SEATTLE -- Andrew Benintendi was optimistic that the foul ball he rifled off his right knee cap Saturday night would not be a problem. For a day anyway, it has sidelined the outfielder.
Benintendi remained in the Red Sox' 6-5 loss to the Mariners despite initially crumpling to the ground after striking his leg, ultimately going 1-for-4 with a run. But he is not in Sunday's starting lineup, with J.D. Martinez getting his first start of the season in the outfield.
"He’s doing OK," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora of Benintendi. "He told me he wanted to play today. Obviously he wasn’t going to play. Give him one day, he should be ready for tomorrow.
"He was going to play but after what happened yesterday it makes sense. Lefty on the mound, anyway. Try to find a day for him during the week, so it worked out perfectly for me to give him an off-day."
The move pushes Mookie Betts back up to the leadoff spot.
Here is the Red Sox' batting order against Seattle lefty Wade LeBlanc with Rick Porcello on the mound for the visitors:
Mookie Betts RF
Rafael Devers 3B
J.D. Martinez LF
Xander Bogaerts SS
Sam Travis DH
Mitch Moreland 1B
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Christian Vazquez C
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF