"It has been six years since he last patrolled the outfield of a major league ballpark, so it's not an entirely foreign concept to Adrian Gonzalez.

It was just one game, with the Texas Rangers on Sept. 30, 2005, against the Angels.

But when he was growing up in Chula Vista, Calif., Gonzalez and his brothers would venture across the border on weekends to play in elite leagues in Tijuana, where Gonzalez sometimes played the outfield in addition to his customary position at first base.

It was then, as it is now, no big deal.

So the Red Sox first baseman raised his hand, volunteering to play the outfield during a nine-game interleague road trip that begins tonight in Pittsburgh.

Gonzalez said he simply wanted to make room in Terry Francona's lineup for designated hitter David Ortiz to play first base."