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Carl Crawford scratched from starting lineup

Print | Comments () Posted by Julian Benbow, Globe Staff September 19, 2011 12:34 PM

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By Julian Benbow, Globe Staff

After being held out of yesterday's lineup against the Rays to avoid a matchup with David Price, Carl Crawford has been scratched from Game 1 of today's doubleheader with the Orioles because of a stiff neck.

Crawford was originally supposed to play left field and hit sixth. Instead, Darnell McDonald will play left and hit ninth. Josh Reddick will hit in Crawford's place.

The new Sox lineup looks like this:

Ellsbury, CF
Scutaro, SS
Gonzalez, 1B
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Reddick, RF
Saltalamacchia, C
Aviles, 3B
McDonald, LF

Crawford has struggled this season. His .255 batting average is 38 points lower than his career clip. In a blog posted yesterday afternoon on ESPN.com, Crawford was quoted saying, "I want to end the diary saying something to the fans of Boston. I just want to say I'm sorry for the year I've had. You guys have been really supportive and I appreciate that. Hopefully when we get into these playoffs, I can be the real Carl Crawford that I know I am. We'll see."