FORT MYERS, Fla. — With the exception of Jacoby Ellsbury and Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox will send out a lineup loaded with regulars when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday at City of Palms Park.
Ellsbury is getting a day off, and Gonzalez continues to rehab his surgically-repaired right shoulder.
Just as he did most of last season, Marco Scutaro takes over Ellsbury's spot atop the order. He is followed by Dustin Pedroia and Carl Crawford, both of whom will be playing in consecutive games for the first time this spring. They are a combined 0-for-10.
Boston will bat David Ortiz and J.D. Drew consecutively again against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels. It is clear that manager Terry Francona is playing with the idea of keeping those two back-to-back in the order, even though they both struggled mightily against southpaws in 2010.
Mike Cameron, who is 3-for-6 with a stolen base thus far, bats seventh.
Here is the complete lineup against Hamels:
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Cameron, CF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Lars Anderson, 1B
