When All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia went down with an injury last week, it wasn’t clear what the Boston Red Sox would do to replace him. Manager John Farrell decided to try Brock Holt at second, and the move has worked out brilliantly.

Holt has filled in admirably at second, playing solid defense and hitting the ball pretty well. On Thursday, Holt had his best game of the season, recording four hits and scoring a run as the Red Sox disposed of the Toronto Blue Jays 12-6 at Rogers Centre.

He is certainly not Pedroia, but Holt is holding his own, at least for the time being. Thursday’s effort raised his batting average to .299, his on-base percentage to .386 and his slugging percentage to .436. Again, those are not the numbers that would be expected from Pedroia, but for a backup, the numbers are solid.

Boston has had a miserable season, currently sitting at 37-44 and occupying last place in the American League East. So at this point, any good news is welcomed in Boston. While the Red Sox are not banking on Holt to be a cornerstone of their future, it has worked out well for them this season. The other good news is that when Pedroia returns, Boston will have another player they know they can count on if they get in a pinch.

Holt has also done well for himself by showing his versatility. He has primarily been an outfielder, but he has done a good job at second base, making him a utility player who can fill in at multiple positions.

In a season full of mostly bad news for Boston, Holt has been a pleasant surprise.

Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.