Ortiz faces music, will reply soon

Last night, Ortiz confronted first a large pack of media, mostly from New York, and then his loudest critics, the fans at Yankee Stadium. The pressure building on Ortiz may dissipate after tomorrow, when he, along with incoming Major League Players Association director Michael Weiner, will address the media to elaborate on the positive test result from 2003.

“We’re going to, like I said, we’re trying to figure things out and move on,’’ Ortiz said. “I’m not going to keep this in my head my whole career. It’s not like I have 10 years left. It’s the kind of situation that you get frustration.

“I’m gonna let you guys know what I’ve got. Period.’’

Last night, though, he faced Yankee Stadium. Fenway Park crowds over the years have had their chances to heckle Yankees embroiled in drug controversies, chanting “ster-oids’’ at Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez. New York fans got their chance last night, and Ortiz knew what was coming.

“Man, you know how this is,’’ Ortiz said before the game. “When you play for the Red Sox and you come to play in Yankee Stadium, what do you expect?’’ Ortiz paused, then added, “It might get a little louder tonight.’’

He was right.

Even before he emerged from the dugout to the on-deck circle in the first inning, fans in the right-field bleachers - the notoriously rowdiest section - chanted, “Papi sucks.’’

Once he walked to the plate and kicked dirt off of his spikes, the crowd hurled loud, extended boos at him.

One fan along the left-field foul line held up a white placard with a thick, black asterisk.

“I was expecting something worse,’’ Ortiz said. “I mean, I come out early to the field and just see the fans coming right at me. And you know, even Yankee fans, ‘Hey you’re the best. You’re a good guy. You just hang in there.’ Some of the kind of stuff you want to hear.’’

Ortiz flied out en route to an 0-for-5 night that stretched his hitless streak to 16 at-bats. Even during his dismal start to the year, Ortiz never fell into such a deep drought.

“You get frustrated when you take a good swing and you don’t get what you’re looking for,’’ Ortiz said. “But you guys know, man, that I just keep my mouth shut, not looking for excuses, and I just keep fighting. It’s been a crazy year, but you know, like [Kevin] Youkilis told me - he went like, ‘Dude, turn the page. You’ll get it tomorrow.’ It’s crazy, man, but that’s how it goes.’’

He admitted Wednesday and last night he is frustrated by not laying out his side of the story, and that it has creeped into his head during games. The wait has also invited pregame distraction.

Yesterday afternoon, two dozen reporters approached Ortiz, who was sitting in a chair facing his locker. While they hovered, Ortiz fiddled with an iPod. They stood and waited for the right moment to ask questions.

They wanted him to say something but weren’t quite sure how to coax it out of him, especially with his back turned. He gave the answer about expecting to be booed. He ignored one question; it’s possible he did not hear it. Several seconds of silence followed. Ortiz turned up the speakers in his locker, and Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On’’ drowned out the interview.

Ortiz could not have enjoyed that interaction, but otherwise he seemed to take yesterday in his typically laidback manner. Once the New York-heavy pack of reporters dispersed, Ortiz gave an exuberant group interview to several Spanish-speaking journalists. One of them rubbed his shoulders and gave him a hug.

As that session concluded, an equipment representative asked Ortiz to try on a new helmet. Nick Green laughed at him when he pulled it over his head.

“Would you wear it in a game?’’ the rep asked Ortiz.

“If I got nothing else to wear, I will,’’ Ortiz said, cracking up himself and the rep. He then gave a detailed review of what he did and did not like about the helmet.

“Cool,’’ the rep said. “Appreciate it.’’

After Ortiz walked outside, he posed for pictures with fans in the first few rows before he began stretching and taking batting practice.

“I haven’t noticed him being any different than he has in the past,’’ said manager Terry Francona. “I think any player, when you’re sitting on hits, your personality is going to be a little bit different, as opposed to a 1-for-14. I see him handling things very well. I can’t see inside him, to be honest with you.’’

Because a designated hitter’s routine differs from position players’, Francona may not see Ortiz for several innings at a time. “But I don’t think he’s in the clubhouse tearing the clubhouse apart,’’ Francona said.

In Boston, the Ortiz saga remained a pressing issue. Red Sox owner John Henry spoke to reporters after taking part in an event for ReadBoston at Boston Common, and he was asked about Ortiz.

“I’m going to let David speak first,’’ Henry told reporters. “As soon as he speaks, then we’ll have something to say.’’

Nick Cafardo and Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.