Crawford Late Scratch, Youkilis Out In Game One vs O's
BOSTON (CBS) - 10 games to go, two games up.
That is how the Boston Red Sox are viewing their final stretch of the 2011 season. It is not the 3-11 start to September that they are worried about. It is the 10 games they have remaining, seven of which are against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Red Sox start the final stretch with a double-header against the Orioles on Monday. In Game One, a make-up game for their May 17 rain out, rookie Kyle Weiland (0-2, 7.58 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season. He will be opposed by Jeremy Guthrie (8-17, 4.22 ERA).
The Red Sox will be without third baseman Kevin Youkilis for the fourth straight game as he battles a sports hernia and a bad hip. Youkilis said last week he is opting to hold off on surgery until after the season is over. Mike Aviles will take his spot at third for Game One.
Carl Crawford was originally in the lineup, but was a late scratch due to a stiff neck. Darnell McDonald takes his spot in left and will bat ninth. Dustin Pedroia moved from the two-hole to clean up, with Marco Scutaro shifting to second in the lineup.
Read: Tito Not Dwelling On Past, Sox Need To Focus 'What's At Hand'
Here is the updated Red Sox lineup for Game One against the Orioles:
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Marco Scutaro, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Josh Reddick, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, 3B
Darnell McDonald, LF
Read: Dan Roche's Sports Blog
John Lackey (12-12, 6.19 ERA) will go against Brian Matusz (1-7, 9.84 ERA) in Game Two at 7:10pm.