Bret Saberhagen Starting Pitcher Boston Red Sox Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA - - - - - -

BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox right-hander Bret Saberhagen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who has been plagued by arm miseries, pitched in a major league game for the first time since 1999 tonight.

Saberhagen, 37, had the third shoulder surgery of his career and second in five months in March 2000 and has been sidelined ever since. He started against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

During the day, the Red Sox activated Saberhagen from the 60-day disabled list and designated pitcher Peter Schourek for assignment. They also recalled pitcher Casey Fossum from Trenton of the Double-A Eastern League.

Schourek was 1-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 33 appearances with the Red Sox this season.

After four rehabilitation starts, Saberhagen appears ready to return to the rotation. Last Saturday for Pawtucket, he allowed two runs in six innings, throwing 52 of his 76 pitches for strikes.

This could be the last chance for Saberhagen, who underwent reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder after the 1995 season and did not return until May 1997. He has appeared in only 59 games since 1995.

Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette took a chance on Saberhagen in 1997. The following year, after recovering from his first shoulder procedure, Saberhagen went 15-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 31 starts.

In 1999, Saberhagen was 10-6 with a 2.95 ERA but was forced under the knife in November, after Boston's loss to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

If healthy, Saberhagen could be a key to Boston's postseason run. The Red Sox also are anxiously awaiting the return of ace Pedro Martinez, star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and center fielder Carl Everett.

Boston trailed the first-place Yankees by 2½ games in the AL East heading into Friday's action.

Saberhagen is 166-115 with a 3.33 ERA since breaking into the major leagues with Kansas City in 1984.

He was 20-6 with a 2.87 ERA with the Royals in 1985, winning the Cy Young and World Series Most Valuable Player award in a victory over St. Louis. He won Game Seven.

Saberhagen had his best year in 1989, going 23-6 with a 2.16 ERA en route to his second Cy Young honor. But he has appeared in more than 28 games just once since.

The Royals traded Saberhagen to the New York Mets in December 1991, and the Mets dealt him to the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline in 1995.