Flo: Raking From The Start

David Ortiz has vowed to not slump right out of the gate again this year. And although the judgment will not begin until April, he's doing some damage already. Flo went 3-for-3 this afternoon, and is now hitting .625 (5-for-8) in three games. The Big Man also stole a base!

Terry Francona:

We wanted him to run there. Because if J.D. is hitting behind him, having that hole over there is something J.D. really uses. We want to make them respect that hole a little bit. We'd like them to hold him on during the season ... We want that hole open. If they don't ...

John Lackey allowed four hits and one run in two innings, as Boston lost to Atlanta 6-1. Hideki Okajima rebounded from a dreadful outing on Sunday to pitch a perfect fourth, with two strikeouts.