David Ortiz Watch: First at-bat

By Maggie Cassidy, Globe Correspondent

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Two pitches down and Ortiz is back on the bench. He popped out on a 1-0 count to Toledo pitcher Chris Lambert (9-5).

The PawSox are already in a bit of a hole, as Erik Almonte's three-run homer boosted Toledo to a 4-0 lead in the top of the of the inning. After Pawtucket's Jeff Bailey struck out and Joe Thurston made it to first on a bunt, Ortiz stepped up to the plate amid cheers of "Papi! Papi!"

Ortiz swiped at Lambert's fastball, and it went up -- but not away. Toledo first baseman Derek Wathan almost misjudged the play, but used some acrobatics to get the job done -- flipping over backwards as he made the catch a few yards down the right baseline in foul territory.

Toledo leads, 4-0, as we wait for the second inning to begin.