Jonny Gomes will start in left field for the second straight game Friday.
Gomes will bat seventh as the Red Sox face a left-hander for the second time in as many days. Scott Kazmir shut down the Red Sox’s struggling offense as the Oakland Athletics took Thursday’s series opener 4-2. Brad Mills, who reportedly was acquired by the A’s recently for $1, will take the ball for Oakland on Friday.
David Ortiz, who began Thursday’s game on the bench as part of a routine day off, will return to the lineup Friday. A.J. Pierzynski, who served as the designated hitter in Ortiz’s absence, will jump back behind the plate as Felix Doubront makes his first start since May 20.
Doubront was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday. The southpaw landed on the DL on May 21 with a left shoulder strain. He suffered the injury while bumping into a car door before his May 20 start, which he left early because of shoulder discomfort.
Third baseman Garin Cecchini was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket following Thursday’s game to make room for Doubront on the major league roster. Doubront is pitching in place of Brandon Workman, who has begun serving the six-game suspension he received for throwing behind Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria on May 30.
Friday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (34-39)
Brock Holt, RF
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Jackie Bradley, CF
Felix Doubront, LHP (2-4, 5.12 ERA)
Oakland Athletics (45-28)
Craig Gentry, CF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Derek Norris, C
Brandon Moss, RF
Kyle Blanks, 1B
Alberto Callaspo, DH
Nick Punto, 2B
Brad Mills, LHP (0-0, — )
