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Dustin Pedroia ‘Felt Good’ At The Plate, Hopes To Build On It With Sox Lineup Taking Shape

BOSTON –– The top of Boston's order is finally shaping up.

As Dustin Pedroia returned to the lineup on Thursday, the Red Sox presented a nightmare scenario, a group of hitter that included Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez.

The only bat missing from the potent cluster David Ortiz, who is on the disabled list with an Achilles injury. For now, Pedroia –– who went 1-for-4 in Thursday's game –– was gratified his stay on the DL was over.

"Felt good, felt fine," Pedroia said, shortly after Thursday's 3-1 win over the White Sox. "Felt good at the plate. Build on tonight and get after it [on Friday]."

The Red Sox second baseman's lone hit came in the seventh inning, when he ripped a single through the hole in second base. It was one of just five hits that White Sox starter Jose Quintana surrendered.

"Their starter was awesome," Pedroia said. "He threw the ball great. Was locating. Cutter, slider was sharp."

It was a lengthy wait on the disabled list for Pedroia, who suffered a torn adductor muscle in his right thumb in May and a hyperextension of the same thumb that caused an injury to the volar plate.

But Pedroia is finally back and anxious to see the lineup's potential.

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