David Ortiz

PHILADELPHIA - You often hear players say that it's more rewarding to win with defense than with a big hit or a big pitching performance. So little is made of great defense, but the Red Sox won Saturday night's game because Ryan Sweeney made a great catch in the gap in right-center field to rob Carlos Ruiz of extra bases in the seventh inning and prevent two runs from scoring. The Sox led, 7-4, at the time and eventually won, 7-5. When the Sox had their players-only meeting some 10 days ago, one of the things discussed was playing all out, all the time, doing your respective part to contribute to winning.

Alfredo Aceves jogged out of the bullpen at Comerica Park in Detroit on April 8, charged with protecting a three-run lead for the Red Sox in the ninth inning. The righthander from Mexico spent all of spring training trying to make the team as a starter and was the closer only by default, the Sox having lost Andrew Bailey to a thumb injury just before the start of the season. Aceves blew his first save chance in seven pitches. Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch singled before Miguel Cabrera hit a home run to left field.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff PHILADELPHIA — David Ortiz said he will be playing first base tomorrow. As for tonight, Bobby Valentine laughed and said that Big Papi is "so available. " Ortiz is hoping to get a shot at Jonathan Papelbon. "He can't get a fastball by me," Ortiz said. As to other matters: ߦ Daisuke Matsuzaka felt good about his outing for Triple A Pawtucket on Thursday night (6.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) because he pitched into the seventh inning and threw 95 pitches.

Alfredo Aceves jogged out of the bullpen at Comerica Park in Detroit on April 8, charged with protecting a three-run lead for the Red Sox in the ninth inning. The righthander from Mexico spent all of spring training trying to make the team as a starter and was the closer only by default, the Sox having lost Andrew Bailey to a thumb injury just before the start of the season. Aceves blew his first save chance in seven pitches. Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch singled before Miguel Cabrera hit a home run to left field.

PHILADELPHIA - Daisuke Matsuzaka will not be returning to the Red Sox any time soon. The righthander, whose minor league rehabilitation assignment was due to end Wednesday, has been shut down because of pain in his right trapezius muscle, located in the upper back. Matsuzaka received an injection Sunday. "That's been nagging him for quite a while and we've got to make sure that that's 100 percent before he's going out there again," manager Bobby Valentine said. "I talked to him [Saturday]

The Red Sox pulled out all the stops to honor former pitcher Tim Wakefield before Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Mariners. Former teammates - including Doug Mirabelli, Mike Timlin, and Mike Stanley - along with relatives and friends of the recently retired knuckleballer turned out for "Thanks, Wake" Day at Fenway Park. The pregame ceremony, emceed by NESN's Don Orsillo, featured a heartfelt speech by the Red Sox' David Ortiz, and a touching moment when members of the ex-pitcher's charity, Wakefield's Warriors, emerged from center field and surrounded an emotional Wakefield.

BALTIMORE - You're not supposed to cry over injuries. But cry, Boston, cry. Once Cody Ross officially goes on the disabled list Tuesday with a fractured left foot, there will be six Red Sox outfielders on the shelf. There seems no end in sight to this rash of injuries. Sox players have spent 438 games on the disabled list, the most in baseball. Carl Crawford (wrist, elbow), Jacoby Ellsbury (shoulder), Darnell McDonald (oblique), Jason Repko (shoulder), Ryan Kalish (shoulder)

BALTIMORE - It was at Camden Yards where the season ended for the Red Sox last year, the Baltimore Orioles scoring two runs off Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 162. The loss eliminated the Sox from postseason contention and touched off a series of changes in the organization. The effects of that transition lingered into this season as the Red Sox were depleted by injuries while adjusting to new manager Bobby Valentine. But against a team they owed some payback, the Red Sox continued a steady climb back to respectability on Monday...

PHILADELPHIA - Cody Ross was limping when he entered the visitors' clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon and went immediately to the trainer's room. Ross did not play in a 7-5 victory against the Phillies and it could be a few days before he returns after fouling a ball off his left foot in the eighth inning on Friday night. "I'm not going to say I'm going to play tomorrow. I don't know how it's going to feel," said Ross, who doesn't feel he will need to go on the disabled list.

PHILADELPHIA - He had hoped to face some of his old pals like David Ortiz, but after Ortiz pinch hit in the eighth inning Friday night, that matchup was eliminated. Not that Jonathan Papelbon suffered any degree of discontent in his debut against his old team, the Red Sox, following a 6-4 Phillies win in which he earned his 12th save in as many chances. "I was kind of keeping track of that a little, but when it comes down to getting ready to come in the ballgame I was locked in and all the stuff is thrown out the window," Papelbon said.

BALTIMORE - From a business point of view, the Red Sox have handled it right. They have been going year-to-year with David Ortiz, which, given the DH market and the fact that he is now 36, is the right thing to do. But there's more to it with Ortiz. He can't be treated like any other DH or like any other 36-year-old. He is different. We all know it and the Red Sox know it. He is this team's goodwill ambassador, its most emotional player. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

By Tony Massarotti, Boston.com Columnist If the Red Sox are feeling good about themselves in the wake of a stretch during which they have gone 10-3, that is certainly a good thing. If the Red Sox are more unified now than they were at the beginning of the season, that is a good thing, too. And if the Red Sox are using the media and criticism as a rallying cause, that is also excellent news. But for a team that has not had a winning record at any point this season, the Red Sox on Wednesday seemed a touch beyond their skis.

BALTIMORE - From a business point of view, the Red Sox have handled it right. They have been going year-to-year with David Ortiz, which, given the DH market and the fact that he is now 36, is the right thing to do. But there's more to it with Ortiz. He can't be treated like any other DH or like any other 36-year-old. He is different. We all know it and the Red Sox know it. He is this team's goodwill ambassador, its most emotional player. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

The Red Sox are back at .500, getting stellar outings from their starting pitchers (Daniel Bard, aside; yeesh), the bullpen has been nails, and the offense continues to rake, as evidenced by Scott (Burly) Podsednik going deep for the first time since May 6 - 2010 - in Wednesday's compelling 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Things are clearly better, and whether or not it was indeed that team meeting that steered things back on course, these Red Sox all of a sudden seem more in tune with each other and the job at hand, making them a lot more fun to watch than they have been in a long...

Celebrating the release of the new disc "Fenway Park: Greatest Hits" at the Hard Rock Cafe Thursday were Sox players Daniel Bard , Jarrod Saltalamacchia , and Darnell McDonald , all of whom perform on the 12-track CD. Led by singer-guitarist Joe Silva and backed by Grammy nominee Jon Butcher , the players joined in a chorus of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" while team president Larry Lucchino and wife Stacey clapped along....

BALTIMORE - Let's give David Ortiz a mulligan. He had a bad day. After hitting a towering home run to help his team win for the ninth time in 11 games Monday night against the Orioles, Ortiz had an awkward, strange response on the topic of leadership and respect. And we have no idea how the topic came up. Ortiz's comments appeared in an ESPN.com column, so only Ortiz and the reporter, Gordon Edes, really know how it all went down. All I know is this: I'd be hard-pressed to find a player more respected in baseball overall and on his own team than Ortiz.

PHILADELPHIA - The Red Sox had their first baseman in right field Saturday night and their designated hitter took a rare turn at first base despite a case of stomach flu. The catcher played a day after he got knocked in the side of the head with a ball and needed 12 stitches to piece together his left ear. There was a rookie at third base, an independent league discovery in left field, and the bench was short a player because of an injury....

The Baltimore Orioles knocked starter Clay Buchholz out of the game in the sixth inning, put up six runs and hit their major league-leading 65th home run of the season. That would be enough to win most games — except this one against the hard-hitting Boston Red Sox. David Ortiz launched Boston's comeback from a three-run deficit with a mighty home run, and the Red Sox banged out 14 hits in an 8-6 victory Monday night. The Orioles staked starter Tommy Hunter to a 5-2 lead, but after Ortiz homered to begin a three-run sixth, Boston rode the momentum...

Felix Doubront pitched well, but Brian Matusz was better as the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 4-1. Nick Cafardo writes about the latest contrived drama in Boston, David Ortiz claiming he gets no respect. The notebook has Cody Ross trying to be optimistic about his foot injury and Scott Podesdnik returning to the majors.

BALTIMORE - Let's give David Ortiz a mulligan. He had a bad day. After hitting a towering home run to help his team win for the ninth time in 11 games Monday night against the Orioles, Ortiz had an awkward, strange response on the topic of leadership and respect. And we have no idea how the topic came up. Ortiz's comments appeared in an ESPN.com column, so only Ortiz and the reporter, Gordon Edes, really know how it all went down. All I know is this: I'd be hard-pressed to find a player more respected in baseball overall and on his own team...