Hughes' debut & other tidbits

Welcome to Fenway Park Day 2, where Brian Matusz will take the hill opposite John Lackey.

*Matusz has never faced the Red Sox and wanted to get a feel of what pitching at Fenway Park was like. So, he and Jeremy Guthrie used Thursday’s off day to go to the Red Sox game vs. the Texas Rangers. Dave Trembley said it best : he’s just a special kid.

*Tonight’s game will also be Rhyne Hughes’ Major League debut. Hughes got the nod last night and didn’t know he was in the starting lineup until he walked in to the visiting clubhouse around 4:30 p.m. ET.  The news broke thanks in part to his younger brother, Hoyt, who announced it on Rhyne’s Facebook fan page. 

*Hughes is playing first base tonight in place of Garrett Atkins, who has struggled as of late and twice left the bases loaded in Friday’s loss. Atkins said he’s not taking Hughes’ presence as anything other than a hot bat and a team who needs some offense. But it will be interesting to see what happens if Hughes starts to hit. Trembley said he will not consider Hughes in the outfield (he started to take reps out there at the team’s request this spring) so the only choice besides designated hitter is Hughes’ primary position at first base.

*Koji Uehara threw an inning today and will go to Double-A Bowie on a rehab assignment starting April 27. He will also throw on the 29th and there are no plans beyond that right now.

ORIOLES LINEUP
LOU MONTANEZ LF
ADAM JONES CF
NICK MARKAKIS RF
MIGUEL TEJADA 3B
MATT WIETERS C
LUKE SCOTT DH
TY WIGGINTON 2B
RHYNE HUGHES 1B
CESAR IZTURIS SS

BRIAN MATUSZ SP

RED SOX LINEUP
MARCO SCUTARO SS
DUSTIN PEDROIA 2B
VICTOR MARTINEZ DH
KEVIN YOUKILIS 1B
MIKE LOWELL 3B
JASON VARITEK C
BILL HALL RF
JEREMY HERMIDA LF
DARNELL MCDONALD CF

JOHN LACKEY SP