Jed Lowrie makes his first start at second base since May 7, 2008, when the Red Sox and Mariners hook up Friday night in Safeco Field.
Lowrie, who was activated Wednesday and started that day at shortstop, will make just his third career start at Dustin Pedroia's vacated position. Bill Hall, who has seen the bulk of the action in Pedroia's absence, committed two errors in Thursday's marathon win, one of which allowed the tying run to score in the bottom of the ninth.
Hall will remain in the starting lineup and play left field for the first time in 42 days.
J.D. Drew and David Ortiz are the only left-handed bats in the lineup against Mariners southpaw Jason Vargas, who has limited lefties to a .192 average this year.
However, Drew is the only Red Sox starter to have faced Vargas before and he is 2-for-2 with a home run and a walk.
In his first start since May 18, Josh Beckett faces a Seattle lineup that ranks last in almost every major hitting category. He will be happy to see Ichiro Suzuki (2-for-18 with five K's against Beckett) step in to start the bottom of the first, but not so pleased when Chone Figgins follows (8-for-22, three walks, five stolen bases vs. Beckett).
Here are the complete lineups for both teams.
Red Sox
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Jed Lowrie, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Mike Cameron, CF
8. Bill Hall, LF
9. Kevin Cash, C
Mariners
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Chone Figgins, 2B
3. Franklin Gutierrez, CF
4. Jose Lopez, 3B
5. Milton Bradley, DH
6. Justin Smoak, 1B
7. Michael Saunders, LF
8. Rob Johnson, C
9. Jack Wilson, SS
