He may bat fifth against Blue Jays
By Bob Hohler, Globe Staff, 4/16/2002
By last Patriots Day, Manny Ramirez was on his way to becoming the American League player of the month in April. Thirteen games into the season, he was batting .396 with a home run and 13 RBIs, as he carried the Sox on his mighty shoulders.
This month, the role of Manny Ramirez is being played by Shea Hillenbrand, who yesterday was running ahead of Ramirez's pace of a year ago. By going 2 for 3 and driving in two runs to help edge the Yankees, 4-3, Hillenbrand improved his average to .405 and his RBI total to 14. He also has four home runs in 11 games.
Hillenbrand is so hot, in fact, that manager Grady L ittle is poised to move him into the fifth spot in the order behind Ramirez tonight in Toronto. The manager said he began considering the move as early as the fifth or sixth inning of yesterday's game.
''The kid's come a long way and continues to improve each and every day,'' Little said. ''He's a tough out up there.''
Hillenbrand would replace the struggling Tony Clark, who went 1 for 3 with the aid of an infield single to improve his average to .167. Clark, who has only the infield single in his last 25 at-bats, will get extra work during the two-game series in Toronto to try to right himself.
''Hopefully, he can get it going right away,'' Little said. ''He's a good athlete. He'll figure it out.''
Hillenbrand extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games. He leads the team in hits with 17 and recorded his third walk of the season when he took four straight balls from Andy Pettitte in the first inning. Hillenbrand did not draw his first walk last year until the 60th game of the season.
''I'm just going out and trying to stay consistent,'' he said. ''I think that's the hugest thing.''