G39: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1

Blue Jays - 000 010 000 - 1  5  1
Red Sox   - 020 000 00x - 2  6  1

Wakefield was strong (8-5-1-2-3, 97), making a two-run second inning stand up against the AL East leaders. Boston is now 2.5 GB. (The Yankee beat Baltimore 9-1, so they are 3.5 GB.)

Mike Lowell started the second inning with a single to left and J.D Drew worked an eight-pitch walk. After Julio Lugo popped out, Jeff Bailey singled to left center. Lowell scored on the hit, Drew went to third, and Gumball took second on Adam Lind's throwing error. George Kottaras then lofted a sac fly to left.

Cabin Mirror opened the top of the fifth with a dong to left, but that was Toronto's only run. Only two other Blue Jay runners reached second base.

The Fenway crowd was solidly behind David Ortiz, but Flo went 0-for-3, walking in the first, but then: K, 4-3, K. Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a fifth-inning single; he also doubled in the eighth.

***


Brian Tallet (4.68, 99 ERA+) / Tim Wakefield (4.03, 124 ERA+)

             W    L    PCT    GB    RS    RA   DIFF
Blue Jays   27   14   .659    --   234   174   + 60
Red Sox     22   16   .579   3.5   208   190   + 18
Yankees     21   17   .553   4.5   205   218   - 13
Rays        20   20   .500   6.5   221   196   + 25
Orioles     16   22   .421   9.5   192   225   - 33

David Ortiz (.208/.318/.300) is expected to be back in the Red Sox lineup tonight. Will he batting in his customary third spot in the order?

Terry Francona:

I don't know. I want to talk to him. And I haven't wanted to talk to him yet, because I've wanted to give him some room.

SoSHer Carl Everetts Therapist relayed some information "from someone who interviewed [Vice President of Player Personnel] Ben Cherington" last Friday morning:

Papi's struggles are a combination of mental physical and emotional. He also has been withdrawn and silent in the clubhouse. ... There will be a closed door meeting ASAP that includes Magaden, Tito, Theo, Henry and the training staff. A decision will be made as far as how to approach this thing ...

Suggestions have been made about possible options that include ... Moving Ortiz down in the order ...

SoSHer normstalls:

For what its worth (and maybe not much) Ortiz looked really good during BP on Saturday. He hit a groove and was really driving some balls well. I think he hit about 5 out. Now this was only BP and normally is nothing to be encouraged about, but given his current condition I took it as a glimmer of hope.

John Hickey, MLB.com:

Hitting coach Dave Magadan said Ortiz's mechanics are back where they are supposed to be, so all the slugger needs now is to regain his confidence.

Wily Mo Pena, currently with the Buffalo Bisons, on not hitting home runs in 2006:

[Bronson] Arroyo had two [with the Reds] and I had nothing. [Fans] were jumping all over me every time I came to the plate. I was thinking too much, but once I hit that first one, I was able to breathe and starting hitting. That's going to be the same for Ortiz. ...

He's not swinging the same. I don't know if he's hurt, or if something is bothering him, or if he's thinking about something. I wish I could know something.

Julio Lugo is also expected back in the lineup.