TORONTO — The Boston Red Sox have hired Carl Willis as their new pitching coach, reuniting him with Manager John Farrell.

The Red Sox made the announcement Saturday after their 14th loss in 20 games, 7-1 to Toronto. They began the day with an AL-worst 4.95 ERA.

Willis was working as the pitching coach for Cleveland’s Triple-A team in Columbus. He takes over after Juan Nieves was fired Thursday, and will join the Red Sox on Sunday for the series finale against the Blue Jays.

Willis previously was the pitching coach for Cleveland and Seattle.

Farrell was the director of player development and worked with Willis for several years. Before Saturday’s game, Farrell praised his former colleague for his “ability to connect with many different types of individual personalities.”

The 54-year-old Willis was a reliever for nine years in the majors, finishing in 1995.

TIGERS: David Price has a mild strain of his right hamstring, and Detroit plans to decide early next week when the star left-hander will make his next start.

Price got hurt on a fluky play Friday night against Kansas City, stepping on a bat that had been tossed aside by the plate umpire in anticipation of a play at home. The Tigers disclosed the extent of his injury Saturday, the same day they announced catcher Alex Avila had gone on the 15-day disabled list with a knee issue.

Price is 3-1 with a 3.30 ERA this season. He said Saturday he was feeling fine.

The Tigers described Avila’s injury as a “loose body.” He may need arthroscopic surgery.

RANGERS: Josh Hamilton knows in hindsight that he probably should have never left Texas.

When the slugger was first acquired by the Rangers from Cincinnati a few days before Christmas in 2007, a feel-good story got even better: The former No. 1 overall draft pick became an MVP and perennial All-Star after battling cocaine and alcohol addictions, even with a few stumbles.

Now he has another shot at redemption, again in Texas, in what very likely could be his last chance in baseball.

“The reason I’m making certain changes in my life is because I want to be OK after baseball’s over,” Hamilton said when re-introduced by Texas. “So I’ve done a lot of growing and a lot of learning and soul-searching, as you could say, over the past few weeks. I’m excited about being a Ranger.”

Hamilton is near an MLB reunion with the team he shunned after the 2012 season for a big free-agent contract with AL West rival Los Angeles. The Angels last month traded him back for little in return after two disappointing seasons and the recent offseason that included not only shoulder surgery but a self-reported relapse with cocaine and alcohol.

GIANTS: Barry Bonds will be inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on Monday. He was elected in a landslide by local media members last winter, earning more votes than any of the 71 names on the ballot.

The rest of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame class features former Giants manager Dusty Baker, Olympic skier Jonny Moseley, golfer Roger Maltbie and late Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli.

TWINS: Third baseman Trevor Plouffe missed Saturday’s game against the Indians because of a family matter.

Twins Manager Paul Molitor said Plouffe has flown to Texas, but he’s expected to rejoin the team for the finale of the three-game series Sunday.

Plouffe is batting .269 with five homers, which leads the team, and 17 RBI in 29 games. He’s hitting .316 since April 17 and has hit in 17 of his last 20 games.

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