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PawSox postponed, too »
April 15, 2007
Look for Wily Mo Pena and Alex Cora to start for the Red Sox if the team is able to play on Patriots’ Day.
That was the report today from manager Terry Francona. Francona already had posted his lineup for today’s game when the postponement was announced shortly before 10 a.m. It included Pena in center for the slumping Coco Crisp and Cora at second base for Dustin Pedroia. Pena was eighth in the order, Cora ninth.
Assuming Anaheim stays with its scheduled starter for today, Ervin Santana, Francona said he likely will go with the lineup as he had it posted this morning. Playing Pena in center was not because Crisp (a .111 batting average) is slumping so badly, but rather because of the desire to give all his players some work, Francona said.
Francona also did that Saturday when he let Pena pinch-hit for J.D. Drew in the eighth inning with Boston leading the Angels, 8-0. Drew had his hitting streak at stake _ he had a hit in every Sox game to that point, but was 0-for-3 on the day.
``I don’t think J.D. cared about that,’’ Francona said. ``I didn’t think about that until you just said it.’’ It was simply a case of giving Pena a chance to hit, the manager said.
On another issue, the Sox were contacting Major League baseball officials to see if they would be allowed to postpone their part of the tribute to Jackie Robinson to tomorrow. As it was, all of Major League baseball was planning to honor Robinson today on the 60th anniversary of his breaking the color barrier in the game. The Sox were hoping they would be able to carry out their plans for the Robinson celebration one day late.
Posted by Paul Kenyon 
at 11:26 AM | Permalink
