ST. LOUIS, United States (AFP) - Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz typically plays as a designated hitter, but the Dominican dynamo must now take a fielding role as the 100th World Series shifts here for game three Tuesday.
The Red Sox, seeking their first title since 1918, took a 2-0 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final with a 6-2 home victory Sunday over the Cardinals, who have not won the crown since 1982.
But World Series games in St. Louis will be played under National League rules that require pitchers to bat instead of the American League's designated hitters. All batters are forced to play in the field.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona has decided to use Ortiz as a first baseman here, benching regular starter Kevin Millar to keep a more powerful hitter in the lineup.
"It's a shame because that's not our team," Francona said. "Our team is having David Ortiz at DH and having Kevin Millar play first base. It does put us at a disadvantage.
"It doesn't mean we're not going to win. But we're not going to send our best team out there. There are some problems on both ends. It definitely sets us back a little."
Ortiz helped spark the greatest playoff comeback in baseball history, taking Most Valuable Player honors as the Red Sox rallied from losing the first three games to beat the New York Yankees in the best-of-seven American League final.
Ortiz is batting 20-for-45, a .444 percentage, with five home runs and his 19 playoff runs batted in (RBI) equal the one-season record shared by Anaheim's Scott Spiezio from 2002 and Cleveland's Sandy Alomar from 1997.
Millar, considered a superior fielder, is 10-for-39, a .256 average, with one homer and six RBI.
"I know this is making our team better," Millar said. "We won't skip a beat. This team won't be affected as much as other American League teams because Ortiz can play first base."
Ortiz, 28, is taking the change in his stride after seven months of AL rules.
"It's October. If you're not ready you should just go home," Ortiz said.
The shift will give Ortiz a warm feeling after two chilly games at Fenway Park.
"It was freezing out there," Ortiz said. "Not good for a Dominican kid."
Having Ortiz field the ball should not diminish his power at the plate, Francona said.
"He's very dangerous all the time," Francona said. "Even when he's not hitting (well), I think if you ask an opposing pitcher, they are not going to be thrilled to have him hitting with the bases loaded."
This season, Ortiz hit 41 homers and drove home 139 runs. He hit three game-winning playoff homers and had three homers, 11 runs batted in and a .387 average against the Yankees.
"If the guy is dangerous, you have to pitch him like he's dangerous - keep the ball out of the middle, pitch to the corners," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.
"But we don't like doing it. We don't like telling our pitchers they're not good enough to get somebody out, Ortiz or anybody."
La Russa admits the rules give his team a slight edge.
"It's a lot easier for us to add a hitter. It's not a big thing but it's something," La Russa said. "If (Ortiz) were incapable of playing defense, that would be a big blow to them. But I don't see any reason they can't play."
The Red Sox see no reason Ortiz cannot overpower pitchers here either.
"It's definitely amazing," Boston's Gabe Kapler said. "He's not going to win every game for us. There have to be other heroes. But you know, I wouldn't put it past him either."

10/25/2004 - 17:03 GMT - AFP