Brandon Moss, subbing in right field for the injured J.D. Drew, doubles in the fourth inning. He had two hits in the game.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

BOSTON — Clay Buchholz, Sean Casey and Brandon Moss began last night’s game as the Red Sox’ starting pitcher, designated hitter and right fielder, respectively.

That’s a little different lineup, than say, Josh Beckett, David Ortiz and J.D. Drew, and the end result was a 7-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. That’s not to say that if the later threesome was in the lineup, the outcome would have been different because the first three players mentioned are very good.

The point is the Sox’ lineup is pretty banged up right now, and until everyone can get a rest during the All-Star break, Boston will mix and match its lineup until its last game of the first half tomorrow.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday afternoon that the club was trying to keep players as healthy as possible even though the bumps and bruises seem to be mounting.

Manny Ramirez is still bothered by a sore hamstring. Ortiz remains on the disabled list with a wrist injury. Drew missed his second consecutive game with a sore back. Coco Crisp was out of the lineup last night with a sore forearm.

The All-Star break can’t come fast enough.

Despite the loss, the news wasn’t all that bad as Buchholz returned to the starting rotation last night after spending some much-needed development time with the PawSox, where he posted a 4-2 record with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts. During his time in Pawtucket, his delivery — mainly his arm slot — was tweaked just a bit, and Red Sox management felt he was ready to return to Boston for last night’s game against the Orioles.

He wasn’t as efficient as the Red Sox might have wanted, inasmuch as the rookie right-hander allowed four runs on five hits with five walks and six strikeouts in only five innings of work. He tossed 107 pitches, 65 for strikes.

Throughout the course of a 162-game schedule, non-starters will, at some point, be counted on. Over the last few seasons, the Red Sox bench players have been critical contributors to the club’s success.

Casey served as the team’s DH last night. Hitting in the No. 6 spot in the order, he collected a double in his first at-bat in the second inning and scored a run.

Moss, who was called up from Pawtucket on June 5, hasn’t seen much playing time. But when he has been in the game, either as a starter or late-inning replacement, the rookie has done the job. Last night he had two hits and a RBI.

In the meantime, Moss is trying to keep it simple.

“It’s not that tough,” Moss said. “The first game may be a little bit, but you’re playing on adrenaline, anyway. I just try to stay with my strengths and work on my weaknesses. You’re going to have good days and you’re going to have bad days. That’s just baseball.”

It is in games such as last night’s that show that the entire roster must be able to contribute when needed. Usually for the Red Sox, players do.

“Guys who don’t play, want to play,” Francona said. “Believe me, I wanted to play. But I wasn’t good enough. It’s hard. How can you be good enough and don’t think you’re deserving to play? It’s impossible. When you start knowing that you’re not good enough, it’s time to get out of the game. I don’t know how you can succeed if you don’t think you should be playing. How they handle that is important, and our guys do a very good job of that.”

Obviously Buchholz is not considered a bench or role player. It is hoped that he will be an integral part of the rotation for a long time, and that’s why the Red Sox decided to send him to Pawtucket to continue to hone his skills.

“We’re excited,” Francona said before last night’s game. “The one thing we’ll have to fight, either way, if he goes nine and throws a no-hitter then he’s in the Hall of Fame. And if he gets hit around a little bit, then he’s not good enough. It’s exciting, but the consistency of every five days is what will be telling. That’s why he’s back here because we think it’s going to be pretty good.

“He’s done a good job of working,” Francona added. “We’ve asked him to do some things and he’s done everything we’ve asked. We’re proud of him.”

Buchholz struggled in the first inning last night, throwing 29 pitches and allowing two runs on two hits. He settled down after that and didn’t allow a run until he surrendered a pair of runs in the fifth.

The Red Sox bats didn’t give him much run support — two in the second and one in the fourth — and he left the game with the Orioles leading, 4-2.

Boston’s bullpen allowed two more runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth as Baltimore posted the victory.

It seems the All-Star break can’t come fast enough for the Red Sox, even though not everyone agreed.

“I don’t think anybody goes about things that way,” said catcher Jason Varitek about wanting a break. “At least I hope not. For some it will be [a break], and for some (the seven All-Star participants, including Varitek, Drew, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Ramirez) it won’t be. We’ve got two more games and that’s what we have to focus on.” Orioles

7

Red Sox

3

Next Game

Tonight

vs. Baltimore,

7:05 p.m.

jmcdonal@projo.com