Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was a very late scratch from the first game of a day-night doubleheader against Tampa Bay on Tuesday at Fenway Park.
Ortiz was in the original lineup, batting in his usual fifth spot. Just as the first pitch from Jon Lester was being delivered to begin the game, the team announced that Ortiz had been removed from the lineup due to an illness.
Jed Lowrie took over at DH. It is his first career game in that role.
Ortiz has been swinging a hot bat of late. He is 13-for-26 (.500) with three home runs and seven RBIs in his last seven games.
