Adrian Gonzalez Drops to Sixth Spot, Will Middlebrooks Back in Lineup As Red Sox Face Orioles

Adrian Gonzalez has struggled in his last three games, going 1-for-14 over that span. He'll now see his place in the batting order dropped on Wednesday night when the Red Sox take on the Orioles at Fenway Park.

For at least one night, Gonzalez will be batting out of the sixth spot in the Red Sox lineup instead of his customary third hole. Gonzalez has 147 career at-bats out of the sixth spot in the lineup. He's hitting .265 in those chances with six home runs and 14 RBIs. Gonzalez will play right field.

Third baseman Kevin Youkilis will slide up to take Gonzalez's spot while Will Middlebrooks will return to the Boston batting order where he finds his name penciled into the fifth spot. It will be Middlebrooks' first appearance since June 2.

The Sox will take their hacks against Wei-Yen Chen, while Josh Beckett takes the hill for Boston.

Here are the lineups.

Red Sox
Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, RF
Jarrod Saltalalamacchia, C
Darnell McDonald, LF
Marlon Byrd, CF

Josh Beckett, P

Orioles
Endy Chavez, RF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Chris Davis, DH
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Ryan Flaherty, LF
Robert Andino, 2B 

Wei-Yen Chen, P