July 14, 2007
...
In perhaps the best sign in the Red Sox' 9-4 win over the Blue Jays
tonight that featured moment after gold-star moment, at least
offensively, Ortiz smashed his first home run at Fenway Park since
April 21 against the Yankees, a drought of an almost astounding 34
games and 129 at-bats. This was long before Daisuke Matsuzaka turned
in a performance just good enough to win. Long before Jason Varitek
and Eric Hinske joined in the power show. Before Julio Lugo resembled
the player awarded a $36 million contract. Before the Sox
accomplished a franchise rarity, the double steal.
It was hours
after a pregame, closed-door session with manager Terry Francona that Ortiz
unloaded on a 3-0 pitch, easy pickings for a slugger of his stature. But it
hasn't been that easy this season, not when Ortiz's 15th home run (and just his
fourth at Fenway) came in the 90th game of 2007. Ortiz also had a third-inning
ground-rule double for his second RBI and a well-struck line out to right in the
eighth, both providing a chance for the crowd of 36,830 to cheer its approval.
His wasn't
the only feat of strength. Varitek blasted a two-run shot in the sixth off
Dustin McGowan for his ninth home run of the season, a pitch that landed way
back in the center-field bleachers, perhaps 450 feet from home plate. The home
run, coming after Mike Lowell's leadoff single, was a relief to Matsuzaka, who
in his second straight command-less start let a pair of doubles (Frank Thomas
and Troy Glaus) and a two-run home run (Aaron Hill) tie the score at 4-4 in the
top of the inning.
The Blue
Jays' first run came on a shot by Glaus that tagged the top part of the Volvo
sign in left-center. Matsuzaka, in fact, had to switch to pitching from the
stretch in the fourth to "gather himself so he can execute his pitches,"
Francona said.
Sandwiched
around Ortiz's two RBIs was a run-scoring triple by Coco Crisp in the third, and
Hinske sent his fourth homer of the season into the Sox bullpen in the fourth.
But after the Jays rallied to even things against Matsuzaka, the Sox responded
with their five-run sixth. Not only did Varitek go deep, but Lugo beat out a
bunt single, Dustin Pedroia added an RBI single, Manny Ramirez a sacrifice fly,
and Kevin Youkilis tacked on an RBI single.
Matsuzaka
was done for the night, improving to 11-6. And Manny Delcarmen built on his
growing confidence by throwing two scoreless innings (one hit, four strikeouts)
before handing off to Hideki Okajima for the ninth.
Though Ortiz
said he is feeling good lately, his knees still play a part in the alterations
of his swing. That's where his power comes from, after all. But, even as it
seems to bother him slightly, Ortiz emphasizes that his game is not all about
hitting home runs.
Francona
acknowledged that he needs to find more playing time for Wily Mo Pena, who has
struck out 50 times in just 122 at-bats this season. J.D. Drew was held out of
last night's starting lineup after suffering tightness in his right hamstring in
the third inning Friday night. Drew also left a June 1 game against the Yankees
with the same injury. Francona had no update on the right fielder before the
game, and Drew was not available in the clubhouse.
