ST. LOUIS — As the World Series shifts to a National League ballpark, the Red Sox will lose the DH.
But they won’t lose David Ortiz. After delivering two hits in the six-game American League Championship Series, Ortiz has found his groove in the World Series. Manager John Farrell said Friday that Ortiz will start at first base, so Mike Napoli will be on the bench.
There was really no decision to make. Ortiz hit a two-run home run in Game 2 on Thursday, his second of the Series and fifth of the postseason. That tied him for the franchise record (Todd Walker in 2003 and Ortiz in 2004) for most homers in a single postseason.
He also has 17 career postseason homers, tied with Jim Thome for seventh-most in baseball history.
In the World Series, Ortiz is 4-for-6 with one walk. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are hitting .228 in the postseason and were limited to four hits in Game 2. They are 12-for-64 (.188) with a .239 team on-base percentage in the two games.
So the Red Sox could not afford to sit Ortiz, at least not in Game 3. And he’ll likely start all three games in St. Louis.
“David has got a long career that we all lean on and the success that he’s having on this postseason to take advantage of,” Farrell said.
Ortiz played six games at first base during interleague games this season and has played 25 games at the position over the past five seasons. He came up as a first baseman with the Twins, but has been a DH since coming to the Red Sox in 2003.
“When we’ve done interleague play, we’ve tried to find as many opportunities for David at first as we did through those 10 road games in National League parks,” Farrell said.
Napoli, who has played well defensively at first base all season, is 1-for-7 in the series, driving in three runs in Game 1. He was 6-for-20 with two home runs in the ALCS.
With the pitcher batting, there will be plenty of opportunities to use Napoli and others in a pinch-hitting role.
“Our bench is going to be more involved in these next three games,” Farrell said. “Even if we have to defend for David late with Mike Napoli, we’ve got much more flexibility, obviously, with an added guy on the bench.”
The other decision Farrell faced before Game 3? In left field, Jonny Gomes has started both games and the Red Sox were 7-0 in his starts before Thursday. Farrell started Gomes over Nava — even against righthanders — as he pointed to Gomes’ contribution in the seven victories.
But the streak ended in Game 2. Gomes was hitless in a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals and he’s now 0-for-7 in the World Series.
So Nava will start Game 3, Farrell said Friday. With righthander Joe Kelly starting for the Cardinals, Nava (.322, .411 on-base percentage vs. righthanders during the season) should provide a better lineup option. Nava hit .303 during the season and is 4-for-13 with three walks in the postseason, including four starts.
“For the outfield size, with the matchup that we like, a left handed hitter in Nava a little more, that’s why Daniel is in there,” Farrell said.
