David Ortiz jumped on the first pitch of his second at-bat, and final one of the slugger’s six-game rehab stint, grounding into an inning-ending, 4-6-3 double play. After jogging to first, Ortiz kept on going, untucking his uniform shirt and walking through right field and into the the Sea Dogs’ clubhouse. (The door to the clubhouse is in the right field wall.) Ortiz ends his rehab assignment going 5 for 18 with three homers.

As a side note, shortly after Ortiz’ departure, a skunk delayed the game by making an appearance. Good times! Off to I-95.

David Ortiz strode to the plate for the what figures to be the second-to-last at-bat of his rehab stint with two outs in the first inning. With Connecticut’s Brooks McNiven pitching, the Sox slugger walked on five pitches. Ortiz wasn’t pinch-run for, suggesting he will get at least one more at-bat.

Will most of a sell-out crowd still in attendance at Hadlock Field, waiting around nearly a two-hour rain delay, David Ortiz jogged into the home team’s dugout about five minutes ago to a rousing ovation. It appears he will make one at-bat before heading down I-95. We will paint the picture when he steps into the batter’s box.

Just talked to David Ortiz in the newly-constructed home clubhouse at Hadlock Field, the home of the Portland Sea Dogs and the designated hitter’s final rehab appearance. It’s raining pretty good right now, leaving a sixth and final rehab by Ortiz in flux, but he did take BP inside after allowing for an update.

Ortiz is scheduled to hit third in Portland’s lineup tonight against the Connecticut Defenders, and will be working out at Fenway Park tomorrow. Ortiz is 5 for 16 (.313) in five games with Pawtucket and Portland. He confirmed that he is planning on re-entering the Red Sox’ lineup Friday night against the Yankees.

“It feels good,” said Ortiz of his wrist after distributing a meal from ‘On The Border’ throughout the clubhouse. “I’m not afraid to go against nobody, now, but before I started playing I definitely was. I didn’t know what my reaction was going to be. But once I started swinging everything has been good. I’m not going to tell you I’m 100 percent because I know I won’t be 100 percent when I’m playing this year. There are some little things I’ll have to deal with, which is what the doctor told me. But otherwise I’m not afraid to let it go.”

Of note was the fact Ortiz, who classified himself at 95 percent, said his surgically-repaired right knee was pretty much back to normal thanks to the time off. Regarding the knee, which he also injured while diving head-first into first base at Tropicana Field, the DH said that, unlike when he left the lineup, it isn’t a problem anymore.

“Because I was playing I was behind my rehab,” said Ortiz of his knee. “I was trying to keep going, but when you’re playing you don’t want to kill yourself at the gym and then go play baseball, you’re not going to have enough energy. Now I was able to go to the gym, do what I was supposed to do and not have to play baseball. I was doing that and my knee feels stronger now. It feels fine.

“When I jammed my knee at first base that gave me a huge setback. The nerve from the knee got bruised really bad. It got to the point where I had to forget about my surgery and worry about that. So I had to worry about two things at once. Before I hit my knee like that I was feeling fine.”

Casey Kelly, the Red Sox’ first round pick in June’s amateur draft, did pretty well for himself.

Kelly, who could have joined the University of Tennessee football team as a quarterback, agreed to a deal which will pay him a total signing bonus of $3 million (although it will go in the books as 2.5,) well over the Major League Baseball recommended slot for the 30th overall selection.

Kelly, who will begin his pro career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox and play shortstop (although he will be introduced to pitching at some point, perhaps in Instructional League), will receive a present day value signing bonus of $2.5 million, but will get $600,000 per season over the next five years to incorporate inflation rate.

Teams are often granted permission to spread out signing bonuses for multi-sport athletes.

The Red Sox have agreed to terms with their first-round pick Casey Kelly. More to come after 6:30 conference call.

Here are some notes from the American League’s 15-inning, 4-3 win over the National League … 

- It was the second walkoff win for the American League in All-Star history. The only time the AL was victorious with a walkoff win came in 1941. It was also the first walkoff All-Star win since 1994.

- The American League is unbeaten in 12 straight All-Star Games. This was the third straight All-Star Game decided by one run.

- The AL became the first team in All-Star Game history to use 12 pitchers in a game.

- J.D. Drew beccame the fourth player in Red Sox history to take home the All-Star MVP, joining Carl Yastrzemski (1970), Roger Clemens (’86), and Pedro Martinez (’99).

- Colorado’s Aaron Cook became the first reliever to work three innings in an All-Star Game sine Lee Smith did it in 1987.

- The two teams combined for 27 hits, the most since 1998.

- The three errors by Florida second baseman Dan Uggla were the most by an individual in an All-Star Game.

ALL-STAR GAME MVP J.D. DREW

(On pitching) I guess if they would have approached me, I’ve been bugging Tito enough where it would have been where they would have to see what I had. Somebody would have had to do it.

(Yankee Stadium crowd’s reaction) “Booed around first, cheered around third.”

(On potentially pitching) “I used to have a really filthy knuckleball but for some reason I’ve lost it recently. I mean it really used to be legit. Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not. I’ve got a little bit of cutter action going, so I guess I could have showed them what I’ve got. I wasn’t going to blow them away with gas, by any means, but I would have kept them off balance.” (He hasn’t pitched since high school.)

PITCHING COACH JOHN FARRELL

“It was our preference not to get him in the game. We just wanted to make sure that under the circumstances he shouldn’t not be under control and not overdo things.”

“I don’t know what the answer would have been if it was two more innings. We talked about (Drew), I know he has a knuckleball, so that’s where we were. J.D.’s bugged us about it, so maybe he might have got his chance.”

SCOTT KAZMIR

(The American League’s final pitcher, who threw 106 pitches Sunday and wasn’t supposed to pitch) “You don’t really see that many relief appearances at 1:18 a.m … I guess it was three days rest (instead of two).”

NEW YORK – While smiles, autographs and handshakes encompassed most of the American League All-Stars clubhouse today, Jonathan Papelbon wasn’t quite as festive as most of his teammates.

“If I don’t pitch,” said the Red Sox closer, “I don’t care.”

Papelbon explained that the whole All-Star experience has been sullied by a story in the New York Daily News, which was accompanied by the back-page headline “Papelbum.”

The story suggested Papelbon wanted to be the one to close out tonight’s All-Star game, not Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera. The package was brought to the pitcher’s attention while eating breakfast this morning, when he looked over and saw the back page of the Daily News while somebody else was reading the tabloid.

His initial response? “What the (expletive!)”

“It just kind of pisses me off because if that gets (expletive) written and I’m riding in a (expletive)  parade today with my wife (Ashley) so she doesn’t feel safe because some (expletive) from the Daily News says I want to close the game and that ain’t true,” he said. “See what I’m saying?”

The parade Papelbon referred to was the one put on in downtown Manhattan this afternoon, showcasing the players participating in tonight’s All-Star Game.

“That was an easy headline for that (expletive) to say, ‘Yeah, Papelbon wants to close,’” he said. “Of course I do, that’s my competitive nature. But I’m stepping away and saying I don’t need to close.”

Papelbon pointed out that his biggest problem with the Daily News’ story and presentation was how it affected his wife, who is due with the couple’s first child on New Year’s Day.

“My wife wasn’t comfortable,” Papelbon said. “She’s pregnant with a baby. It pisses me off. So some (expletive) from the Daily News can get his headline.

“It kind of pisses you off when your family gets involved like that and you’re trying to enjoy an experience with your family and you have a wife who is pregnant who doesn’t feel safe riding in a red carpet event with you …  How would you feel?”

Papelbon also reiterated his stance on who should close out tonight’s game, insisting he has no problem with Rivera finishing a potential American League win.

“I understand what it’s about to put in your time and pay your dues in this game,” he said. “If you were to ask me, of course I would want to close. I’m not going to back down from anything. But that’s not what the (expletive) was said. It was an easy headline for that (expletive).”

Just in case you were wondering, Manny Ramirez will not be fined for his no-show at the American League players media availability this afternoon. The Red Sox outfielder hasn’t made such an appearance since 2004. Said Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, “He’s getting his hair-braided or something. He’s got some things going on right now. I don’t know what’s going on but he’ll be there tonight.”

Coming at you live from a ballroom at the Grand Hyatt where all the day’s press confrences will be held. Terry Francona just announced the AL lineup; Ichiro, Jeter, Hamilton, ARod, Manny, Bradley, Youkilis, Mauer, Pedroia, and Clff Lee will be the starter.

Here is the NL lineup; Hanley, Utley, Berkman, Pujols, Chipper, Holliday, Braun, Fukudome, Soto, and Ben Sheets will be the starter.

Julio Lugo limped out of the Red Sox clubhouse just minutes ago, clearly worried about the status of the left quad he injured while running to first base in the ninth inning of his team’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles.

“I felt something pop in my quad. We’ll see tomorrow when we take an MRI,” he said. “I felt something pop in there.

“I’m really worried because I know it wasn’t something where you just pull a muscle. I felt something pop, and I’m worried.”

Lugo said he not only hasn’t had a similar injury, but he doesn’t remember ever pulling a muscle.

Here is a whole lot of Nuggetpalooza from our All-Star, Gary from Chapel Hill (with help from the kind folks at Baseball-Reference). Pay particular attention to that Manny Ramirez, first-pitch tidbit:

* - Beginning June 16, Dustin Pedroia has batted .464 (45 for 97), the highest average in the majors during that stretch (min. 50 PA).  Texas’ Ian Kinsler is second at .437.  Pedroia is 4th in the majors in SLUGGING (.711) during that span, trailing Baltimore’s Aubrey Huff (.824).
 
* - Jacoby Ellsbury had his first career (regular season) four hit game on Wednesday, but he’s got a long way to go to catch Boston’s all-time leader in 4+ hit games, Wade Boggs, who has 50.  Yaz has 40, and Jim Rice has 31.
 
* - Since June 15, Drew (0-5), Ellsbury (0-8), Crisp (0-7), Varitek (1-14), and Lugo (1-16) have come to the plate with 2 outs and a combined 50 runners in scoring position.  They have driven in 2 of them.  As a team, they’ve driven in 24.8% of RISP with 2 outs (30 out of 121) during that time, the lowest mark in the American League.
 
* - Josh Beckett got the win on Wednesday despite allowing 5 earned runs, the third time that he’s done that since coming to Boston (and the second time this season).  Jack Morris is the all-time leader with 27 wins in starts where he allowed 5+ ER. The Red Sox leader is Tim Wakefield, with 9 such wins (and the only non-Beckett one this season by a Red Sox pitcher).
 
* - Mike Timlin had his 606th career scoreless relief outing of 1+ innings on Wednesday (7th all-time, John Franco has 721).  It was his 217th as a member of the Red Sox, second only to Bob Stanley’s 262 such outings.
 
* - Manny is 12 for his last 25 (.480) since May 6 when putting the first pitch in play (including his game tying HR on Tuesday).  During that same time span he is 40 for 170 (.235) during all other AB’s.
 
* - Last season, Julio Lugo had an extra base hit every 13.7 PA overall and one every 9.8 PA with RISP.  This season, he’s had an extra base hit every 21.6 PA overall but has only 1 EBH in 102 PA with RISP.  Since his double on June 17 against the Phillies, he has 1 single in his last 25 AB with RISP.
 
* - Opponents are 6 for 44 (.136) against Tim Wakefield with RISP and 2 outs, the second lowest average allowed in the majors (min. 45 such PA).  Only Baltimore’s Daniel Cabrera (.128) has allowed a lower average in those situations.  Dice-K (.154) is 6th.
 
* - Josh Beckett’s Yearly OPS Allowed with RISP and 2 Outs (starting 2005):  654, 720, 724, 748.
 
* - Jonathan Papelbon’s Yearly OPS Allowed with RISP and 2 Outs (starting 2005):  188, 329, 408, 652.
 
* - In his career, Manny Ramirez has averaged one RBI every 4.22 AB in July, the second best mark ever (since 1956) among hitters with at least 500 career July PA.  Only Juan Gonzalez (4.19) has been better than Manny.  

David Ortiz just took 36 swings, six of them went out, five clearing the bullpens with the other going into the right field seats. Easily two-thirds of the balls hit were right on the money. Afterwards Ortiz reported his left wrist felt good. “I’m a little sore but I’m OK,” he said. “It feels like I’m going back to normal.”

Terry Francona just announced Justin Masterson will be headed to the bullpen, starting with a stint in Pawtucket.

Jeff Bailey has been recalled from Pawtucket with Justin Masterson being sent down. More on this after Terry Francona’s meeting with the media.

David Ortiz reported he took batting practice inside Yankee Stadium yesterday and felt good. He will take it again today outside. The DH admitted that this year he probably won’t be 100 percent because the only true remedy is rest. He talked to both Pat Burrell and Bob Melvin, who each had suffered nearly identical injuries

In other news, pitcher Jon Lester has changed agents from Alan Nero to SFX.

Happy Fourth of July everybody. Even though I’ve jumped off the trip, choosing to watch the Danvers fireworks instead of those amateur hour bottle rockets in New York, we can still bring you some quality work from Gary from Chapel Hill (and Baseball-Reference):

Stats are through Wednesday: 

* - Dustin Pedroia on Wednesday became the 13th Red Sox player to collect four extra base hits in a game (since 1956).  It was the first time that the Sox lost the game since 1980, when Dwight Evans did it but the Sox lost, 7-6, to Toronto on October 4.
 
* - Pedroia was the 4th player in MLB in 2008 to get 4+ extra base hits in a game and get this:  All four teams have lost the game.  Going into this season, teams that had a player get 4+ EBH had won 27 straight games dating back to Sept., 2004.
 
* - It is already the 3rd time in Pedroia’s career that he’s had four or more hits in a game that his team has lost.  No other Red Sox hitter has had it happen more than once since the beginning of 2007.  In his Red Sox career, Wade Boggs’ had 4+ hits in losses 20 times and no one else has more than 9 (Rice).
 
* - Sox relievers threw 54 pitches in the 7th inning on Wednesday night, the most pitches in one inning by the Red Sox since at least the end of 2003.  They threw 53 pitches in the 7th inning last August 18.  As a matter of fact, each of the Red Sox seven highest pitch count innings since the beginning of 2004 have come in the 6th, 7th, or 8th innings.

* - After chasing June history for much of the month, JD Drew slumped late, finishing June with a slugging percentage of .848, good enough for the 8th best June since at least 1956 and the best since Jim Edmonds put up an .865 in 2003.  It was the best June by a Red Sox batter, eclipsing Jackie Jensen’s .784 from 1958.
 
* - Jason Varitek hit just .122 in June, the second lowest June mark in Red Sox history (at least back to 1956).  The lowest June average in Sox history was .089, set last season by Julio Lugo.  Lugo’s mark is also the lowest June average ever in MLB, Varitek’s .122 this season is tied for the 11th lowest all-time (with Chili Davis, 1983).
 
* - Through Wednesday, Varitek has not had multiple hits in his last 22 games of 2+ plate appearances.  The longest such streak by a Red Sox hitter since 1956 was 40 games, by Luis Rivera in ‘92-’93.  He’s still quite a ways from the longest such streak by a non-pitcher in MLB (63 games by Cubs catcher Dann Bilardello in ‘85-’86).
 
* - So far in 2008, opposing batters in the leadoff spot are hitting just .211 against the Red Sox.  That’s currently tied with the ‘81 Tigers for the lowest such average allowed to #1 hitters since the stat has been tracked (1974).

David Ortiz spoke to the media before tonight’s game and is seemingly still believeing the Yankees are the team to beat …

“There’s time. There’s a lot of games left. One way or another, (the Yankees) know how to figure it out. Time will tell it’s a long season. These kids down the street (the Rays) have been playing well you can’t take that away from them. Things happen. Sometimes experience shows up and takes over. I’m not saying they will drop, but if you go by the numbers that is normally what will happen. Always the guy with the more experience and the guy in the same spot always takes over. It will be good to watch those kids come through and watch them in the playoffs. It will be good for baseball and it will be good for people to believe it doesn’t matter how much money you pay or how big is your payroll. You still have a chance to be in the playoffs and make a difference. But at the same you know how it is, you guys know better.”

After taking 25 swings of soft toss David Ortiz will be doing it again today. He reported things went well yesterday and he might be ready to take live batting practice when the team returns to Fenway Park next week. It will be the fourth straight day of hitting for Ortiz, according to the injured DH.

Per MLB:
“Right fielder J.D. Drew of the Boston Red Sox has been named the Sharp Presents the American League Player of the Month for June. This marks J.D.’s first career monthly award honor.

“In 26 games last month, Drew batted .337 (31-for-92) with 12 home runs and finished tied for the Major League-high with 29 RBI, along with Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox. The 32-year-old outfielder scored 27 runs with a Major League-best .848 slugging percentage. The Georgia native collected 21 extra-base hits, including seven doubles and two triples. He walked 21 times and had a .462 on-base percentage. During the month, J.D. put together an eleven-game hitting streak from June 1st-12th, which included eight multi-hit games. He homered in three straight games from June 7th-10th. On June 18th, J.D. went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double and four RBI during an Interleague game at Philadelphia. He had seven multi-RBI efforts last month. Drew is batting .299 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI on the season.

“Others receiving votes were Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler (.362, 12 2B, 6 HR, 16 RBI) and Kansas City Royals outfielders David DeJesus (.361, 18 R, 19 RBI) and Jose Guillen (.345, 9 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBI).

“For setting the highest definition of excellence, Sharp, the presenting sponsor of the American League Player of the Month Award, presents J.D. Drew with a 52″ AQUOS®. Sharp AQUOS is the “Official High-Definition Television of Major League Baseball.” Drew will also receive a specially designed trophy to mark his achievement.”

Some of the Red Sox are taking optional batting practice at Tropicana Field. The participants are Alex Cora, Kevin Cash, and Sean Casey with hitting coach Dave Magadan throwing the BP.

Red Sox lineup: Ellsbury CF, Pedroia 2B, Drew RF, Ramirez DH, Lowell 3B, Youkilis 1B, Moss LF, Cora SS, Cash C

Rays lineup: Iwamura 2B, Crawford LF, Upton CF, Pena 1B, Longoria 3B, Floyd DH, Navarro C, Hinske RF, Bartlett SS