PHILADLEPHIA -- Bobby Valentine didnt expect to have Adrian Gonzalez back in right field and David Ortiz playing first base in the final game of the Red Sox' weekend series.
But with both Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney unavailable, it's not as though Valentine had much choice.
"I'm not sure there was an option,'' said Bobby Valentine. "It wasn't necessarily the plan going in. I guess I could have played (Nick) Punto at short and Mike (Aviles) in the outfield, which might have to happen if things go around. But this looks like our lineup for today.''
Short of outfielders, the Red Sox summoned Che-Hsuan Lin from Pawtucket and activated him, while optioning first baseman Mauro Gomez back to Pawtucket.
Gomez was called up from Pawtucket nine days ago, but had just two at-bats in that span.
Sweeney was being checked for a possible concussion after hitting his head on the warning track after making a spectacular diving catch to take away extra bases from Carlos Ruis in the seventh inning of Boston's 7-5 win over the Phils Saturday night.
"I guess they have a test now,'' said Valentine, "that he says he couldn't pass before he dove before. I guess they ask you to do things -- recite the months of the year backwards. Things like that. He didn't do that well (Saturday) night. He said he felt much better today.
Boston Red Sox
"He's in the trainer's room with kind of a whiplash situation in his neck, which I don't think would prevent him from playing some. But I'm cautious with the concussion situation.''
Ross, meanwhile, was still hobbled after fouling a ball off his left foot in the eighth inning of the series opener Friday night.
"He might be a day away, two days away,'' said Valentine of Ross, while noting that the DL was not an option. "He was walking around today and thinking about swinging. He may take some batting practice.''
Given his lack of depth, Valentine said he appreciated Gonzalez volunteering to play right.
"A thousand percent,'' said the manager, "and David, for putting the glove on to go play first base. Neither of them signed up for that, obviously. But they're willing to do whatever it takes and I appreciate it.''
Valentine has had to work with a reduced roster almost from the beginning, with long-term injuries to two-thirds of his starting outfield (Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury) greatly reducing his depth.
"I like the guys that we have and I trust that they'll be good enough to do what it takes,'' said Valentine. "Most teams have to play short and you make those adjustments and I think we've adjusted well.''
That said, added Valentine with a chuckle: "Today's a little shorter than normal, I can tell you that.''