Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Oritz is back in the lineup, as the Sox get set to open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Sox will put their four-game winning streak on the line on Friday night at Fenway Park, as they look to add separation between themselves and the last-place Rays. Boston will have the advantage of having Ortiz back in the starting nine after the DH wasn’t in the lineup Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves with calf tightness. Ortiz did pinch hit in the eighth inning.
Ortiz will be welcomed back by Tampa Bay starter David Price. The All-Star left-hander has held Ortiz to a .244 average in 38 at-bats. Ortiz has two home runs and six RBIs aganist Price for his career.
The Red Sox don’t have much collective success against Price, who will be making his 22nd career start against the division rivals. He’s 10-6 with a 3.09 ERA in those games with 13 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings pitched. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is a .250 (12-for-48) career hitter against Price with a home run and three RBIs, and third baseman Xander Bogaerts is 2-for-4 for his young career against the southpaw.
Bogaerts has been red-hot lately. He’s 7-for-14 over his last three games and is 11-for-26 in his last six games.
Brandon Workman will get the start on the mound for Boston. He took a no-decision in his first start with the big club last weekend against the Rays. He allowed three runs on five hits in five innings in Boston’s 8-5 loss.
Red Sox (24-29)
Brock Holt, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
A.J. Pierzysnki, C
Mike Carp, 1B
Grady Sizemore, RF
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Brandon Workman, SP
Rays (23-31)
David DeJesus, DH
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Matt Joyce, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
James Loney, 1B
Desmond Jennings, CF
Wil Myers, RF
Yunel Escobar, SS
Jose Molina, C
David Price, SP
