Pokes prodding talk of slight improvement

The slumping Sox slugger went 2 for 3 in last night's 8-1 win over the Rangers at Fenway Park, including his first home run in 57 at-bats and 13 games - since May 20 off Toronto's Brett Cecil.

Ortiz, who will get his eyes examined tomorrow after recently complaining of dryness, wrapped a solo homer around the Pesky Pole in right in the sixth inning off Kris Benson.

In the second inning against Derek Holland he broke the shift and singled to right after he fouled a ball off his foot, which forced trainer Paul Lessard out of the dugout. After the hit, Ortiz hustled down the line and took a big turn; he, and the team, seemed energized by the events.

"Tonight he hooks one around the pole, and that's certainly not the longest home run of his career, but we're always looking for positives," said manager Terry Francona. "After he hit that ball off his foot, he got a good pitch to hit and he hit it hard. We're looking for positives and his energy tonight was good. When he rounded first, that's a good sign.

"When you see him running around like that, I think it creates positive energy."

Ortiz said, "That's how you get back to hitting balls and start hitting well - put a good swing on a ball. Even though you don't get the good luck, it will come."

Ortiz, whose improved average inched closer to the Mendoza Line (.196), said, "I'm feeling good. I just have to keep swinging, swinging. If I swing, swing, swing, good things will happen."

The Sox had suggested that Ortiz get his eyes examined even before he brought it up to the media last week.

Ortiz's eyes tested well in spring training, but they have been drying up and he has been blinking a lot. The Sox are hoping Ortiz will get some kind of solution to keep his eyes moist.

The Sox have not commented on the Francoeur reports, some of which have Brad Penny heading to Atlanta.

Baldelli is hitting .264 with two homers and seven RBIs and went 1 for 3 with a walk and scored a run last night.

"I think he's done a great job communicating," said Francona. "I know him better now so I'm more comfortable. He's had some leg issues. I don't know that we didn't expect it.

"All the [health] things we talked about this winter, when it comes time to live it out, I think we have to do that. He gives us a really potent bat, especially against lefties. There have been times when we've had to give a little bit and give him some breaks."

Once a headliner, Baldelli's now a spot player.

"I'd like to be available 100 percent of the time," he said. "I am available most of the time. As of right now in my career, this is probably what I'm going to be able to do. At this point I can't do the everyday things so it's probably not as hard as it could have been for me to take on this role. If I was capable and could get out there every day, I'd want to get out there every day."