08/14/2008 6:51 PM ET Bruised tailbone continues to bother Sox center fielder By Mark Remme / MLB.com BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury was not in the starting lineup Thursday for the Sox's series finale with the Texas Rangers, marking the third consecutive night the speedy rookie did not start. Ellsbury originally was in Tuesday's lineup for the opener against the Rangers, but was scratched just before game time with a bruised tailbone, stemming from being hit by a John Danks pitch on Monday in Chicago. Manager Terry Francona said it's nothing to be alarmed about, just a way to give him time to recover. "I think he's doing much better," Francona said. "I watched him yesterday sitting on one of those self-made cushions. He looked like Larry Bird." Ellsbury walked while pinch-hitting for Kevin Cash in Tuesday's 19-17 win over the Rangers, crossing the plate with the game-tying run in the eighth. Despite his efforts, Francona is being patient. "I think he's fine to play tonight. He got in the game the other night, and he actually ran real well. But it was a chore to get him to that point, so we gave him last night, we'll give him tonight. "The biggest hurdle he was looking at was sliding. [He] kind of worked himself into a position knowing he can get down." Francona inserted Coco Crisp into the lineup the past two nights, and Crisp was in the lineup again Thursday -- batting eighth and playing center field. Ellsbury was batting .526 over his past five games, with two homers and three stolen bases. It was a turning point for the rookie, who slumped through much of July and lost his spot as the leadoff hitter -- a spot Francona adamantly says he'll regain in the future. The pitch Ellsbury took in the tailbone happened in the in the sixth inning, and it broke up a perfect game bid by Danks. The Sox would eventually win that game against the White Sox, 5-1. "It's nothing more than a bruise, but he's got it on a part of the body that hurts," Francona said. "He'll be OK." --

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