ANAHEIM, Calif. — Last night, the start of the second-half of the season, brought the Red Sox back to the road. The Sox can only hope they meet with more success there than they did in the first half.

The team’s 21-29 record tied them with the lowly Kansas City Royals for the ninth-worst A.L. record.

Statistically, though, the Red Sox should be far better. They led A.L. teams is road batting average (.269), a .338 OBP (on-base percentage), a .429 slugging percentage and 59 road homers.

It’s the same with their pitching. In the first half, Boston pitchers held opponents to a .243 batting average and led the staffs with most road strikeouts.

The bright spot for the Sox is that, starting with last night, the team had just 31 road games left. They’re in a stretch in which they play 13 of their next 22 away from Fenway.

But when they finish with their next trip, which takes them to Kansas City and Chicago, the Sox will have just 18 games remaining on the road.

By the end of August, the schedule will truly tilt in their favor. Following their final regular-season visit to Yankee Stadium, Aug. 26-28, the final three games of a three-city, nine-game swing, the Sox will play 19 of their last 28 games at Fenway, where they enjoy a league-best 36-11 record.

Platoon situation

With Julio Lugo sidelined, perhaps until September with a strained quad muscle, manager Terry Francona must find playing time for both Alex Cora and Jed Lowrie at the position.

At times, Francona said, he will rely on matchups and the opposing pitcher to make the decision for him.

Last night, for instance, he had the left-handed hitting Cora in against righty John Lackey, no doubt taking note of Cora’s 5-for-15 (.333) history against the Angels starter.

The switch-hitting Lowrie, meanwhile, will start this afternoon against lefty Joe Saunders. Saunders had originally been scheduled to throw tomorrow, but the Angels made a switch in their rotation yesterday, moving Saunders to today, with right-hander Jon Garland going tomorrow.

Up-to-the-minute update

Even before David Ortiz continued his rehab assignment with his second homer in two days last night, the slugger was in contact with Francona.

Ortiz called Francona on the manager’s cell phone shortly after his first at-bat Thursday night at McCoy Stadium, when Francona was on the way back to the team hotel here.

“He told me, ‘Hey, I just popped up,’ ” Francona said, chuckling while recalling the conversation. “I told him, ‘I don’t care. Why are you calling me?’ But he told he felt great, too, which was the important thing.”

Colon making progress

Bartolo Colon played long-toss with pitching coach John Farrell yesterday afternoon as the Red Sox work to try to build up his arm strength after a down period during the All-Star break.

“We’re trying to ramp him up again,” said Francona of the pitcher, who has been sidelined since last month with lower back stiffness. “We’re going to have to build him up again.”

Francona said Colon will eventually graduate to throwing off the mound, throwing live batting practice and, eventually, be sent on a rehab assignment.

Much-needed breather

The All-Star break could be particularly beneficial to catcher Jason Varitek, who struggled mightily in the last month before the break.

Varitek was selected to the American League All-Star team by the players and caught two innings in Tuesday night’s marathon without an at-bat.

But though he took part in the game and the festivities, Francona said the catcher probably could benefit more from a mental break.

“Being able to take a deep breath,” said Francona, “helps everybody.”

Break for Lester

Jon Lester, who will pitch Monday in Seattle, near his hometown, will be pitching with the benefit of 12 days’ rest.

In the first half, Lester was the one member of the rotation who didn’t get an extended break — either because of an injury or a reconfiguration of the rotation.

Heading into yesterday’s action, only seven A.L. starters had more innings pitched than Lester, who had 125 in the first half.

Lester had a side session yesterday when the team held a workout and also threw on the side last Sunday, the final day before the break.

“The idea,” said Francona, “is to give him rest and not have him lose his sharpness.”

smcadam@projo.com