Random Notes

David Ortiz received a cortisone shot in his right knee on Saturday. "I hate needles, so if I was willing to do that you know it was bad. But what a difference it made. ... They say it sometimes takes a few days to take effect, but this was right away."

Dustin Pedroia finished with a .3173 batting average, narrowly beating Jim Viox's rookie record of .3171, set with the 1913 Pirates (.3171). "I didn't even know. ... It's pretty cool, I guess." Pee-Wee's 39 doubles were most by a rookie second baseman in 75 years, and the third most all-time.

Kevin Youkilis set an American League record for first basemen with a perfect fielding percentage (1,079 chances). Yook has handled 1,586 consecutive defensive chances at first since an error on July 4, 2006 at Tampa Bay.

Manny Delcarmen (0-0, 2.05) set a team record with 44 appearances without a decision. The old mark was 32 (Johnny Murphy, 1947). ... Julio Lugo's 33 stolen bases is the third highest total for a Red Sox player since 1935. ... Manny Ramirez will be back in the cleanup spot on Wednesday night.

Approximately 7,000 fans showed up at Boston's City Hall Plaza yesterday for Rally Monday. Jonathan Papelbon explained his dancing technique: "That is a talent of mine and I decided to bring it out. I just listen to the voices inside my head." Also: "The aftermath was a lot of headaches, a lot of sore muscles, achy bones. A little throwing up here and there. But, you know, it was fun. No regrets." Bot promised that he would "dance all night long" if the Red Sox win the World Series.