BOSTON — Fenway Park was holding its collective breath Wednesday when David Ortiz went down in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox slugger fouled a 99-mph pitch from Yankees reliever Dellin Bentances off his shin and knelt on the ground in pain before being helped off the field by manager John Farrell and a trainer. Luckily for Boston, though, the X-rays and fluoroscans on Big Papi came back negative.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski went so far as to say Ortiz is “fine” and will be considered day-to-day. He said Ortiz was walking around on his own power and feeling better as he did so.
Still, Ortiz’s teammates were well aware of how bad it would have been if they lost him for any amount of time.
“He is very special to this team, to this organization throughout all of the years that he’s been here,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “It would definitely kill us all.”
Right fielder Mookie Betts echoed Bogaerts’ sentiments.
“Any time you lose guys going to the Hall of Fame, that’s going to hurt pretty bad,” Betts said.
Here are some more notes from Wednesday’s 9-4 loss.
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— Betts also went down with an injury, exiting in the top of the eighth inning with right calf tightness. Farrell said Betts is day-to-day, too, and is doubtful for Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees.
“It was really just (Wednesday),” Betts said of when the injury came about. “I just woke up and it was a little tight.”
Betts said he hasn’t had any issues with the knee that was bothering him on the same leg.
— The Red Sox’s bullpen imploded in the seventh inning, giving up five runs, but the offense didn’t provide them with much help, either. Boston went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
— Farrell said before Wednesday’s game that Blake Swihart would undergo surgery on his ankle Monday, and it’ll end the catcher/outfielder’s season. Infielder Josh Rutledge might need knee surgery, too.
Chris Young should return fairly soon, though, as he’ll start rehabbing in Pawtucket on Thursday. He’ll serve as a designated hitter before putting in five innings in the outfield. Farrell hopes to get him 20 to 25 at-bats before the Red Sox see where he stands.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images