After honoring Boston’s real heroes before Saturday afternoon’s Royals-Red Sox game during the pregame ceremonies, Daniel Nava wound up being the hero of the game, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to put Boston ahead.
Nava will bat second and start in right field for the Red Sox in Game 1 of the day-night doubleheader against Kansas City. Shane Victorino will get a rest after starting the first 16 games of the season in right.
David Ortiz is in the lineup for the second straight day, batting cleaning and playing designated hitter. The Royals will send out an identical lineup to the one the Red Sox faced on Saturday afternoon as righty Ryan Dempster takes the mound for Boston.
Royals pitcher Ervin Santana has pitched eight games in Fenway Park. He has a 2-2 record with a 3.94 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.
Check out Sunday afternoon’s full lineups below.
Boston Red Sox (12-4)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Daniel Nava, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Stephen Drew, SS
Jonny Gomes, LF
Ryan Dempster, RHP
Kansas City Royals (8-7)
Alex Gordon, LF
Alcides Escobar, SS
Billy Butler, DH
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Lorenzo Cain, CF
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Salvador Perez, C
Chris Getz, 2B
Ervin Santana, RHP
Photo via Facebook/Boston Red Sox
