Francona eager to get read on Lowrie

ANAHEIM -- Switch-hitting shortstop Jed Lowrie drew the starting nod today against Angels lefty Joe Saunders -- the Angels flip-flopped starters, Jon Garland will go tomorrow -- and manager Terry Francona said he was eager to see what Lowrie can do. Lowrie flew out to left in his first at-bat to end the second inning, the Sox having grabbed a 2-0 lead on Kevin Youkilis's 17th home run of the season.

"This kid is steady,'' Francona said of the former Stanford star. "He kind of looks like a Bill Mueller. I'm not sure that's not exciting.''

With the lefty on the hill for the Angels, Francona put Coco Crisp in center, moved Jacoby Ellsbury to left, and had Manny Ramirez DH. Ramirez doubled off the right-field wall and scored ahead of Youkilis's home run, which set a career high for Youks.

Francona was asked if he'd seen a replay of Manny's blooper-reel keeper Friday night, which had the Sox left-fielder laughing afterward.

"You know what, I don't think I was laughing,'' Francona said. "I've been around Manny enough to know it's not malicious. Even if it comes across as him not caring enough, it's not malicious. I don't know how else to say it.''