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June 8, 2007
David Ortiz is in the Sox' starting lineup tonight, which isn't news.
But he is starting at first base, which will be his home for the first two days of this interleague series in Arizona against the Diamondbacks because the pitcher hits for American League teams in road interleague games.
The designated hitter is not used, so Ortiz is at first and manager Terry Francona will find himself watching Ortiz with trepidation.
"I don't want him to be embarrassed, have a ball to him and (he) kicks it," said Francona. "He hasn't been there for two months. It's not fair. He's handled it before (in past interleague games) and no doubt he'll do it again, but I worry about it."
The interleague games here will force Francona to rotate three of his hottest hitters, starting each of them in two games. Tonight, Ortiz and third baseman Mike Lowell are starting with first baseman Kevin Youkilis replaced by Ortiz.
Tomorrow night, Youkilis will give Lowell a rest at third base with Ortiz at first. And on Sunday, with left-hander Randy Johnson on the mound for the Diamondbacks, Ortiz will sit out the start, with Lowell at third and Youkilis at first.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 7:33 PM | Permalink
