Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Terry Francona says he's still working on his lineup for Game Six of the ALCS and it's clear his toughest decision probably starts with the very first name.

The Red Sox have used three different players -- Jacoby Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and Coco Crisp -- in the leadoff spot in the last three games. That spot has yielded an ugly .087 (2-for-23) average through five games. The only two hits came via Crisp and they were huge ones in the Red Sox' 8-7 win in Game Five. Crisp had a two-out single in the seventh inning off Grant Balfour and then battled Dan Wheeler in an epic 10-pitch at-bat in the eighth inning. The showdown ended with Crisp lining to right and knocking in the tying run.

Ellsbury has sat out two straight games and is sitting at 0-for-14 in the ALCS and 6-for-32 (.188) in the playoffs. He was 0-for-5 against the Rays' Game Six starter, James Shields, back in Game One.

 Tags  Jacoby Ellsbury

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