Red Sox notebook

Systematic ascension

Bates is happy to be called up

Nick Green, filling in at second base for Dustin Pedroia, gives it his best effort but can’t quite reach a sixth-inning RBI single to right by Adam Kennedy that put Oakland ahead, 5-0. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff)

By Adam Kilgore

Globe Staff / July 7, 2009

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Aaron Bates had no reason to expect he would wear a big league uniform this season, and certainly not this week.

Bates began the season in Double A Portland and had played 24 games for Pawtucket by the time Sunday was winding down. At about 10:30 that night, Bates got confused when Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson called him into his hotel room and told him, “You’re going to Boston.’’

“For what?’’ Bates asked.

Johnson explained: Jeff Bailey had been placed on the 15-day disabled list and the Red Sox needed a righthanded first baseman. Bates, a 25-year-old whom the Sox drafted in the third round out of North Carolina State in 2006, fit the description. He was headed to Boston to make his major league debut, and last night he started at first base and batted ninth.

“Whatever they want me to do, I’m more than happy,’’ Bates said. “It’s definitely a surprise. You got to go out there as best you can and try to play baseball.’’

Bates’s ascension in the minors is owed to a swing change he made in the offseason. He eliminated a high leg kick with the help of Red Sox roving hitting instructor Victor Rodriguez. Bates, who participated in the Arizona Fall League, batted .340 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 52 games at Portland. He started strong at Pawtucket but slumped, hitting .182 with two home runs.

He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts last night.

The call-up signifies the organization’s preference of using players from their system rather than dealing for outside help. With Bailey out because of a left ankle sprain and Mark Kotsay limping with a calf strain, the Sox needed a first baseman against Oakland lefthander Brett Anderson. On Sunday, they discussed potential options.

“Aaron Bates was kind of the consensus of the organization,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “Good first baseman. There’s some pop in the bat. We need this roster for about a week. Rather than go make a move, I think we all kind of enjoy promoting from within. We’ve had success doing it. I think it’s healthy for the organization.’’

Other names were discussed, but “this was a pretty clear choice,’’ Francona said. Bates was not on the 40-man roster, so the Sox moved Jed Lowrie to the 60-day disabled list to make room. (Lowrie has been on the DL for 60 days, so the move does not affect his availability.)

Bates had played first base his entire career until spring training, when director of player development Mike Hazen asked him if would mind trying left field. The Sea Dogs needed the first base position for Lars Anderson, widely regarded as the Sox’ best hitting prospect. Bates played outfield until his promotion to Pawtucket.

Bates played at Fenway Park before - his first Double A game was played there. For the first major league game, Bates had 15 fans in attendance, including his mother, who lives in Amherst, his girlfriend, his sister, his brother, and college coach.

“Regardless of how his career goes, I don’t know that this week will define him as a player,’’ Francona said. “I’m aware that if he hits a couple home runs, everybody will be wanting to put him in Cooperstown. And if he doesn’t get any hits, nobody will be wanting him back. That’s probably not how we feel. We’re just looking for a guy to help us win a few games.’’

That guy had been Bailey, who was looking forward to facing two Oakland lefthanders (one of which, Dallas Braden, was put on bereavement leave yesterday). Bailey rolled his ankle Saturday in a collision at first base, then stayed in the game. “I don’t know how he did it,’’ Francona said.

Bailey did not play Sunday, and the Sox determined he would need to go on the disabled list. He underwent an MRI yesterday to determine a timetable for his return.

“I don’t get to do what I’m here to do,’’ Bailey said. “It’s frustrating.’’

Pedroia scratched

Dustin Pedroia was a late scratch after his pregnant wife, Kelli, was hospitalized. Pedroia rushed out of the park after the Sox took batting practice at roughly 5:30 p.m.

“They’re expecting their first child, and she’s about seven weeks away,’’ Francona said. “He came back after going over to check up. He didn’t need to be at the ballpark today. He needed to be over there with her.’’

Pedroia’s status for today is uncertain. Francona emphasized he wanted Pedroia to handle his family concerns first.

“I really don’t know,’’ Francona said. “We would love it if he was here. I don’t know. I wouldn’t even come close to asking him.’’

Pedroia had been slated to hit second and play second base. Nick Green moved from shortstop to second, and Julio Lugo took over at shortstop and batted second. Lugo made a throwing error in the third inning.

Out of order

Francona often preaches the value of consistency in a batting order. But with third baseman Mike Lowell on the disabled list, “you won’t see that until we get past the All-Star break,’’ Francona said. “I think we need to get through this week. We’re not as healthy as we’ve ever been. That’s OK. That doesn’t mean we can’t win.’’

The latest shuffle came yesterday, with Jacoby Ellsbury back in the leadoff spot, at least for the night. J. D. Drew did not start against a lefty, clearing the first slot for Ellsbury.

“I guess it doesn’t affect me either way,’’ Ellsbury said before going 0 for 4 to drop his team-leading average to .299, just ahead of Kevin Youkilis (0 for 4, .296). “I’m just going to continue to do the same thing I had been doing. For me, it really doesn’t matter too much. Obviously, it’s a spot I hit a lot before.’’

Lowrie back at it

Lowrie finally continued his rehab yesterday, going 3 for 5 with a double, a run, and two RBIs with Double A Portland at Manchester. With Pawtucket, Lowrie had been unable to play after two games were postponed because of wet field conditions - “puddled out,’’ to use Francona’s term . . . Josh Beckett is scheduled to start Sunday, the final game before next Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Francona will let Beckett decide if he wants to throw in the game. “Beckett will take care of himself,’’ Francona said. “If he had to throw an inning - you get put in a little bit of a precarious spot. I think this is a point in time when our players do something pretty special. As an organization or a manager, I need to have enough respect for what they’ve done to be happy for them and let them do whatever is asked. And then we’ll adjust.’’ . . . Reliever Ramon Ramirez “whacked the back of his hand’’ late last week, Francona said, and he was not available Saturday. He is fine now . . . Daisuke Matsuzaka flew to Fort Myers, Fla., as planned to begin his extended rehab program. Matsuzaka was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season June 21. . . . Youkilis and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will cooperate this weekend in an effort to collect 100,000 books for Boston Public School libraries. This Saturday and Sunday, books will be collected at the Fenway Park gates before and during two games against the Royals.

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com.