Pedroia gets ‘half-day off’ as designated hitter

CLEVELANDBobby Valentine wanted to give Dustin Pedroia a night off four days ago, but the hot-hitting second baseman has convinced the Sox manager to keep penciling him into the lineup. Hes hitting .438 in those last four games with three runs and three doubles, and the hot streak has upped his batting average to the .270 mark for the first time since July 28.

Pedroia has multiple hit performances in three of his last six games, and appears to be in the midst of one of his trademark hitting tears that can go on for weeks or months at a time.

Thursday night will mark his 14th game played in a row, but the Sox manager compromised by giving him a half-day off and is instead starting him off in the customary three-hole as the designated hitter. The night off from the field will presumably recharge the Sox spark plugs batteries while keeping his smoking hot lumber in the middle of the batting order.

About four days there was a little consensus that it was time for a day off and when you talk to him he always talks you out of it, said Valentine. Then he had a good game and felt good the next day. This is just catching up on it. While David is not here as the designated hitter I think making the best of those opportunities to give other position players a rest is prudent at this time.

The injury to David Ortiz allows Valentine an opportunity to rotate players through while keeping the explosive quarter of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez operating on all cylinders.

Valentine also confirmed that left-hander Franklin Morales will get another well-deserved start on Saturday and Jon Lester will finish out the series against the Indians on Sunday.

Thursdays starting lineup for the Red Sox is: