The First Lineup

Against the Twins tonight:

Julio Lugo       SS
Kevin Youkilis   1B
David Ortiz      DH
Jason Varitek     C
Mike Lowell      3B
Wily Mo Pena     RF
Dustin Pedroia   2B
David Murphy     LF
Jacoby Ellsbury  CF

Pitchers: Curt Schilling, Julian Tavarez, Joel Pineiro, Manny Delcarmen, Brendan Donnelly, J.C. Romero, Bryan Corey and Runelvys Herhandez.

Manny Ramirez asked to play tonight, but Terry Francona said, "There's a difference between being in shape and being in camp and having your spikes on and things like that. I think three or four days, for me, at the earliest."

In his first BP session, Manny Ramirez "sprayed line drives to left, right and center field". For the first time in his career, Manny took batting practice five days a week beginning in December.

The Red Sox also announced the pitching assignments for the next few days:

Thursday:
Vs Blue Jays/Roy Halladay: Kason Gabbard, Devern Hansack, Travis Hughes, Javier Lopez, Edgar Martinez, David Pauley
Vs Northeastern University: Josh Beckett, Craig Breslow

Friday:
Vs Blue Jays/Gustavo Chacin: Kyle Snyder, Hernandez, Donnelly, Hideki Okajima, Corey, Mike Burns
Vs Boston College: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kyle Jackson, Nick Debarr

Saturday
Vs Phillies: Tim Wakefield, Jonathan Papelbon, Pineiro, Romero, Delcarmen, Hughes