Ortiz takes another step
He winds up hitless but is still on track
PORTLAND, Maine - A cynic might say David Ortiz has found Double A pitchers a bit tougher than their Triple A counterparts.
Or it just might be that the Red Sox slugger is sufficiently rehabbed from the wrist injury that has sidelined him since May 30.
In his second start as designated hitter for the Portland Sea Dogs last night, Ortiz got one step closer to returning to the Sox lineup.
Perhaps as soon as Friday against the New York Yankees.
Facing Double A pitching for the second night in a row, Ortiz went 0 for 4 and reached on an error in an 18-6 Connecticut romp.
Ortiz did not speak after the game, but he did meet the media before the game following a rousing batting practice session in which he peppered the Hadlock Field seats for 11 home runs.
"It's good," he said of the partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. "I feel good. I feel better every day."
He had hit safely in his first four rehab appearances, homering in all three with the Pawtucket Red Sox. He was 2 for 3 in Monday's debut with the Sea Dogs.
Ortiz dug in against Connecticut's Garrett Broshuis with two outs and none on in the first and struck out on eight pitches.
After getting ahead, 2-0 and 3-1, Ortiz took a called strike, then fouled off two straight. Then Broshuis came inside with an 80-mile-per-hour curveball, which Ortiz took for strike three.
Leading off the fourth, Ortiz fell behind, 1 and 2, then reached on a strange infield error. His chopper down the line was booted by first baseman Adam Witter and caromed to second baseman Dave Maroul, whose lob to Broshuis - covering first in plenty of time - was dropped.
Ortiz moved to third after Portland loaded the bases, then scored when Argenis Diaz's slow roller was misplayed by shortstop Kyle Haines.
When Ortiz led off the fifth, the Defenders employed the "Papi shift," with Haines moving to the right side of second, where he snared Ortiz's slow roller and threw him out easily.
Ortiz's night ended in the seventh when reliever Adam Cowart got him on a bouncer to first.
With one more tuneup game in Portland tonight, Ortiz has already thought ahead to his return.
"When I get back in the lineup," said Ortiz, noting the Sox' offensive woes during their current West Coast swing, "it's going to look different than it normally is. But we all know how to deal with the bad times and the good times."
In five minor league games, Ortiz is 5 for 16 (.313) with 5 runs, 3 homers, 6 RBIs, 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts.
