After the contentious events of last season, when Ellsbury fractured several ribs in April and publicly disagreed with the team’s treatment of the injury, the Sox are being careful to maintain good relations with the player regarding medical issues.
“We checked him out pretty thoroughly,’’ Francona said. “Spoke to the doctors and he’s got a good old-fashioned big contusion. He got hit pretty hard. He’s actually been getting treatment all day.’’
Royals reliever Everett Teaford hit Ellsbury between the shoulder blades with an 88-mile-per-hour pitch. Ellsbury stayed in the game, advancing to third base on a double by Mike Aviles and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Adrian Gonzalez.
As a precaution, Ellsbury did not go back out to center field for the bottom of the inning.
Beyond saying he was “sore,’’ Ellsbury did not want to delve into the topic.
“We just did some standard tests and everything came out how we thought it would,’’ he said. “That’s really it. There’s nothing really more to talk about.’’
As to when he might play again, Ellsbury isn’t sure.
“I don’t know,’’ he said. “We’ll see.’’
Ellsbury is having an MVP-caliber season, hitting .313 with an .887 OPS out of the leadoff spot. He has 22 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. Last night was the first time all season that an injury kept him out of the starting lineup. The fractured ribs injury last season also occurred in Kansas City, suffered in a collision with teammate Adrian Beltre.
Darnell McDonald started in center in place of Ellsbury. He was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Back to hacks After five days of inactivity because of bursitis in his right heel, David Ortiz took some swings in the cage before the game. He took 20 swings off a tee and 20 soft toss.
“It was good,’’ Ortiz said. “I’m feeling better. I hope to do it again [today] and then we’ll see what happens.’’
Ortiz has been wearing a medical boot to decrease the pressure on his foot. He will keep that on for another day or two.
Francona was encouraged by the development. The Sox weren’t sure how long Ortiz would be out, but felt he did not need to go on the disabled list.
