Dustin Pedroia’s left knee is ailing. Pablo Sandoval’s right knee is being checked out. Brock Holt is on the disabled list because of vertigo. So the first question to Josh Rutledge is obvious:

How do you feel?

Rutledge, a Red Sox utility infielder, has been on the disabled list since late March because of a strained hamstring. He made a rehab appearance Monday night with the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field.

“Feeling pretty good,” Rutledge said. “Getting better every day.”

The Sea Dogs lost 5-0 to the Hartford Yard Goats as Rutledge went 0 for 3 with a walk.

Rutledge, who previously played four games with Triple-A Pawtucket, plans to be with the Sea Dogs again Tuesday. But it’s possible the Red Sox might be calling.

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“We’ll see,” said Rutledge. “It’s supposed to rain everywhere.”

Rutledge, who turned 28 on Friday, is in his second stint with the Red Sox. Initially acquired from the Angels in 2015 in exchange for Shane Victorino, Rutledge stayed with the Red Sox through last year – although he was shut down in June because of patellar tendinitis in his left knee.

Taken off the 40-man roster, Rutledge signed a minor league deal with the Rockies, his first organization.

But the Red Sox wanted Rutledge back and chose him in the Rule 5 draft, meaning Rutledge has to stay on the major league roster (after his rehab stint) or be returned to Colorado.

In spring training, Rutledge appeared to solidify a spot on the roster as a right-handed utility player before his injury March 28.

Rutledge played third base on Monday. His first chance was a fly ball in shallow left field. Rutledge appeared to get under it, but the ball dropped. Rutledge still threw out the lead runner at second base.

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“It went further than I expected and then I kind of lost it,” he said.

In his four plate appearances, Rutledge walked, lined out to right, flew out to right and struck out looking.

The Sea Dogs managed eight hits, including two apiece from Aneury Tavarez, Danny Mars and Tzu-Wei Lin.

Portland’s best chance came in the third when Joseph Monge tried to score from second on Mars’ single to right. Right fielder Drew Weeks threw him out.

Portland starter Jacob Dahlstrand (1-1) had a three-hit shutout through five innings, but he began the sixth by allowing two singles and Weeks’ three-run homer over the left-field wall. He was charged with four runs in 51/3 innings.

“The fastball was good and so was the slider,” Dahlstrand said. “Just lost focus (in the sixth) and got too comfortable. That didn’t work out too well.”

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Hartford starter Jack Wynkoop (2-0) pitched eight scoreless innings.

NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 2,883. … Tavarez is hitting .408. He was 1 for 2 in stolen-base attempts and is 5 for 8 this year. He was also thrown out trying to take an extra base on a wild pitch. … Lin is on a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .333. … Mars upped his average to .361.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases


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