They're still bottoming out at the top

Batting leadoff, Drew is no improvement

By Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff  |  October 15, 2008

It might not have been Game 6 of last year's American League Championship Series, but it was similar. Except this time, instead of replacing Coco Crisp with upstart Jacoby Ellsbury, the Red Sox decided to replace struggling rookie Ellsbury with veteran Crisp.

With Ellsbury hitless in his last 20 at-bats, manager Terry Francona switched up his lineup for Game 4 against the Rays last night, a game that took on far greater importance when the Sox lost Game 3 Monday. But Francona didn't insert Crisp into the leadoff spot, a place the relatively impatient switch hitter hasn't excelled at this season (.203 average, .286 OBP in 17 games). He left that to right fielder J.D. Drew.

"We're looking for a spark," Francona said. "We tried to get guys in position where what they do naturally will be a strength. Hopefully it'll help us win."

It didn't. Drew went 0 for 5 with two fly outs to left, two ground outs to the pitcher, and a swinging strikeout to end the game.

Crisp, on the other hand, did draw two walks. But he also grounded into a double play in the second, ending an inning in which the Sox had two on and one out but failed to score.

Drew was placed in the leadoff spot earlier this season, in August, when Mike Lowell missed some time because of his hip. It was a point at which Ellsbury was batting further down in the order because of offensive struggles. Drew hit .172 in eight games in the leadoff spot, but also had a .385 on-base percentage.

"Jacoby's scuffling," Francona said. "Didn't think it made much sense to make a change [Monday]. There's a guy pitching [in Game 4, Andy Sonnanstine] that's given up one stolen base all year.

"Coco's a free swinger, or is at his best when he can be a free swinger. So rather than stick him at the top and say, 'Oh, you better be patient,' we'll put him in an area where hopefully his bat will do some damage. J.D.'s our best on-base guy."

Francona did not feel the need to have a speed guy at the top of the lineup. He said it was more important not to expose his team to one of the Rays' bullpen lefties, which was why the bottom of the order featured Mark Kotsay at No. 6, followed by Crisp, Kevin Cash, and Jed Lowrie.

As for Ellsbury's struggles, Francona said he didn't think the outfielder was swinging at balls outside the strike zone. Ellsbury showed his patience by drawing a walk as a pinch hitter in the ninth.

"It seems like the ball's getting deep on him," said Francona. "Because of his legs, there are times when he can get hits, when he's either just using the whole field or mis-hitting some balls and using his legs, but the ball is getting in the air a lot."

Working it out

Including the postseason this year and last year, Jon Lester has made quite a jump in innings pitched, going from 163 between the minors and majors in 2007 all the way to 230 in the majors this year. That 70-inning bump is far more than the Red Sox - or other teams - generally like, especially for a young pitcher. It didn't seem to affect Lester's results this season, up until Game 3 Monday.

So Francona was asked before last night's game whether the innings count was a concern, given Lester's rocky start (five runs, four earned, in 5 2/3 innings).

"Worried? No," Francona said. "I think we always are concerned about everything. He's had a big jump this year. I think the concern is how do we tackle this going into next year, [the] offseason. I don't think a guy has to be tired or hurt to give up runs. Sometimes you give up runs."

Ticket to ride him

Jason Varitek heard the unfamiliar sound of boos directed toward him in Fenway Park during the fourth inning Monday. Varitek popped up with two men on base, drawing the ire of the crowd. Francona yesterday said he didn't mind the reaction.

"I didn't pay for the ticket," Francona said. "When you pay for a ticket, you have the right, basically, to voice your opinion, as long as you don't go over the line. That wouldn't be my personal style. But people buy their ticket, they can do whatever they want."

Varitek, who did not play last night because knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitched, is 0 for 10 in the ALCS. He also was charged with a passed ball that led to the Rays' first run Monday.

The strain of struggling, being pinch hit for, and becoming a target of fans has not worn on him, Francona said.

"He's pretty strong," Francona said. "Everybody in that clubhouse, they want to do so much to win. He's at the top of the list. You have to fight through it. And he's a fighter."

Old school

Wakefield's start last night, at 42 years 73 days, made him the oldest pitcher to start an ALCS game. Kenny Rogers had been the oldest, at 41 years 337 days, when he beat Oakland in Game 3 of the 2006 ALCS . . . Mike Timlin made his 25th career ALCS appearance, tying Mariano Rivera for most all-time . . . Cash became the third Red Sox player to homer in his first postseason at-bat, following pitcher Jose Santiago (Game 1 of the 1967 World Series) and Todd Walker (Game 1 of the 2003 ALDS) . . . David Ortiz hit his second career postseason triple in the seventh inning. He also tripled in Game 1 of the 2004 ALCS. Ortiz still doesn't have a home run in his last 57 LCS at-bats . . . Trot Nixon threw out the first pitch. He spent part of this season with the Mets and 2007 with the Indians after leaving the Sox after 2006. He got a standing ovation from the fans, and the Sox were standing and applauding from the top step of the dugout . . . Before Monday, the last time the Sox scored just one run in a postseason game was Game 2 of the 2004 ALCS, a 3-1 loss to the Yankees . . . When "Sweet Caroline" played last night, a smattering of boos was heard.

Adam Kilgore of the Globe staff contributed to this report