BOSTON -- Here are a few tidbits about the Sox first half, courtesy of the Red Sox PR staff:

-- The Sox have used 44 players this season, 5 shy of their entire 2011 total. Only the Padres (47) have used more this season. The 44 players used by the Sox match the most ever for a Sox club before the All-Star break (1952 and 1995).

-- The Sox have used 14 outfielders this season, most in the majors. Eight outfielders have spent time on the DL (9 stints). Seven big-league teams have yet to use 8 outfielders this season. In all, 20 players have been on the DL (23 stints), with a loss of 945 games.

-- The Yankees, who just took 3 of 4 from the Red Sox, have more players currently on the DL (11) than the Sox (9). According to Elias, Boston is the only big-league team with three players on the DL who each played at least 130 games last season (Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia).

-- The Sox have hit at Fenway. Their 256 runs and 245 RBI at home are most in the AL, and they have 138 doubles at home, 43 more than next highest total (Arizona, 95). Their 195 extra-base hits at home are most in the majors.

-- The Sox are 18-9 against left-handed starters, their .667 percentage the best in the big leagues.

-- With 432 runs, Sox rank second in the majors. Their 802 hits and 409 RBIs also rank second.

-- The Sox bullpen has lowered its ERA from 8.44 on April 23 to 3.13 at the break, fourth best in the AL.

-- Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s 17 home runs at the break has been topped by a Sox catcher only once in history. Carlton Fisk had 18 at the break in 1973, when he finished with 26, still a record for a Sox catcher. Saltalamacchia is on pace to hit 32.

-- David Ortiz is the only player in the big leagues to hit 20 or more home runs in every season since 2002. His 1.013 OPS is the highest of his career at the break.