Tito didn't make it easy on Jon Lester, but he delivered a solid performance in Sunday afternoon's 6-1 win over Kansas City.
With Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, and Kevin Youkilis all out with various ailments, Francona had to call on a thin bench to get the job done offensively. In doing so, he made a number of questionable calls -- and all of them seemed to work.
Reserve outfielder Darnell MacDonald was inserted into the 2-hole and produced three hits, including a solo homer to get the Sox on the board in the 5th. Ahead of Darnell was Marco Scutaro, who collected a hit and a walk while seeing 21 pitches.
Meanwhile, all these injuries made some of us question why Carl Crawford didn't find his name higher up on the lineup, instead hitting in the 7-hole behind the likes of the punchless Jed Lowrie and the unproven Ryan Lavarnway. Lowrie scored a run, had a hit and drove in a run, while Lavarnway had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. And Crawford found success in the 7-hole, homering and walking.
The curious moves weren't held to the lineup. Following Lester in the 7th was Daniel Bard, who inherited two runners with a 2-run lead. An unusually early entrance for Daniel, who rewarded Francona with a strike out, fly out, and ground out to hold the lead. The Sox poured on three more runs in the 8th -- but then Bard came back out for the bottom of the inning with a five-run lead. While it was curious, it's probably harmless -- Bard ended up throwing only 24 pitches, which he would have done in two at bats against New York. Dan Wheeler came on for the 9th, and that was that.
Not exactly how Theo drew it up in the offseason, but it got the job done. And kudos to Francona for doing what he thought was right, regardless of the reaction it might cause from some of us who know far less than he does.
The Sox took three of four from Kansas City and head south to play the Rangers in one of the biggest series of the year, starting today.
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