Ortiz Slowed By Sore Oblique
BOSTON (CBS) - Although he clubbed a three-run homer in Boston's 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, slumping Red Sox DH David Ortiz said a sore oblique has slowed him down over the last week.
"It wasn't grabbing me that much, but it was still grabbing me a little bit," Ortiz told reporters after Tuesday night's loss. "That's why I've been pulling everything, it feels like. Hopefully, it doesn't get any worse."
Ortiz said the tightness he's felt in his left oblique first showed up during Boston's series in Texas at the beginning of the month. He went just 3-for-25 in a seven-game home stand last week, but other than a day-off on Sunday hasn't thought about missing any time.
"I'm going to keep on playing," he said. "It's not at the point where it's getting worse. Hopefully it won't get any worse. It bothers me on some swings that I take. Last week I was watching some videos of outside pitches I was kind of pulling. When you get to the point where you want to drive the ball the other way and the next thing you know, you're hooking the ball, that's not normal."
Preview: Lester Set To Face Off Against Rays' David Price
"I've got to play; I've had enough time off," Ortiz said. "It's not at a point where you can pull [the muscle]. If you pull it, then you're definitely not able to play. I just come in early to treat it and try to move forward."
The 37-year-old Ortiz is hitting .329 with five homes and 20 RBIs in 20 games since returning from an Achilles injury on April 20.
