News
Big Papi has his power stroke working
Boston (68-51) at Toronto (55-63), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Erika Gilbert / MLB.com
08/20/09 1:43 AM ET
TORONTO -- Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz started his night off Wednesday by pulling a hanging curveball from Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay deep to right field, sending it over the Rogers Centre wall for a solo shot.It was the Red Sox slugger's third home run in as many contests -- the first coming in Texas, the second two in Toronto -- marking the first time since July 6-8, 2006, Ortiz has gone deep in three straight games.
Ortiz has also homered in four of his past five games.
Ortiz got out to a slow start this season, and he didn't homer until May 20 -- also against Toronto -- hitting just .219 over that span.
When asked to account for his success since the team's weekend series in Texas, Ortiz offered a simple explanation: "I just see the ball and hit it, man."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona had a little more to say on Ortiz's recent success.
"Even in [batting practice], he's driving the ball to left field -- he's making a concerted effort every day to do it," Francona said. "Not do it one day and the next day start pulling -- he's staying with it.
"You're seeing some more aggressive swings without trying to muster up all that strength. The bat's getting through the zone a little bit better."
For Ortiz to have success against the Blue Jays is nothing new. His 34 long balls against Toronto are tied for the most against any opponent. He has also gone deep on the Rays 34 times.
But the slugger's home run on Wednesday also brings him closer to breaking a Major League record. Ortiz's 265 career homers as a DH put him four shy of Frank Thomas for the all-time lead.
Ortiz's power streak comes at a time when the Red Sox's bats -- which have struggled recently -- are starting to heat up again. After Wednesday's three-homer game, the Sox have now hit two or more home runs in each of their past five games.
"Everybody goes through that, every team goes through that -- that time in the year where people kind of cool off," Ortiz said. "But good teams are always going to find a way to figure things out."
Pitching matchupBOS: LHP Jon Lester (9-7, 3.71 ERA)
In his last start against the Rangers on Friday, Lester allowed three earned runs over six innings and struck out 11. It was the sixth time he's reached double-digit strikeout totals this season, a new Red Sox record for a left-hander. Lester also produced his 16th quality start of the season, one off the team lead. In eight career starts against the Blue Jays, Lester is 3-3 with a 3.33 ERA over 51 1/3 innings. He is 1-3 with a 5.28 ERA over 29 innings in five career starts at Rogers Centre. TOR: LHP Brett Cecil (5-1, 4.35 ERA)
The 23-year-old Cecil exited his Aug. 8 outing against the Orioles with one out in the fifth inning after experiencing pain in his knee. The rookie indicated that it was the third time since Spring Training that the knee has flared up on him, and an MRI exam revealed two small tears -- nothing serious enough to warrant time on the disabled list. But he did skip a turn in the rotation. Tidbits
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who missed the past two games to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, is expected to rejoin the team Thursday. ... Pitching coach John Farrell rejoined the team Wednesday after missing Tuesday's game due to a family matter. ... Left fielder Jason Bay's home run in the fifth inning Wednesday was his seventh in 11 games. The power outburst follows a stretch of 20 games in which Bay did not hit a single home run. ... The Red Sox announced Tuesday that they signed 10 players selected in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, including shortstop David Renfroe (third round), right-handers Madison Younginer (seventh round) and Kevin Volz (ninth round) and outfielder Brandon Jacobs (10th round). Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• NESN On radio
• WRKO 680, SBN 1150 (Español) Up next
• Friday: Red Sox (Brad Penny, 7-7, 5.22) vs. Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 9-6, 4.09), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Red Sox (Junichi Tazawa, 1-2, 5.40) vs. Yankees (A.J. Burnett, 10-6, 3.69), 4:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 14-4, 3.38) vs. Yankees (CC Sabathia, 14-7, 3.58), 8:05 p.m. ET
Erika Gilbert is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
