Grady Sizemore was 2-for-4 with a go-ahead three-run homer in Friday's win over the Yankees.

The Red Sox had nothing going against CC Sabathia over the first five innings, but Jonny Gomes and Sizemore both went deep in the sixth inning to put them in front. Sizemore has started in left field in each of the last two games, which is where he could play most of the time if the Red Sox decide to keep Jackie Bradley, Jr. with the big club when Shane Victorino comes off the disabled list.

Grady Sizemore will make his first career start in left field Thursday against the Yankees.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said he's using Sizemore in left field and Jackie Bradley, Jr. in center field on Thursday because of the dimensions in Yankee Stadium and that it's not necessarily a permanent situation. Still, we could see a similar look when Shane Victorino comes off the disabled list. Sizemore will bat leadoff Thursday while the struggling Daniel Nava has been dropped to fifth in the order.

Grady Sizemore is not in the Red Sox' lineup Wednesday.

Sitting out a day game after a night game will be a regular occurrence for Sizemore. Jackie Bradley is playing center field Wednesday and is being flanked by Jonny Gomes in left and Daniel Nava in right.

Grady Sizemore had three more hits in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers, doubling and scoring a run.

Sizemore now has three multi-hit games out of six. The veteran missed two starts with left-handed starters, and southpaw Robbie Ross will take the hill for the Rangers on Wednesday. Regardless, Sizemore doesn't seem to have lost much with the bat after a two-year layoff. His average is up to .364.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has Grady Sizemore back in the lineup Friday and plans to play him Saturday, as well.

Farrell will then re-evaluate Sizemore before determining whether he can play Sunday. Sizemore started two of the three games in Baltimore in the first series of the season, and it seems likely that getting him one day off per series will be the protocol the Red Sox will follow for now. Boston is doing its best to keep Sizemore healthy after the 31-year-old missed the last two seasons due to injury.

Grady Sizemore homered and singled in his first official appearance since 2011 against the Orioles on Monday.

Sizemore lined a 3-1 pitch for a single in his first at-bat and then hit the very top of the right field wall in Camden Yards for a homer in his second. 161 more games like this and he'll be the AL Comeback Player of the Year.

Grady Sizemore is starting in center field for the Red Sox in Monday's season-opener versus the Orioles.

Sizemore won a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster by batting .310/.356/.429 in the Grapefruit League this spring. The full Opening Day lineup for the Red Sox: RF Daniel Nava, 2B Dustin Pedroia, DH David Ortiz, 1B Mike Napoli, LF Mike Carp, CF Grady Sizemore, SS Xander Bogaerts, C A.J. Pierzynski, 3B Will Middlebrooks. Jon Lester is pitching.

Red Sox manager John Farrell on Friday named Grady Sizemore the team's Opening Day center fielder.

Sizemore beat out Jackie Bradley for the gig. The 31-year-old hit .333/.381/.462 with a home run in 12 games this spring and, most importantly, stayed healthy. Sizemore hasn't played since 2011 due to injuries and hasn't played a full season since 2008, so it would be a surprise if he's able to stay upright all year. Still, it's a pretty cool comeback story.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Thursday that if Grady Sizemore makes the Opening Day roster, he will almost always bat in the middle of the lineup.

Sizemore has hit leadoff some during Grapefruit League play, but it doesn't sound like he'd be an option there during the regular season. He's battling Jackie Bradley for the Red Sox' center field job.

Grady Sizemore singled and walked as the Red Sox's leadoff man Wednesday against the Orioles.

Sizemore's homer yesterday appears to have boosted the chances of him becoming Boston's Opening Day center fielder. A decision could come within the next 24 hours.

The Red Sox will begin to ramp up Grady Sizemore's activity as they continue to assess his readiness for Opening Day.

That plan includes playing Sizemore in Thursday's major league spring training game after he participated in a minor-league game on Wednesday. He'll have a day off Friday before playing in three straight games Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the first time the Sox have asked him to do so this spring. Sizemore has impressed to this point, so the next few days will go a long way towards deciding whether the 31-year-old can handle the starting duties in center field. At this point, it's still undecided whether he or Jackie Bradley Jr. will start in center on Opening Day.

Grady Sizemore went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored as the Red Sox's leadoff man Monday.

He also made two excellent catches in center field. On the first one, he smacked the wall pretty good, yet came away no worse for the wear. While nothing has been decided, Sizemore has certainly made as strong of a case for a starting job in center field as anyone could have imagined.

Red Sox manager John Farrell indicated Saturday that Grady Sizemore may play in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday.

That hurdle is a very important test for the injury-plagued outfielder who has impressed early on in Red Sox camp. Provided he makes it through the spring healthy, he could crack the team's starting lineup to begin the season.

Grady Sizemore singled twice in three at-bats Friday against the Braves.

Sizemore is 3-for-8 with a walk and a strikeout in the early going. He played left field in his first appearance, but he's started in center his last two times out. It'll probably be another week yet before the Red Sox test him on back-to-back days.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Friday that Grady Sizemore "feels great" a day after his first game since September of 2011.

For just about anyone else it would be no big deal, but for Sizemore it's notable. The outfielder is getting a day off Friday but will return to the lineup on Saturday. Sizemore should have a chance at plenty of playing time if he can manage to get through the Grapefruit League season unscathed.

Grady Sizemore (knee) started in left field and went 0-for-2 Thursday in his first action in two years.

Sizemore hit the ball sharply to left field his second time up. He's expected to be on a relaxed schedule these next couple of weeks. The Red Sox might not have much idea about whether he'll be able to contribute until mid- or late March.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Saturday that Grady Sizemore (knee) is already running the bases at full speed.

Farrell also noted that he could be ready to play in time for the team's first spring training contest next week. While he's as massive of an injury risk as they come, if Sizemore can prove his health this spring and earn a starting spot in the Red Sox outfield, he'd make for a very intriguing gamble in fantasy drafts.

Red Sox manager John Farrell indicated Saturday that they'll take their time in evaluating outfielder Grady Sizemore during spring training.

Farrell noted that one of the most important things to observe will be how his body holds up to the grind. In that vein, look for Sizemore to see a lot of action early on, where he'll have to prove he's capable of playing on a daily basis in order to earn a starting spot in the Red Sox outfield.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said he thought he'd agreed to a deal with Grady Sizemore before the free agent changed his mind at the last minute and signed with Boston.

"That's all I'll say about it - we thought we were going to get it done and he changed his mind at the last minute," Jocketty said on Thursday. "That's his prerogative." Sizemore's one-year deal with the Red Sox is worth $750,000 guaranteed and could rise to $6 million based on incentives. Jocketty said the Reds also offered a big-league contract.

Red Sox signed OF Grady Sizemore to a one-year, $750,000 contract.

It's a major league deal and comes with incentives based on plate appearances and days spent on the team's roster that could inflate the salary up to $6 million. The 31-year-old hasn't played in MLB since 2011 but is believed to be close to full health after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee in September 2012. He will compete with Jackie Bradley for the Red Sox' center field job this spring.