RED SOX NOTEBOOK: Injured pair coming along

Eduardo Rodriguez and Ian Kinsler nearing the final steps of their respective rehabilitation.

PHILADELPHIA — As far as the Red Sox were concerned, there were two important games played Wednesday night.

The finale of Boston’s brief series with the Phillies took center stage at Citizens Bank Park. The undercard featured Eduardo Rodriguez facing Ian Kinsler and others in a simulated contest about five hours prior to the 7:07 p.m. first pitch.

The Sox left-handed pitcher and the second baseman both are nearing the final steps of their respective rehabilitation. Rodriguez (right ankle) threw 47 pitches over four innings to Kinsler (left hamstring strain), catcher Blake Swihart and assistant hitting coach Andy Barkett. Assuming there are no setbacks over the weekend, Rodriguez is likely to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Monday.

“I was throwing like normal,” Rodriguez said. “I was enjoying the competition. I was telling them to try to hit the ball and swing and take the pitches they take normally.”

Rodriguez turned the ankle in his last start against the Blue Jays on July 14. He was riding a scoreless streak that reached 19 innings before going down covering first base on an infield grounder. Rodriguez is being groomed to return in September as a starter but could also serve as a power option out of the bullpen in the postseason.

“Eduardo looks great,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “The movement of his pitches right where they had to be, very aggressive in the strike zone and he was able to repeat his delivery.”

Kinsler was just three games into his Boston tenure after a trade from the Angels when he exited early in an Aug. 3 game against the Yankees. He collected three hits and made a pair of spectacular defensive plays against New York the previous night, helping the Red Sox through the first half of what would become a four-game sweep.

“There’s not much you can do,” Kinsler said. “With a muscle injury you try to strengthen it and you try to make sure everything around it is strong. Just take all the steps and wait for the muscle to heal and get back out there when you’re ready.”

Keeping in mind that Kinsler is a veteran of 1,767 career games over 13 seasons, Cora and the Boston brass opted to bypass a rehab assignment in favor of an immediate activation. Kinsler will likely make his return Friday night against the Rays and play a limited schedule over the next couple weeks.

“We don’t want to all of a sudden go out there and play 10, 12 games in a row,” Cora said. “I think in the beginning he’ll play two out of three, and then we’ll go from there.”

Bouncing back: It was a relatively stress-free ninth inning for Craig Kimbrel in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Philadelphia, a welcome change from his recent form.

The Red Sox closer has turned in a pair of scoreless frames over his last two appearances and is hoping to move on from one of his roughest stretches with the club to date. Kimbrel allowed six earned runs and was hammered by opposing hitters for an 1.142 OPS in six outings from July 23 to Aug. 11. That Boston eventually won all six of those games provides little solace concerning a pitcher who was utterly dominant last season.

“(Pitching coach Dana LeVangie) felt that mechanics-wise he’s getting closer,” Cora said. “The velocity is there, but I think the slider was a lot better yesterday.”

Kimbrel issued a leadoff walk to pinch hitter Justin Bour before retiring the next three men in order. He’s issued 23 free passes in 50 games this season, far more than the 14 Kimbrel totaled in 67 outings last year.

Around the bases: As expected, Mookie Betts was given the day off on Wednesday. Andrew Benintendi slid up to the leadoff spot and Brock Holt batted second while playing second base. Holt’s home run in the eighth inning on Tuesday snapped a 1-1 tie. … Regardless of Wednesday’s result, Boston was assured of winning or splitting its 12th straight series. The Red Sox were 9-0-2 dating to their last series defeat, dropping two of three at Yankee Stadium from June 29 to July 1. … Thursday marks the fourth of five scheduled off days for Boston in August.