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Mauro Gomez Playing Third, Batting Seventh In Series Opener Vs. Yankees

BOSTON (CBS) -- A day off on Thursday apparently wasn't enough for Will Middlebrooks to nurse his hamstring back to full health, so Mauro Gomez will get his first taste of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry on Friday night.

The 27-year-old rookie will start at third base and bat seventh for the Red Sox on Friday in just his fourth major league game. He went 1-for-4, collecting his first major league hit with a second-inning double, on Wednesday against Oakland. On the season, he's 1-for-6.

Defensively, Gomez could be a liability at third base. In 71 career games at third base in the minors, he has an .843 fielding percentage, committing 31 errors in 197 total chances. He did not make an error in his two chances at third base on Wednesday.

The Red Sox' lineup will also include Nick Punto, in at second base for the injured Dustin Pedroia.

It could be a night for Adrian Gonzalez to add to that low home run total, as he has two homers off Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda in 23 at-bats.

The complete Red Sox lineup is below:

1. Daniel Nava, LF
2. Ryan Kalish, CF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Cody Ross, RF
5. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Mauro Gomez, 3B
8. Mike Aviles, SS
9. Nick Punto, 2B

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