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September 29, 2007
-- Several members of the Sox' regular starting lineup are missing tonight, with manager Terry Francona more inclined to give them a rest since Boston clinched their first A.L. East division title since 1995 on Friday night.
David Ortiz, who has been red-hot at the plate lately, going 11 for 15 (.733) with three homers, four doubles, eight runs scored and five RBI over his last four games, "needs a day," said Francona at his daily press briefing. Ortiz has been battling a sore knee most of the season.
Shortstop Julio Lugo and second baseman Dustin Pedroia also are out of the starting lineup, replaced by Royce Clayton and Alex Cora, respectively, as Francona says he balances trying to win every game (the best record in the A.L. still is up for grabs; Boston is tied with Cleveland heading into tonight's action) with getting his players a little extra rest before the playoffs begin next week.
-- Coco Crisp, who missed the first four games of this homestand because of a virus, is back in the lineup in center field.
-- Manny Ramirez (sore quad) is serving as the designated hitter in Ortiz's absence. Jacoby Ellsbury, who had replaced Crisp in center the previous four games, takes over for Ramirez in left field.
-- Francona elected not to name his rotation for the first-round series against the Angels, saying he wanted to find out what days the teams will be playing. The first game either will be Wednesday or Thursday, depending upon the wishes of the team that finishes the season with the best record in the A.L. The second game will be played Friday.
-- Curt Schilling was modeling the latest in Red Sox motivational T-shirt this afternoon. It's a red shirt. On the front is written "Why Not Us Again" and on the back it reads "If 25 men believe they can . . . they will."
-- Hideki Okajima will pitch either today or in the regular-season finale.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:24 PM | Permalink
