Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who had been questionable to play Friday night after leaving Thursday’s game in the ninth inning with back spasms, was in the lineup to face Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price.
Ortiz was penciled into the lineup, hitting in his regular No. 3 spot, against Price and the Rays at Tropicana Field.
Ortiz, who has four home runs in his past four games, said he first experienced discomfort Wednesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays and aggravated it on a check swing in the ninth inning Thursday night. Ortiz stepped out of the batter’s box and reached for his lower back, then left the game.
“I made like a rough move on that pitch, like tried to go and stop,” Ortiz said after the game.
Ortiz said he felt a “pop or something” in his upper back on his final at-bat Wednesday. It had cleared up and he was able to play Thursday.
Friday’s game was the anticipated rematch with Price, who hit two Red Sox hitters, including Ortiz, on May 30 that started a bench-clearing incident. Price said he did not like the way Ortiz admired a home run in last year’s playoffs.
“It’s a war,” Ortiz said after that game. “It’s on. Next time I see (Price), he better put his gloves on. I have no respect for him anymore.”
Yankees sign Capuano to deal
The New York Yankees signed left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano to a major league contract and selected him to the 25-man roster on Friday.
To make room for Capuano on the roster, the club designated right-hander Chris Leroux for assignment.
The Yankees acquired Capuano from the Colorado Rockies for cash considerations on Thursday night.
Capuano is with his third organization this season. He started the year with the Boston Red Sox and was released on July 1. He then signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies on July 4.
Capuano, 35, was 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings over 28 relief appearances with the Red Sox.
With the Rockies, Capuano was 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs.
The Yankees have four starting pitchers on the disabled list and Capuano has been a starter for most of his career so he may get a chance to start.
In his major league career, which began in 2003, Capuano is 74-84 with a 4.28 ERA with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Red Sox.
Leroux allowed five earned runs in two innings with New York this season.