The Red Sox have a three-game series with a good Oakland ball club to end the first half of the season, but before they can get to that series, they have to finish things with the Mariners.
Ryan Dempster will take the mound Thursday afternoon in Seattle, where the Sox look to take three of four from the M’s. The Boston lineup has done some breaking out in this series, as they’ve scored 22 runs in their last two games after being held down in the series opener against Felix Hernandez.
Boston manager John Farrell will give a couple of his regulars some rest in the finale, as both Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will sit. That opens spots in the lineup for Mike Carp and Ryan Lavarnway, who will hit sixth and seventh, respectively.
Jonny Gomes will hit fifth for the Sox in the afternoon game. In 221 career games in the five-hole, Gomes is a .240 hitter with 31 homers and a .759 OPS.
The Red Sox’ starting lineup can be seen below.
Boston Red Sox (56-37)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Daniel Nava, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Mike Carp, 1B
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Brock Holt, 3B
Jose Iglesias, SS
Seattle Mariners (40-51)
Brad Miller, 2B
Endy Chavez, RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Kendrys Morales, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Justin Smoak, 1B
Mike Zunino, C
Michael Saunders, CF
Brendan Ryan, SS
Erasmo Ramirez, P
