Carl Crawford's return to the Red Sox will be delayed because of a tweaked groin muscle. Bobby Valentine characterized the decision to stop Crawford's current rehab stint as preventative. "He hit a triple [on Thursday] and when he turned second, he just felt a little twinge there," Valentine said. "Taking a couple days off from hitting and playing. He's going to go right back in and start hitting soon in a game. It's not a strain or anything. It's ice prevention. Or it's a little preventative thing to make sure it doesn't get worse." Position players have 20 days to rehab in the Minor Leagues. Crawford's first rehab game came June 23 in the Gulf Coast League, which made Saturday the 15th day of his current stint. The groin situation gives the Sox and Crawford the benefit or more rehab time.