Victorino back in action for Game 6, hitting sixth

BOSTON -- With a chance to win the World Series in Wednesday night's Game 6, right fielder Shane Victorino returned to Boston's lineup after missing the previous two games with tightness in his lower back.

However, for the first time in this postseason, Victorino was dropped from his usual No. 2 spot in the batting order and instead batted sixth.

Victorino came into the night 0-for-10 in the World Series. Since the start of the American League Championship Series, he is 3-for-34, though one of those hits was the game-breaking grand slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series which helped the Red Sox win the AL pennant.

Manager John Farrell said that the overriding factor in moving Victorino down was that he liked the look of his Game 5 lineup, when Dustin Pedroia batted second and the red-hot David Ortiz hit third.

"In talking with Vic about this yesterday, he was understanding of it," said Farrell. "He's hit in the five-hole quite a bit, particularly against right-handed starters when he was hitting left-handed. I gave him my reasons for it, for what we mentioned as well as to keep the other two guys at the top of the order."

Victorino was just happy to be able to return to the mix in Game 6. He probably could have played Game 5, but he agreed with Farrell to play it safe.

"I feel a lot better," Victorino said. "Progressively, I've gotten better every day."