For the second day in a row, Mike Lowell is not in Boston's starting lineup as the Sox begin a four-game series against Oakland tonight.

Manager Terry Francona said Trevor Cahill, Oakland's 21-yar-old starting pitcher, is tougher on righthanders than lefties, so Adam LaRoche will play first and Kevin Youkilis will play third. Lefties are hitting .291 against Cahill, righties .236.

Francona said he does not intend to get players in the first-base/third base situation in and out of the lineup, but rather will try to string together at-bats for the players involved.

``I wll play the guys that give us the best chance to win that game,'' he said.

Here are the lineups:

OAKLAND

Kennedy 3b
Cabrera ss
Hairston lf
Cust dh
Suzuki c
Sweeney rf
Ellis 2b
Crosby 1b
Patterson cf

Cahill P

BOSTON

Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
Youkilis 3b
Ortiz dh
Bay lf
Drew rf
LaRoche 1b
Varitek c
Lowrie ss

Beckett p