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J.D. Drew Scratched from Lineup

About an hour before the game, the Red Sox scratched right fielder J.D. Drew from the starting lineup because of "viral symptoms."

Eric Hinske replaced Drew in the starting lineup. Hinske is a left-handed hitter, and Oakland is starting a right-hander (Joe Blanton), so he was the logical choice over Wily Mo Pena, who bats right-handed.

Drew's absence has forced manager Terry Francona to do a little mixing and matching with his batting order. He has moved first baseman Kevin Youkilis down from second to Drew's number five spot and elevated Coco Crisp from eighth to second. Hinske is batting eighth.

Drew has been slumping, his skids at 0 for 11; 1 for 21, and 4 for 31, dropping his average from .375 to a season-low .278. Drew was held out of the starting lineup Sunday in New York to give him two days off in a row, counting Monday's scheduled day off for the team.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 6:09 PM | Permalink