Marco Scutaro returns to the Red Sox lineup after a day off, batting in his customary leadoff spot in the opener of a four-game series in Seattle on Thursday.
The 34-year-old Scutaro had started 91 of the team's first 94 games before ceding his spot to the newly activated Jed Lowrie on Wednesday in Oakland. He did emerge for a pinch-hitting role in the top of the ninth inning.
David Ortiz is in the usual third spot in the lineup against Mariners starter Ryan Rowland-Smith, the third of four straight lefties facing the Sox. Ortiz is batting just .180 with a meager .530 OPS against left-handers this season and is 3-for-25 (.120) with 10 strikeouts since the All-Star break.
Former Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre will be playing in Safeco Field for the first time since signing with the Sox this offseason. He is a career .252 hitter in the park.
Boston starter John Lackey is facing a Mariners lineup that ranks last in the AL in every significant hitting category, and several by pretty good margins. Among the Seattle starters Thursday, only Ichiro Suzuki (.306, 26-for-85) and Jose Lopez (.300, 12-for-40) have done much damage against him.
Here are the complete lineups for both teams.
Red Sox
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Darnell McDonald, LF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Mike Cameron, CF
8. Bill Hall, 2B
9. Kevin Cash, C
Mariners
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Chone Figgins, 2B
3. Franklin Gutierrez, CF
4. Jose Lopez, 3B
5. Milton Bradley, LF
6. Justin Smoak, DH
7. Casey Kotchman, 1B
8. Josh Bard, C
9. Jack Wilson, SS
