KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Head-to-head numbers offered an easy justification for Hanley Ramirez’ absence from the Red Sox lineup yesterday.
He was a career .154 hitter against Royals starter Ian Kennedy, while the designated hitter’s replacement, Chris Young, was 1-for-2 with a home run against the right-hander.
But Red Sox manager John Farrell did not offer such an excuse. Instead, he admitted what’s been plainly obvious for weeks.
“Because (Young has) had good at-bats,” Farrell said. “And it’s looking like to me like the shoulders are bothering Hanley, and his at-bats have not been what he’s capable.