PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) – Mike Lowell hit a two-run single on a rehab assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox on Friday night.

Pawtucket defeated Syracuse 6-1 in the International League game, the first of three rehab assignments for Boston’s third baseman. Lowell, 34, went on the disabled list April 10 after spraining his left thumb diving for a ground ball against Detroit.

He was Pawtucket’s designated hitter Friday and finished the game 1-for-5.

Lowell is scheduled to play third base Saturday night at Buffalo and DH on Sunday afternoon against the Bisons.

Lowell, Boston’s World Series MVP last season, was hitting .200 (6-for-30) in nine games before his injury.

On Friday night, Pawtucket loaded the bases with two outs in the second and Lowell lined a 3-and-1 pitch to center for a two-run single that gave the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

He was out on a broken-bat popup in the first and flied out to center on an 0-1 pitch in the fifth. With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth, Lowell fouled out on the first pitch. He popped out on a 1-0 pitch in the eighth.

Sean Casey leaves game with injury

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Boston’s Sean Casey left Friday night’s game against Tampa Bay after injuring his hip running the bases in the second inning.

The Red Sox described the injury as a right hip flexor strain. The first baseman limped across the plate when he scored from second on Jacoby Ellsbury’s RBI single.

The team said Casey’s status is day to day.