David Ortiz will be the only left-handed batter when the Red Sox face star-southpaw David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
Ortiz, who is hitting .200 (13-for-65) with one home run against lefties this year, will at least have the support of Kevin Youkilis hitting behind him. After Youkilis left Tuesday night's loss in the fourth inning with a right ankle injury, Ortiz was intentionally walked three straight times.
If past meetings are any indication, Youkilis would not want to miss the matchup with Price. The Boston first baseman is 4-for-6 with two doubles vs. the young lefty, a candidate to start the All-Star game for the American League next week.
Ortiz and leadoff hitter Marco Scutaro are the only other Red Sox starters to have faced Price, going a combined 1-for-8.
J.D. Drew, one of the few healthy Boston regulars, is given a night off to avoid the challenging lefty. Darnell McDonald makes his eighth start of the season in right field.
Here are the lineups:
Red Sox
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Darnell McDonald, RF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. Bill Hall, 2B
7. Daniel Nava, LF
8. Mike Cameron, CF
9. Kevin Cash, C
Rays
1. Ben Zobrist, RF
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Sean Rodriguez, 2B
6. Matt Joyce, DH
7. B.J. Upton, CF
8. Reid Brignac, SS
9. Kelly Shoppach, C
