With the departure of Adrian Beltre for the birth of a child the Red Sox were forced to shuffle their lineup Friday afternoon, installing Mike Lowell in the cleanup spot and rookie Yamaico Navarro at third base.
Manager Terry Francona said that Beltre was written into the third spot of the lineup before he had to rush off for Los Angeles to be with his wife, who is expecting to deliver their child soon.
With Marco Scutaro and Victor Martinez also getting a day off, the lineup for the series opener with the New York Yankees takes on a wildly different look.
Darnell McDonald is starting in the leadoff spot for the fourth time this year. Lowell is batting cleanup to start a game for just the second time. Martinez is off for the first time since coming off the disabled list July 26.
The Sox' lineup will feature five straight batters 2-6 who have a career average of .310 or better against Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte. J.D. Drew, David Ortiz, Lowell, Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek are a combined 68-for-192 (.354) with seven homers vs. the veteran.
Here is the complete Red Sox lineup for the opener:
1. Darnell McDonald, CF
2. J.D. Drew, RF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Mike Lowell, 1B
5. Jed Lowrie, SS
6. Jason Varitek, C
7. Bill Hall, LF
8. Felipe Lopez, 2B
9. Yamaico Navarro, 3B
