Struggles Continue For Oritz

BOSTON, Oct. 13 -- Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz came to the plate three times in the first five innings of Game 3 of the American League Championship. Each time, there was a runner on base, each time the game was still within reach and each time Ortiz made weak outs -- a strikeout and two harmless pop-ups.

Big Papi is in a big slump, and he is dragging the Red Sox' offense down with him. He is 0 for 10 in the series, and just 4 for 27 this postseason. The Red Sox' offense is affected by the absence of Manny Ramírez, yes. But it also without the real Ortiz.

"This series has been a very tough series [for Ortiz] to this point," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. "I've been around David long enough to know that can change with one swing of the bat. The other team still has to respect that even when they're not swinging like they're capable."

The Tampa Bay Rays confirmed Francona's assertion, though that may simply be politeness.

"You can never doubt that guy," said winning pitcher Matt Garza. "He's such a great hitter. No matter how much he struggles, it can always be that night that he comes out of that slump, and I didn't want to be the guy to let him come out of that slump."

Ortiz did not speak to reporters after the game, sending word through a Red Sox official that he declined comment.

Cash for Varitek

With knuckleball specialist Tim Wakefield pitching on Tuesday night, Jason Varitek will have the night off as Kevin Cash, Wakefield's personal catcher, will get the start. However, Varitek's sagging performance at the plate could make him a candidate for a benching anyway.

Varitek is 3 for 24 with no extra-base hits and no RBI this postseason, and in perhaps the most crucial at-bat of the game for the Red Sox, he struck out looking at a 97 mph fastball from Garza with runners on second and third and one out in the second. He did, however, draw a walk off Garza in the seventh and came around to score the Red Sox' only run of the game.

Varitek, the Red Sox' captain, is a free agent after this season, his 11th, and his steep decline this season (.220 batting average, 13 homers, 43 RBI -- all far below his career norms) could make the team balk at offering him anything more than a one-year deal. And that, in turn, could send Varitek elsewhere next season.

Powerful Start

When Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered off Boston's Jon Lester in the third inning, Longoria's fourth homer of the postseason, it tied Florida's Miguel Cabrera for the most homers by a rookie in a single postseason. Cabrera homered four times for the Florida Marlins in 2003.