by By MICHAEL SILVERMAN , The Boston Herald

After the 6-0 loss to the A's, manager Terry Francona said that Pedroia's absence was related to his wife's pregnancy. Kelli Pedroia is less than two months from her due date.

Francona said he did not know Pedroia's availability for today, stressing that everyone's primary concern was with Kelli Pedroia's health.

Last year's AL MVP and this year's starting second baseman at the All-Star Game was set to hit second and play second.

To compensate, Julio Lugo came off the bench to take Pedroia's spot in the lineup and play shortstop, while Nick Green switched from shortstop to second base.

Pedroia had been heating up at the plate, with three hits on Sunday and six multi-hit efforts in his last dozen games.

Bates debuts

The Red Sox placed first baseman Jeff Bailey on the disabled list with a high left ankle sprain and purchased the contract of Aaron Bates from Pawtucket. Bates had to be added to the 40-man roster. To make room, the club transferred shortstop Jed Lowrie from the 15- to 60-day disabled list.

Bates started last night and went 0-for-3, striking out swinging twice. Given that Bates has just 24 games of experience in Triple A, his start was a clear signal of how thin the club is in the infield. Third baseman Mike Lowell is on the DL and first baseman/outfielder Mark Kotsay has re-tweaked his right calf. Even though a lefty, Brett Anderson, started for the A's, the left-handed-hitting Kotsay probably still would have started at first base last night.

``We had nobody else'' said Francona about making the roster move for Bates. ``Not making light of it. Kots is limping around, facing a lefty, that's why we got him here, we needed somebody to play there.''

The club does not believe that Kotsay's condition is serious enough to sideline him much longer or will turn into something more serious.

``I think we're pretty confident that we can get through the break here,'' Francona said. ``He's going to certainly play before that, but if we can get him those four days off, I think we're pretty comfortable he'll be OK.''

Results of an MRI on Bailey's ankle were not immediately available. The club is hoping to get an idea of how much longer beyond 15 days he would need before being able to return to action.

Ellsbury bats first

Francona sat left-handed-hitting J.D. Drew last night, a move that meant center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury led off for the first time since May 30. . . .

Lowrie played shortstop for Double-A Portland yesterday and went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. He is expected to stay with the Sea Dogs for two more games today and tomorrow and then begin playing for the PawSox for a couple more games. . . .

Daniel Bard pitched a perfect seventh inning. In his last three games, the rookie has struck out seven and not allowed a hit, walk or run. . . .

The Red Sox were shut out for the second time this year. The last opponent to hold the Red Sox to two hits or less and no runs was Seattle's Felix Hernandez on April 11, 2007. Hernandez allowed just one hit. . . .

The win by Oakland was its first here after losing its last six. . . .

The Red Sox are 1-3 on this homestand and have lost four of their last six.

Read the Clubhouse Insider at bostonherald.com.

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