Josh Reddick will get another start in right field when the surging Red Sox take on the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Just moments after being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, Reddick went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, part of Boston's 14-1, rain-shortened rout in the series opener. It was Reddick's second three-hit game of his young career. The three runs driven in represent a new career high.
Regular right fielder J.D. Drew remains bothered by a sore right hamstring. Presumably, Reddick will get all of the starts against right-handers until Drew is ready to return, with Mike Cameron stepping in agianst lefties.
Friday's matchup features right-hander Rick Porcello on the mound for Detroit opposite knuckleballer Tim Wakefield for the Red Sox. Reddick is one of four Boston starters who have never faced Porcello. The other five are a combined 8-for-17 (.471).
Jacoby Ellsbury, who had a three-run homer in the series-opening win, is 3-for-3 against Porcello.
The sample sizes are a bit larger on the other side. Seven of the Tigers' starters have seen Wakefield's knuckleball, and many of them have liked it. Collectively, the Detroit batting order is 27-for-97 (.278) against Wakefield, but five of the hits have been home runs and six have been doubles.
Ramon Santiago, batting second and playing second, is 5-for-11 (.455) with a homer and six RBIs versus Wakefield. Old friend Victor Martinez is 6-for-15 (.400) with a home run, a double and three runs driven in.
Here's how the lineup card looks for this one:
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Josh Reddick, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Tigers
Austin Jackson, CF
Ramon Santiago, 2B
Ryan Raburn, LF
Miguel Cabrera, DH
Victor Martinez, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Alex Avila, C
Casper Wells, RF
Brandon Inge, 3B
