David Ortiz Returns to Red Sox Lineup, Adrian Gonzalez Also in As Boston Takes On Royals

by Mike Cole on Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 4:14PM

Bobby Valentine is able to pencil David Ortiz's name into the Red Sox lineup card on Friday night for the first time since July 16.

The designated hitter has been battling a nagging Achilles injury that forced him to the disabled list, but he was activated Friday afternoon, and he's back in the lineup and hitting fourth against Bruce Chen and the Kansas City Royals.

Ortiz is just a .190 (4-for-21) with one home run and six RBIs in his career against the left-hander. Chen went allowed three runs and 6 2/3 innings against the Red Sox on May 9 on his way to picking up his first win of the season.

Adrian Gonzalez is in the lineup as well. The first baseman was reportedly claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the day. Speculation mounted with the lineup being posted more than an hour after it usually is, but he's in there and batting fifth.

Jon Lester goes for the Red Sox in the first of three from Fenway Park. Lester is 5-2 with a 1.35 ERA in eight career starts against Kansas City. The left-hander also threw a no-hitter against the Royals at Fenway on May 19, 2008.

Here are the full lineups.

Red Sox
Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Mike Aviles, SS
Scott Podsednik, LF

Royals
Lorenzo Cain, CF
Alcides Ecobar, SS
Alex Gordon, LF
Billy Butler, DH
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Brayan Pena, C
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Johnny Giavotella, 2B