Red Sox manager Terry Francona is finally ready to make a move to get both Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz into the lineup during road interleague games. Ortiz has been told he will start at first base on Wednesday, with Gonzalez moving to the outfield, according to the Boston Herald's John Tomase.
There has been a lot of debate since the Red Sox began their Interleague road trip as to whether or not Francona should make such a move. He has shied away from going that route thus far, starting the first four games of the road trip with Gonzalez at first base and Ortiz on the bench.
Gonzalez has played one game in the outfield in his major league career — in 2005 with the Texas Rangers — and some believe that putting him in the outfield could hurt the team defensively and present an injury risk.
But with the offense falling back down to earth a bit, Francona has apparently decided that he needs both Gonzalez and Ortiz in the lineup versus a solid Phillies pitching staff that ranks among game's best in numerous pitching categories.
It's unclear whether Gonzalez will appear in left field or right field, and it will be interesting to see the defensive impact of the move. But against the best team in baseball, the Sox can use all of the offensive support they can get.
