email this
print this
reprint or license thisSAVE AND SHARE
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
ALCS Notes
Ellsbury sits as Drew leads off for Red Sox
BOSTON - In an effort to give his offense a boost, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona moved rightfielder J.D. Drew to the leadoff spot last night in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
Drew replaced slumping centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who wasn't in last night's starting lineup. Ellsbury, 0 for 14 in the first three ALCS games, was replaced in center field by Coco Crisp, who batted seventh.
"Jake's scuffling a little bit," Francona said before the game. "That's obvious."
Drew, not a fan favorite in Philadelphia, hasn't torn the cover off the ball in this series. He is 2 for 8 with no RBIs. Drew had a .400 on-base percentage in the first three games (4 for 10) after walking once and getting hit by a pitch.
"His on-base skills are needed," Francona said.
The manager did not sit Boston's other key regular with a .000 ALCS average: designated hitter David Ortiz, who was hitless in 10 at-bats in the first three games.
Ortiz missed 45 games during the regular season with a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist before returning July 25.
When asked whether Ortiz was completely healthy, Francona said: "I don't know if he's perfect. No, I doubt that."
The former Phillies skipper said he didn't consider sitting Ortiz.
"That wouldn't make a lot of sense," Francona said.
Rays manager Joe Maddon heartily agreed.
"I've been doing this over 25 years, and he [Ortiz] is one of the best clutch players this game has seen," Maddon said. "I have so much respect for him as a ballplayer and a person."
Surgery for Lowell
Francona said third baseman Mike Lowell will undergo season-ending hip surgery Monday.Lowell went hitless in eight at-bats during the Red Sox' division series against the Los Angeles Angels. He was taken off the active roster before Game 4 against the Angels.
Next up
After an off-day today, Daisuke Matsuzaka will oppose James Shields in Game 5 tomorrow at Fenway Park.This will be a rematch of Game 1, when the Red Sox prevailed, 2-0, at Tropicana Field. Matsuzaka earned the win, allowing four hits in seven innings.
Shields surrendered two earned runs in 71/3 innings in Game 1 and is 1-1 in the postseason with a 3.29 ERA.
The righthander said he was motivated by the performance of teammate Matt Garza, the winning pitcher in Game 3 who allowed one run in six-plus innings.
"We have been doing it all year - where if one guy steps up, the next guy is stepping up," Shields said. "We thrive off that."
Dubious distinction
It was a first for the Red Sox, and they hoped it wouldn't be repeated. When Boston lost Game 2 in 11 innings, 9-8, and followed that with the 9-1 loss in Game 3, it was the first time they had allowed eight or more runs in consecutive playoff games.
Old-timer
When Boston starter Tim Wakefield took the mound last night, he became the oldest pitcher to start an ALCS game. Wakefield is 42 years, 73 days. Detroit's Kenny Rogers was 41 years, 337 days when he defeated Oakland, 3-0, in Game 3 of the 2006 ALCS.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
