Francona shuffles Red Sox lineup

During Monday night's game against Tampa Bay, Red Sox manager Terry Francona mulled the idea of giving designated hitter David Ortiz the night off tonight, the middle of the three-game set. In his pregame address to the media, Francona said he made the decision after talking with the veteran hitter.

"I told him, I said, `Why don't you come check with me after the game,' '' said Francona. "He did after the game and we both thought it might be a good thing to do. It's not easy not writing his name in the lineup but tonight seems like a good night. You've got a guy [starting pitcher Scott Kazmir] who has been real tough on him, real tough on lefties, I just think it would be a good thing to do.''

In addition to resting Ortiz in favor of Jeff Bailey in the DH spot, center fielder Coco Crisp will bat in the leadoff position. Heading into the game, Crisp was batting .568 (21 for 37) during his 10-game hitting streak.

"We're looking at one of the tougher lefties in the league, especially left-on-left,'' said Francona. "Coco has been swinging the bat so well and we needed to fill that No. 3 hole so we moved [Dustin Pedroia] back there. We've mixed and matched over the course of the year trying to win games and our guys handle that so that takes away some of my hesitancy in doing it because it doesn't seem to affect our guys.''