Red Sox Are Bottoming Up

Neither Nick Green nor George Kottaras were considered candidates to even make the 25-man roster coming out of Fort Myers in early April.

But as the Red Sox stand two games ahead of the Yankees in mid-June, their presence in the bottom third of the batting order has been no small reason why the offense has suddenly picked up the pace.

In the last week, the Red Sox knocked out A.J. Burnett and Chien-Ming Wang after 2 2/3 innings. They got to Philadelphia’s Antonio Bastardo and ushered him out after just one inning. And Tuesday night, they showed Florida starter Chris Volstad the showers after 3 2/3 innings.

On Tuesday, the trio of Jacoby Ellsbury, Green and Kottaras went 6-for-12 with 3 RBI and four runs scored as the Red Sox won the opener with the Marlins, 8-2, at Fenway Park.

“Our whole goal is to put good at-bats up there and go up there and expect the best thing to happen and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Kottaras said. “It’s definitely big. Our approach at the plate has been great. We’ve been taking pitches when we need to be and making them work and it’s been working out for us.”

Watching the lower third contribute may have inspired the top of the Red Sox order, which had seven hits between Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Kevin Youkilis Jason Bay and David Ortiz.

“I think it’s important,” Green said. “It takes the pressure off the top of the order and if we can roll the order over, it always helps out and that’s our job, try to contribute and that’s what we try to do.”

For Green, all anyone has to do is watch his at-bat in the second inning when Ellsbury reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Green’s infield single which was mishandled by Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez.

“It’s fun,” Green said of the play. “It almost feels like I’m batting second because I’ve got a guy who can get on, run, steal second and then give me a chance to knock him in or get him over. It’s fun to have him hitting in front of me.”

Kottaras started his second straight game on Tuesday night, as Tim Wakefield took the mound. His 2-for-4 Tuesday made him 10-for-29 (.345) in his last eight games, with six doubles, six runs scored and three RBI.

“It definitely helps, seeing live pitching on a regular basis, but I’m here for Wake and I’m here to help out whenever I can so I’ll be ready whenever,” Kottaras said.