CVS president Tom Ryan presents a check for ALS research to Boston reliever Mike Timlin and Timlin’s wife last night.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

BOSTON — It’s no secret Jacoby Ellsbury has been struggling at the plate of late.

Entering last night’s game against the Yankees, the Red Sox rookie was 19-for-82 in his last 18 games. In fact, he was 0-for-12 during a stretch on the club’s last road trip. Because of his lack of production in the leadoff spot in the order, manager Terry Francona was asked numerous times during the trip if he thought about making a change.

The thought did enter his mind but, at the time, he thought it would be better to keep Ellsbury where he was.

Yesterday afternoon, however, when the lineup card was posted, Ellsbury was penciled into the No. 9 spot and Dustin Pedroia was leading off. Less than an hour later, Francona needed to change his lineup when slugger Manny Ramirez informed the manger his knee was still sore and couldn’t play.

Therefore, Ellsbury was back in the top spot. He is comfortable in either place in the order, he said.

“They’re just moving me down in the order; it’s not like they want me to bat right-handed,” joked Ellsbury.

He proved his worth during the postseason last October when he replaced Coco Crisp in the lineup for Game Six of the ALCS against Cleveland and quickly became a catalyst en route to a World Series championship.

“Jacoby’s going to be a premiere leadoff hitter in the major leagues,” said Francona. “He’s just going through a tough time. That’s just the way it is. … With ( David Ortiz returning to the lineup after a stint on the disabled list with a wrist injury) this gives us a chance to take a little bit of the pressure off Jacoby.”

Prior to last night’s lineup switch, Francona said he thought about changing things on the club’s recent road trip in Seattle, but with Ramirez out of the lineup with a sore knee, it didn’t seem to make much sense to Francona, especially with the off-day on Thursday and the team returning to Boston to begin its series against the Yankees.

If and when Ellsbury is moved to the bottom of the lineup, it will keep the middle of the order intact and add an element of speed in the No. 9 hole.

jmcdonal@projo.com