BOSTON –– On Wednesday night, the heart of the Red Sox’ batting order –– David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis –– went a combined 1-for-13, contributing only an Ortiz sacrifice fly.

But at the top of the order, Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia went a combined 6-for-8 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored.

And the Red Sox won, 6-3.

On Thursday, the heart of the order went a combined 7-for-17 with a double, a homer, five RBI and six runs scored. Throw in J.D. Drew, the number-seven hitter, and those totals swelled to 9-for-21 with a double, two homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored.

And the Sox romped, 11-8.

This is just one reason the Red Sox are such a formidable team.

They do not have to be fueled offensively only by the middle of their order. Obviously, they boast a formidable middle, but they are getting contributions everywhere in the lineup when they need to — number-nine hitter Julio Lugo, for instance, delivered the tie-breaking run on back-to-back nights on the homestand.

It’s a lineup in which no one player has to feel the pressure to carry the team. That is a very comforting feeling for the Red Sox.

“We’ve got guys who kind of feed off each other,” said Drew. “We’re aggressive on pitches in the (strike) zone and patient on pitches out of the zone. It’s all through the lineup, good at-bats from one through nine. That has to be tough on the opposition, for sure. I know playing defense with guys grinding out at-bats that makes for a very long game.”

Life is full of choices

You could argue, though, with a move made by Kansas City manager Trey Hillman. Or more accurately, a move he didn’t make.

In the sixth, with the Royals trailing, 7-3, Hillman had left-hander Jimmy Gobble issue an intentional walk to Manny Ramirez, loading the bases with two outs. Next up was Mike Lowell, a right-handed hitter.

Hillman weighed two options. Lowell was batting .235 against left-handed pitchers. But right-handed batters were 8-for-19 against Gobble. Right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta was ready in the bullpen.

Hillman stuck with Gobble. Lowell bashed a grand slam. Sox 11, Royals 3. Game over, even if Kansas City made it interesting late.

“I liked our chances. He didn’t locate the pitch. If he’s been throwing the ball good recently then, yeah, I’d probably do the same thing,” said Hillman.

Ready to run

On Tuesday night, Alex Gordon made a baserunning mistake that cost the Royals an opportunity for a rally. Yesterday, Gordon’s alertness on the bases helped Kansas City score a run in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

Gordon was on first base with two outs. When Matsuzaka bounced an 0-and-2 pitch, Gordon read the play perfectly and took off for second, even though the ball didn’t get very far away from Cash. Because he had a good jump on the play, Gordon easily made it to second.

He scored moments later on Jose Guillen’s single to right.

Footwork is crucial

Fundamentally sound footwork helped second baseman Dustin Pedroia make a play in the first inning.

Not-so-hot footwork didn’t help right fielder J.D. Drew in his attempt to throw out a runner at the plate in the first.

Pedroia ran a few steps to his right for Mark Grudzielanek’s one-out grounder toward the middle. Pedroia was able to beat the ball to the spot, angling his body and his feet so was soon as he gloved the ball, his feet were in position to make the throw to first. So, basically, in one motion he fielded the ball and threw out Grudzielanek.

Drew, meanwhile, put a hard charge on Guillen’s base hit. But instead of taking a quick crow hop to give him solid rhythm for his throw home as Gordon streaked to the plate, Drew took a couple of baby steps before unleashing his throw.

The ball was wide to the first-base side of the plate and lacked any steam as Gordon slid home safely.

Of course, Drew more than made up for that by clubbing a grand slam in the second.

Playing second in the outfield

Kansas City second baseman Mark Grudzielanek made a heads-up play in depriving the Sox of a run in the fourth. Grudzielanek was playing in shallow right field on the shift for Ortiz with runners at first and second and tow outs.

The Sox designated hitter ripped a hard grounder off the first-base bag, the ball popping over the head of first baseman Ross Gload. Grudzielanek swooped in and fielded the ball. Julio Lugo, running from second, was racing for home, as he should have been with two outs.

Grudzielanek spied him and threw a strike to the plate. Catch Miguel Olivo slapped the tag on Lugo.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340