Notes: Crawford hits seventh, McDonald & Lowrie start

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By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Sensing that Carl Crawford was pressing a little too much in his first week with the Red Sox, Terry Francona dropped the outfielder from third in the batting order to seventh Sunday.

"Looking at him, it's kind of obvious he's trying too hard,'' said Francona. "Especially with a lefty (Texas starter Matt Harrison) going today, we'll just kind of let him sit down there (in the order). As soon as he gets on base, the real Carl will come out. In the meantime, we'll take a little heat off him.

"He's a great kid; he's just trying too hard. I think it's an admirable quality. But we're two games in and he's not had real good at-bats. I just want to let him relax a little bit and play.''

Crawford wasn't the only change in the order. Francona also sat J.D. Drew with Darnell McDonald playing in right field and Jed Lowrie playing short over Marco Scutaro.

"I think Mac matches up good against (Harrison) and then we've got J.D. sitting over there if we get into the bullpen,'' said Francona. "And Jed (a switch-hitter), especially right-handed, I wanted to get him in a game.''

With McDonald and Lowrie in the lineup, Jason Varitek is the only position player to not be in the starting lineup or make an appearance.

Sunday's starter Clay Buchholz was 8-3 in 13 starts following a Red Sox defeat in 2010... David Ortiz is the first Red Sox hitter to homer in each of the first two games of a season since Mike Greenwell homered in each of Boston's first three games in 1989...Ortiz's homer Saturday night was No. 351 of his career, moving him past Pawtucket hitting coach Chili Davis into a tie for 80th all time, tying him with Dick Allen.

Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam

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