The Red Sox will welcome the Twins into Fenway Park for the first of a four-game set Thursday night as they send Jon Lester to the mound against Sam Deduno. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.
The big news for the night is that, after a dismal July from Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and with Kelly Shoppach having hurt himself recently, Ryan Lavarnway will get the start behind the plate. It's not a shifting of the guard, by any means, and unless Shoppach ends up on the DL, Lavarnway is likely headed back to Pawtucket when David Ortiz comes back, but for now he'll get his chance to show why he deserves to be in Boston.
The big-slugging catcher will be batting sixth in the order, effectively replacing Saltalamacchia in what has become his traditional spot. With Cody Ross playing DH, the Sox will once again have all their outfielders in one basket, as it were.
Boston Red Sox (53-52)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Cody Ross, DH
- Ryan Lavarnway, C
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B
- Ryan Kalish, RF
- Pedro Ciriaco, SS
Minnesota Twins (40-64)
- Denard Span, CF
- Ben Revere, RF
- Josh Willingham, DH
- Justin Morneau, 1B
- Ryan Doumit, LF
- Danny Valencia, 3B
- Brian Dozier, SS
- Drew Butera, C
- Alexi Casilla, 2B
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