The starting lineup glistened with experienced, reliable and formidable bats. From Jacoby Ellsbury to Victor Martinez to Jed Lowrie, something about this balanced offense gleamed in the Baltimore sun.
Terry Francona‘s starting nine was so deep, it even featured the 2007 World Series MVP hitting in the No. 7 slot, the game’s most dangerous clutch hitter batting fifth and the crew’s captain riding the pine.
However, less than three outs later, that confidence and anticipation came crashing down for Red Sox Nation. Outfielder J.D. Drew re-aggravated his left groin and was excused from the contest by Francona. The injury-plagued right fielder had missed the previous two games with a tender groin. The team reported that Drew was lifted not because he seriously injured the muscle, but for precautionary reasons.
Drew, who was hitting in the sixth slot, smacked a three-run double off Baltimore starter Jason Berken in the first and gingerly trotted into second base as the Sox took the early 3-0 lead. Mike Lowell then singled Drew home but the right fielder barely made it to the plate. In fact, because he chose not to slide during the close play, he would have been easy out, but catcher Matt Wieters had trouble holding onto the ball.
Rocco Baldelli came in to replace Drew in the bottom of the first.
Drew was the second of the three Boston starting outfielders absent from the game as Jason Bay was given the day off after getting a hamstring cramp during Saturday night’s win. Rookie Josh Reddick started in left for Bay and smacked his first career homer, less than 24 hours after getting his first MLB hit.
Bay’s injury, like Drew’s, appears to be just day-to-day, but the Sox may have to rely on Baldelli and the rookie to pick it up while their two vets mend.
