Victorino back in Sox lineup

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Shane Victorino is back in the starting lineup for the Boston Red Sox.

Victorino missed seven games in a row before being in the lineup Friday night for the opener of a three-game series at Texas. He was batting second and playing right field.

Victorino last played April 24 against Oakland. He had a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning of that game, but left two innings later because of lower back stiffness. He had come out of a game four days earlier because of the problem, and also missed both games of a doubleheader April 21.

Going into Friday night's game, Victorino was hitting .292 with eight RBIs. He was 9 for 16 with runners in scoring position.

Cox Media Group