The Boston Red Sox lost a tough one to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night, but they didn’t lose anything more.
Hanley Ramirez, who left Friday’s contest with left hand soreness after being hit in the hand by a pitch, is back in Boston’s lineup batting third for Saturday night’s game against the Angels at Fenway Park.
Ramirez’s presence will be a welcome sight for a Red Sox offense that’s desperate for production and still is without the bat of Pablo Sandoval, who hasn’t started a game since May 19 when he was hit in the knee by a pitch. Brock Holt will start at third base in place of Sandoval and bat eighth.
Rusney Castillo again is in the lineup batting seventh, but this time he’ll play center field, as usual starter Mookie Betts will have the night off. Dustin Pedroia will fill the leadoff role for Boston as it looks to snap a three-game skid.
Blake Swihart will start behind the plate and catch knuckleballer Steven Wright, who will make his second start of the season.
Check out both full lineups below.
RED SOX (19-23)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Shane Victorino, RF
Hanley Ramirez, LF
David Ortiz, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mike Napoli, 1B
Rusney Castillo, CF
Brock Holt, 3B
Blake Swihart, C
Steven Wright, RHP (1-1, 4.02 ERA)
ANGELS (22-20)
Erick Aybar, SS
Mike Trout, CF
Albert Pujols, 1B
Kole Calhoun, RF
David Freese, 3B
Matt Joyce, LF
Carlos Perez, C
Marc Krauss, DH
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
C.J. Wilson, LHP (2-2, 3.06 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
