BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox were ready to enjoy a day off. Now they’ll be thinking about the health of one of their early bullpen surprises.

Left-hander Rich Hill walked off the mound after grabbing near his left elbow Wednesday in Boston’s 7-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Trying to snap off a curveball on a 3-2 pitch to Adam Dunn, Hill immediately reached near the elbow.

Additional Photos

Rich Hill of the Red Sox is assisted by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia after injuring his forearm in the seventh inning. The Associated Press

Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox reaches to tag Juan Pierre of the Chicago White Sox, who stole second in the fifth inning of Chicago’s 7-4 win Wednesday at Fenway Park. The Associated Press

“It’s a pitcher’s worst nightmare,” said Daniel Bard, who replaced Hill with the bases loaded. “I kind of felt for him and had to switch gears.”

Manager Terry Francona and a trainer rushed to the mound, and Hill, who had retired 24 of the 30 batters he faced before Wednesday, went to the clubhouse.

Hill, a nonroster invitee to spring training, signed as a minor league free agent last June. He’s become one of the more consistent pitchers in Boston’s bullpen since he was recalled in early May, throwing eight scoreless innings.

Since signing last year, Hill had gone 12 scoreless innings over 14 appearances. He’s the first pitcher in Red Sox history to go scoreless over his first 14 outings, the team said.

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the first to the mound, motioned for the medical staff.

“He said he felt something pop in there and it was kind of burning,” Saltalamacchia said. “Hopefully he’s OK.”

Francona said the initial tests were good, but Hill went for an MRI exam. The club said he suffered a “forearm injury.”

“He felt a lot of discomfort in his forearm, which you could see,” Francona said. “When somebody grabs his arm like that, you’ve got to get him checked out.”

Bard retired two batters to escape the bases-loaded jam.

Boston went 5-1 on the road before losing the second part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday in Detroit. Now, second baseman Dustin Pedroia feels a break will rejuvenate the club.

“We’re fine. We had that day-nighter in Detroit and got home around 5 in the morning and everybody has been kind of dragging,” Pedroia said. “But the White Sox are playing good. We’ve got a day off (today), get some rest and we’ll come back.”

Gavin Floyd (6-5) allowed four runs in 62/3 innings and improved to 2-5 in day games. Sergio Santos pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 10 opportunities.

Boston, which had two hits in the last seven innings, lost its fourth straight for the first time since a six-game, season-opening slide. The Red Sox open a three-game series Friday night against Oakland.

Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead single in the seventh and a two-run homer in the ninth for the White Sox. Matt Albers (1-3) replaced Tim Wakefield to start the seventh and retired just one of the four batters he faced, allowing singles to the other three.

Konerko’s homer was his 377th, tying Norm Cash and Jeff Kent for 64th place all time. He has 12 this season and two in his last two games.

The White Sox won their seventh straight game at Fenway Park, their longest winning streak there since they also won seven in 1958-59. They are 13-2 in their last 15 in Boston. Chicago is 9-1 against Boston from the start of last season.

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez wrapped up an outstanding series, going 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. He was 9 for 14 in the series.

The Red Sox battered Floyd through two innings with three runs and seven hits.

In the first, singles by Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez put runners at first and third with no outs, but Kevin Youkilis grounded into a double play.

Boston took a 3-0 lead in the second when five of the first six batters got hits. David Ortiz led off with a double and took third on a single by Carl Crawford. Jed Lowrie’s ground-rule double drove in one run and Saltalamacchia drove in two more.

Floyd didn’t allow another hit until the sixth, when Ortiz led off with his 13th homer.

The White Sox managed one hit off Wakefield in the first three innings, then scored four in the next three.

They got a run in the fourth on a walk to Ramirez, a passed ball and an RBI double by Brent Lillibridge, and made it 3-3 with two runs in the fifth.

Ramon Castro walked, took second on a single by Gordon Beckham and third when Juan Pierre grounded into a forceout at second. Castro then scored on a groundout by Ramirez, and Pierre, who had stolen second, came in on a double by Carlos Quentin.

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