Red Sox-Indians preview: Torey Lovullo shuffles the lineup

Lovullo claims to have seen improvement out of Ramirez. but says the team is still working with him to kick some of his infield instincts such as wanting to come in on balls hit his way. Kelly has allowed 20 hits and eight earned runs in 16 1/3 innings in the three games, but only three runs in 11 1/3 in the last two. He is 14-for-29 during a six-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in six of his last eight games. He has hit in 10 straight games, batting.

In a five-game span last week, Bradley made great catches at all three outfield positions: basket catch in center field in Detroit, crashing into the wall in left in Miami, a leaping catch in front of the low right-field wall in Fenway.

Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez will all sit out, as Lovullo explained before the game that he just wanted to get the players a little rest.

While Bradley and Castillo were swinging hot bats during Ramirez’s seven-game absence – especially Bradley, who hit.

Bauer was unhappy after Betts cleared the bases with his double off the Green Monster.

Ramirez went 1-for 3 in his return, but the real story was his misplayed ball in the fourth that led to a five-run inning for the Indians – the same type of misplay Red Sox fans have become all too accustomed to from Ramirez. It was Bradley’s turn Tuesday.

Many people expected Ramirez to have a tough time during his first season playing in the outfield, but expected his explosive bat to make up the difference. The lineup card is a collaborative effort, a fancy way of saying GM Ben Cherington has plenty of input.

“Hanley Ramirez is our left fielder and I think we’re going to stay with that, ” Lovullo said Tuesday afternoon.

Now there is caution here, including by Red Sox officials who don’t want to fall in love with small sample sizes amassed for a losing team under no pennant pressure. “We’re going to try and get him the necessary work, the necessary reps, and the necessary innings out there to get him to the point where he feels comfortable and we become a championship defense in the outfield”.

Cleveland’s only run came on Michael Brantley’s homer in the seventh.

Cleveland would add two more runs after the misplay and left the inning which began tied at one run up by a score of 5-1.