BOSTON — As shakeups go, Terry Francona’s reshuffling of the Red Sox’ batting order didn’t exactly have an immediate effect.

On their just-completed road trip, the Red Sox averaged just under 3.3 runs per game, and last night they didn’t even match that modest total, collecting just two runs on eight hits against the Colorado Rockies.

But given that the two runs were enough to hold off the Rockies and the two players most affected by the switch — Julio Lugo and Dustin Pedroia — figured prominently in the outcome, it must be considered a qualified success.

To the surprise of no one, Francona yesterday dropped the slumping Lugo from the top of the Boston batting order to the bottom, while elevating Pedroia from ninth to first.

Lugo, in his first at-bat, roped a double into the left field corner and after executing his 18th consecutive successful steal, rode home on a run-scoring double from Kevin Youkilis.

As for Pedroia, he was hitless in his first three trips at the top, but ignited the game-winning rally in the eighth. He singled to left. Alex Cora, who pinch-ran for Pedroia, ended up scoring the go-ahead run on J.D. Drew’s sacrifice fly to center.

“We don’t do (lineup changes) just for a day,” said Francona after the win. “That’s probably not the right purpose. We try to look it more for the long haul. I think the reasons were pretty sound or we wouldn’t have done it.”

In point of fact, Francona had been contemplating the change for some time. But the Red Sox’ road trip featured brutal travel time, and in between resting players and dealing with some nagging injuries, Francona thought it best to wait.

On Monday, an off-day, Francona thought the time was finally right. He called Lugo to tell him the news, not wanting the shortstop to be ambushed by the switch when he entered the clubhouse yesterday afternoon.

Lugo, who entered the game with a .213 batting average and the second-worst OPS of any everyday shortstop in the game, took the demotion in stride and with humor.

“I’m OK with it,” he told reporters before the game. “I just never want to hit 10th. I just want to be in there. When you’re at the top of the lineup, you’ve got to get on base consistently. I understand.

Lugo has been putting in extra time with hitting instructor Dave Magadan (“It’s not for lack of work,” said Magadan after batting practice), trying to rid himself of some bad habits that have him getting to the ball too slowly.

“I’m just going through a tough time,” said Lugo. “At the end of the year, I know I’m going to get there. I’m feeling better. I had some good swings in Arizona. The only problem is the nine people out there trying to catch it.”

Asked if hitting last might help him relax, Lugo thought for a minute.

“I don’t know,” he said. “But if it is going to help me (relax) and do better, I’ll go with it.”

Meanwhile, Pedroia, who was in danger of riding the bench only a month ago, took his promotion to the top of the lineup in stride. Having hit leadoff often in college and throughout the minor leagues, the change was incidental to Pedroia, who does not lack for confidence.

“I don’t really care where I hit,” he said. “I’m just trying to get on base, whether I’m hitting ninth, second or first.”

Having fought his way through a slump in April, Pedroia had plenty of empathy for what his teammate were experiencing.

“You go through ups and downs over the course of the season,” he said. “I went through it, J.D. (Drew), even Manny (Ramirez).”

If anything, Pedroia revealed, it was tough for him to hit ninth, and perhaps one reason it took him four weeks to get untracked at the plate. Often, Pedroia wouldn’t hit until the third inning and he had difficulty keeping loose and energized waiting for his at-bat.

Now that he’s settled into a routine and found success, he’s now the Red Sox’ leadoff hitter. For now.

Did Francona find some vindication that the experiment yielded immediate results?

“We scored two (runs),” he gently reminded reporters. “If we lost, 10-2, you guys would have (sarcastically) said, ‘Nice move.’ ”