With a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night, the Boston Red Sox won their third consecutive game, and they’ll look to extend their season-best winning streak with another victory Thursday night at Fenway Park.
After winning both games in Atlanta, Boston will look to sweep the Braves in their four-day, four-game home-and-home series as they send Jake Peavy to the mound. The right-hander earned a no-decision in his last outing, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits over six innings in the Red Sox’s 6-5, 15-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ryan Lavarnway will make his first start for the Red Sox this season after being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, taking over first base and batting seventh. Lavarnway has seen action with Boston in the last three seasons, but this will mark the first time he’ll start at first, as he was either behind the plate or in a designated hitter role in the past.
The Red Sox also announced that David Ortiz was scratched from the lineup as a precaution with a sore right calf. John Farrell expects Ortiz to be ready to go Friday. A.J. Pierzynski, who was originally scheduled to have the night off with David Ross manning the backstop, will slide into the designated hitter slot and bat fourth.
[tweet https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/472109524640616449 align=’center’]
Check out both full lineup below.
Boston Red Sox (23-29)
Brock Holt, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
A.J. Pierzynski, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Grady Sizemore, RF
Ryan Lavarnway, 1B
David Ross, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Jake Peavy, RHP (1-2, 4.65 ERA)
Atlanta Braves (28-24)
Jason Heyward, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Justin Upton, LF
Evan Gattis, C
Chris Johnson, 3B
Ryan Doumit, DH
Tommy La Stella, 2B
Andrelton Simmons, 3B
Mike Minor, LHP (2-3, 3.90 ERA)
