David Ortiz Leaves Sox Game With Back Injury

Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for the Red Sox after their 8-0 blowout loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday, things may have, indeed, gotten worse.

David Ortiz, who was on a tear through the first three games of their four-game set in Toronto, was forced to leave the game in the middle of his ninth inning at bat after appearing to tweak his back while attempting to check his swing.

According to media reports after Thursday’s game, Ortiz felt the twinge in his back during the at bat, but also felt a spasm in his final at bat on Wednesday.

Ortiz: “I made like a rough move on that pitch, like tried to go and stop. Hopefully it’s not anything serious. We’ll see.”

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) July 24, 2014

Ortiz moving gingerly post-game. Felt back spasm on him in final AB Wed. night, then again in 9th inning today. Will see how he feels Fri.

— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) July 24, 2014

Ortiz said he believes he had a back spasm in the middle of his back. Back bothered him a bit yesterday. Unsure whether he’ll play tom’w.

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) July 24, 2014

Ortiz said his back popped last night, felt it again in last at bat today. Optimistic, but he’ll probably sit tomorrow vs. David Price.

— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) July 24, 2014

The Red Sox head to Tampa Bay on Friday for a highly-anticipated matchup against the Rays, as it will be the first time the Sox have faced David Price since he hit Ortiz on May 30 and the two exchanged thoughts on one another in the coming days.

At this point, it is not known whether Ortiz will be able to play on Friday; even if it ends up being not too serious, the Sox may decide to hold him out as a precautionary measure.