Stephen Drew took a lot of flak for a slow start to the season after he was activated shortly after the season began. However, as Drew starts to get more at-bats, he’s starting to find his swing some.
He did that in a big way Monday night against Minnesota where he had four hits, including a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and then a walk-off RBI double in the 11th inning. Despite facing left-hander Scott Diamond in the second of a four-game series, Drew will start at shortstop and hit eighth for the Red Sox.
Drew enters Tuesday’s game hitting .379 (11-for-29) with two home runs in his last eight games. He’s also reached safely in 12 of 14 games and has 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.
Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino, the only Red Sox players to have faced Diamond, are both in the starting lineup. They’re a combined 0-for-5 in their careers against Diamond.
See the lineups below.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Stephen Drew, SS
David Ross, C
Ryan Dempster, P
Twins
Jamey Carroll, SS
Joe Mauer, DH
Josh Willingham, LF
Justin Morneau, 1B
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Ryan Doumit, C
Chris Parmelee, RF
Wilkin Ramirez, CF
Brian Dozier, 2B
Scott Diamond, P
