The Boston Red Sox were preparing for their Friday night battle with the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park when manager Alex Cora decided to make a change to the lineup.
For the series opener, Cora moved outfielder Jarren Duran, who had been the team's leadoff hitter all season, down to second in the lineup. Outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who's known to succeed against left-handed pitchers, was moved to leadoff.
Why did Cora make this change?
“We’ve been struggling against lefties so trying to change it,” Cora said (via. MassLive). “Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t. But he’s one of the best in the big leagues. So kind of like throw something different lineup-wise.”
While Refsnyder got on base in two of his three at-bats (one hit and one walk), Duran struggled out of the second, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Duran was one of six Red Sox to not reach base at all in the contest.
This team needs to find some way to beat these left-handed starters, as they're 12-15 against them this season.