Papi's dangerous bat expected back in Sox's lineup

JustinVerlander35 · Jun 29, 2011

It was only a matter of time.

The thought of sitting one of the most dangerous hitters in the game during a stretch in which the Red Sox play nine straight games in National League ballparks was too much for Boston manager Terry Francona. Last week, Francona hinted he might shift two-time NL Gold Glove-winning first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the outfield so David Ortiz could get into the lineup at first base.

On Wednesday, that scenario likely will come to fruition. Although Francona declined to comment Tuesday night on Wednesday's lineup, Oritz seemed to think he would be taking the field Wednesday.

"I'll prepare to play and try my best," Ortiz said. "I'm not going to be all fancy. I'm going to try. That's what I always think about. Got to get the chances to go out there and try your best like always, right?"

If the lineup is, indeed, written that way, it will mark the first time Ortiz plays first since June 27, 2010, and the first time Gonzalez plays right field since Sept. 30, 2005.

The last time Gonzalez played right field, he was a 23-year-old with the Rangers. It was the third-to-last game of the 2005 season, and less than four months later, he was traded to San Diego, where he became one of the best players in the game. All but 37 of Gonzalez's 909 career starts have come at first base, with the other 36 coming as a designated hitter.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia right-hander Vance Worley (2-1, 2.83 ERA) will get the first crack at the potentially-revamped Boston lineup as the Phillies and Red Sox continue their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park.

In his last start, Worley struggled with command but pitched effectively, allowing only one hit in six shutout innings against the A's. It was his second solid outing since returning to the rotation, but also the second consecutive start in which he didn't make it past the sixth inning.

Opposing Worley is Red Sox right-hander John Lackey, who is 3-1 since returning from the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain. Lackey's lone loss came in his last start, the right-hander's shortest outing of the season. In that outing, Lackey (5-6, 7.36 ERA) lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in a game he had to pitch in through rain.

"The conditions were tough. Now they were tough for everybody, but you could tell, he couldn't command anything," Francona said. "I know [pitching coach Curt Young] went out to the mound, was like, 'OK, let's find something,' he was like 'I'm trying,' just wasn't happening.

"His three starts up to that were really good. I like to hang my hat on, 'OK, this was a bad day, move on.'"
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Papi's dangerous bat expected back in Sox's lineup

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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Papi's dangerous bat expected back in Sox's lineup

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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