With day off planned, Red Sox slugger tells Alex Cora to put him in lineup on July 4

Tyler O'Neill

Tyler O'Neill will hit third and play left field for the Red Sox on the Fourth of July. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)AP

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MIAMI — Red Sox manager Alex Cora was planning on sitting outfielder Tyler O’Neill for Thursday’s matinee series finale against the Marlins on the Fourth of July. But the injury-prone O’Neill felt good enough to make a case to start in the outfield for the third straight day as the Red Sox go for a sweep at loanDepot Park.

Due to various injuries (and two injured list stints), O’Neill started just 54 of 81 games in the first half, including 11 as the designated hitter. But Cora hopes the productive slugger will be in the lineup more down the stretch.

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