With a challenging right-hander on the mound, Red Sox manager Terry Francona has chosen Wednesday night as a good time to get David Ortiz a start at first base during the club’s six-game stretch in National League parks.
Ortiz will bat in Kevin Youkilis’s customary cleanup spot against Colorado Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who holds right-handed batters to a .172 average. Youkilis had started 67 of the team’s first 72 games.
Lefties do not fare much better (.206) against Jimenez, who is 13-1 with a 1.15 ERA. The Sox will have three players hitting from the left side of the plate in the lineup, including Ortiz, catcher Victor Martinez and right fielder Josh Reddick, who is filling in for J.D. Drew for the second straight night.
Daniel Nava bats sixth for the second time since being called up nearly two weeks ago while Darnell McDonald gets the start in center field. Nava, McDonald and Reddick represent the 21st different starting outfield combination for Boston this year.
Sox starter John Lackey takes a .032 (1-for-31) career average into his matchup with Jimenez.
Here are the complete lineups for both teams:
Red Sox
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, C
David Ortiz, 1B
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Daniel Nava, LF
Josh Reddick, RF
Darnell McDonald, CF
John Lackey, P
Rockies
Jonathan Herrera, 2B
Todd Helton, 1B
Carlos Gonzalez, CF
Brad Hawpe, RF
Seth Smith, LF
Miguel Olivo, C
Ian Stewart, 3B
Clint Barmes, SS
Ubaldo Jimenez, P
