tag play Saturday night. Red Sox manager John Farrell said that Pedroia has exhibited symptoms consistent with a concussion, primarily dizziness, but was improved Sunday morning. Pedroia appeared briefly in the clubhouse while reporters were present, but declined comment.  "He was seen by a doctor last night and likely will be checked again today,'' Farrell said. "We're holding him out for obvious reasons. Hoping this is a short term thing, but we'll have to go through the normal protocol, which is continued exams by doctors, making sure there are no symptoms, no fatigue, no dizziness, that are consistent with a concussion.'' The Red Sox filed the required paperwork Saturday night that Pedroia had been struck on the left side of the head by the forearm of Tampa Bay's Logan Forsythe on a tag play at second base in the second inning. Because rosters can be expanded Monday, there is no need to place Pedroia on the seven-day disabled list for concussions. "We have to follow the same protocol to get him back on the field,'' Farrell said. "Once we submit paperwork that there is an impact to the head, there is a protocol that has to be followed.'' Pedroia was apparently in good spirits Sunday morning. "Pedey was Pedey, but maybe to the next level,'' Farrell said. With the bases loaded and no out in the second Saturday, Rays catcher Ryan Hanigan hit a fly ball to deep center field, where it was caught by outfielder Mookie Betts. Rays second baseman Forsythe, who was on first base, tagged up and went into second base with a head-first slide. Pedroia, who had his back to the runner, took the throw and swept counter-clockwise to make the tag. Forsythe reached for the bag with his left hand, but his right forearm came up and struck Pedroia in the head. "Headfirst slide, Pedey's coming in to try and put a quick tag on him,'' Farrell said. "[Forsythe] struck him with his elbow, that was clear. It looked like momentum took him across the bag. He's reaching out ahead of him to try to brace himself and not slide past the bag. As he's reaching forward, he caught [Pedroia] with a good elbow to the side of the head.'' The Red Sox second baseman lay face-first on the ground while Farrell and trainer Brad Pearson ran out from the Sox dugout. Eventually, he was helped to his feet and assisted off the field by Pearson. "I didn't even know I really hit him [until] I turned back and I saw him down,'' Forsythe said. "I felt my arm hit something, and I put two and two together. I didn't see where I hit him until replay. I looked at it.'' Brock Holt played second base Sunday behind Clay Buchholz who threw a three-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays for a 3-0 victory. Betts was batted in Pedroia's No. 2 spot in the order and went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Second baseman Jemile Weeks, acquired from Baltimore on Saturday night in a waiver trade for corner infielder Kelly Johnson was en route to Tropicana Field and expected to arrive around game time.
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