BOSTONThe Red Sox begin a three-city, eight-day road trip Wednesday with two games in Tampa Bay and three in Philadelphia, before finishing with three in Baltimore.
David Ortiz was taking grounders at first base before Tuesdays series finale with the Mariners in preparation for the games against the Phillies.
I think hes fine. I think David could play first base, said manager Bobby Valentine. And Adrian Gonzalez looks all right in the outfield, too. I think David could play first base. So does Dustin Pedroia, so does Adrian, so does David, and thats whats more important.
Ortiz played two games at first last season, June 29 in Philadelphia and July 2 in Houston. He was a combined 0-for-6 with a walk, an RBI, and no errors in 18 chances over 13 innings in those games.
This will be Valentines first time managing during Interleague as an American League manager.
Its kind of weird, he said. It used to be that interleague was all at one time. Its a little challenging, middle of a series -- boom -- you play a few games in a series and switch back. But I guess its better for some reason.
Carl Crawford will be among those on the disabled list who will stay back in Boston during the trip. Darnell McDonald, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a right oblique strain, will travel with the team.
Boston Red Sox
Andrew Bailey was expected to have his right thumb -- on which he had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament on April 4 -- examined today in Cleveland by Dr. Thomas Graham, who performed the procedure.