Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was in great mood when he arrived at Tropicana Field Friday afternoon.

Big Papi, who hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning in Thursday's historic come-from-behind 8-7 victory over the Rays in Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park, was sporting an Oakland Raiders hat, a black T-shirt, black jeans and black shoes.

Don't be fooled by his color scheme because he's not in mourning.

He was vibrant and giddy, telling reporters he wasn't talking Friday afternoon.

"I'll do the talking with my bat (Saturday)," he said.

That's exactly the mood the Red Sox want to see Ortiz in, because that means he's comfortable on and off the field. His homer on Thursday snapped a 15-game postseason drought with a roundtripper for Ortiz.

In the visitor's clubhouse here on Friday, he walked into the bathroom, looked at himself in the mirror and returned to his locker and summoned the horde of reporters.

"C'mon," he said. "I'll talk because I look good today."

As he was asked about Thursday's victory and what it meant for them heading into Game Six here on Saturday, Ortiz stopped the interview once again.

"Sorry, I have a booger," he joked. "OK. Go."

As jovial he was on, the fact remains that he has struggled at the plate this postseason and that's something that is really bothering him. A teammate approached him after Thursday's victory and told him "When you go, we go."

"I was like 'Oh, [crap]. Don't tell me that [crap] now.' I don't want to hear that when you're not doing too good," he said with a big smile. "That message has taught me that everybody has your back and you need to keep on trying."

He took his positive mood with him on to the field at the Trop during the club's optional workout on Friday afternoon. While he was taking batting practice, he crushed a ball to deep right-center field, some 430 feet from home plate and deposited a ball into the fish tank with live Rays in it.

He put his arms in the air and screamed "I just killed a Ray."

He's hoping to do it to the entire team in Game Six.

Following Boston's 2-0 victory in Game One of this series, Ortiz said he saw a difference in the Rays players. The look in their eyes, he explained, was a little different than what he saw during the regular season.

That brief comment sparked the Rays players a little bit as Tampa won the next three games. Ortiz has backed off his comments a bit, and now agrees the Rays are for real. He's certainly not ready to give them any more bulletin board material.

"That team is full of talented players," Ortiz said.

 Tags  ALCS David Ortiz Red Sox

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