David Ortiz is probably happy he won't have to pick up a glove for a while.

AP photo / Gregory Smith

ATLANTA –– The Red Sox can finally put interleague games behind them for 2009.

It’s not as if they played poorly against their National League rivals, which included the Mets (1-2), Marlins (2-1), Braves (4-2), Phillies (2-1) and Nationals (2-1). After Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Braves at Turner Field, Boston finished the year 11-7 against those clubs.

Now it’s time to get back to some normalcy as the Sox travel to Baltimore to begin a three-game set Monday night.

“I’m glad,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “There’s a certain comfort playing the teams you know. That doesn’t mean you’re going to win, we can just get back to having David [Ortiz] DH.”

Francona doesn’t hate interleague play, but he doesn’t like it, either. After all, general manager Theo Epstein & Co. build the club to be a winner in the American League in hopes of reaching, and winning, the World Series.

Having 18 interleague games is a challenge, especially with nine games in National League parks and without the designated hitter. It forces Francona and his staff to make constant late-inning changes with double-switches, pinch-hitters and pitching changes. In order to have success in this environment, all that is needed.

The players don’t always enjoy what they’re not used to, but Francona said he’s been impressed with the way the Sox have handled it.

“I’m actually kind of proud of our guys,” he said. “They’ve done a good job. Everybody has been accommodating. Everybody gives a little bit and they take a step back and they put the ballclub first, which I appreciate. I think we’ve played pretty well. But this is not our best team [during interleague games]. It’ll be nice to get back where we can run out our team.”

The Red Sox have played three road series against National League teams –– Philadelphia, Washington and Atlanta –– and in each case they won the first two games before dropping the third.

“The third game is always going to be the hardest,” said Francona.

This is the 13th season of interleague play, and the Red Sox have been successful in recent years. The team has never had a losing record under Terry Francona in a season’s worth of interleague play, and the Sox are an outstanding 71-37 in interleague games since Francona took over. Still, playing against A.L. opponents, especially in their division, is where they like to be.

“It’s nice. You get into your routines with American League teams,” said Red Sox first/third baseman Kevin Youkilis, whose playing time is directly affected by interleague play. The best thing about it for our team is the guys on off days don’t have to worry about coming in with double-switches. We need to go to Baltimore and win the series.”

Francona spent a good portion of Sunday morning preparing for the club’s upcoming series against the Orioles. The Red Sox will send Jon Lester, John Smoltz and Josh Beckett to the mound, respectively, against Baltimore’s, Jason Berken, Rich Hill and Brad Bergesen.

“Whew,” responded Francona when asked about interleague coming to an end. “Not that we’re going to go beat [the Orioles], but I know these guys. The last couple of weeks you’re trying to match up moves with styles and you don’t know how [NL teams] play the game. It’s a little disconcerting.”

Francona said he would like to see fewer interleague games because he believes there are too many inconsistencies. For example, the Red Sox have played Atlanta six out of the last nine games, and this will be the team’s first trip to Baltimore –– and it’s almost July.

“It’ll be good to see some pitchers who we normally face,” said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Some believe that there is at least one good thing about playing National League clubs.

“Sometimes it’s fun to play National League teams because the games are quicker,” said Jason Varitek.

jmcdonal@projo.com