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TORONTO -- This, that, and another thing while watching injured players Dustin Pedroia, Jason Varitek and Mike Cameron take some swings in early batting practice:

-- In Manny we trust?: Manny Delcarmen had not pitched in a close game since July 20 in Oakland, when he threw 1 1/3 innings in a tie game that the Sox would eventually lose. He hadn’t pitched in a game the Sox led since July 22 in Seattle, when he was part of a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown in which the Sox blew a five-run lead before winning in extra innings.

But with Daniel Bard unavailable after matching his season high by throwing 29 pitches against the Yankees on Monday, Delcarmen received the eighth-inning call with the Sox holding a 7-5 lead.

He responded beautifully, striking out Lyle Overbay, retiring rookie J.P. Arencibia on a flyball, and inducing John McDonald to ground out to third.

In what has been a disappointing season, Delcarmen may well be winning back manager Terry Francona’s trust. Pitching with the Sox either well ahead or behind until Tuesday night, Delcarmen has not allowed a run in his last seven appearances, two of which involved facing one batter, and has given up just one hit in 5 innings.

Perhaps as significantly, Delcarmen, who is averaging an unacceptable 5.1 walks per nine innings, has not walked a batter in his last five appearances, spanning 3 2/3 innings.

“I feel real good,’’ said Delcarmen, who was on the DL with a strained right forearm in the first two weeks of July. “Tito gave me the ball, and I take them as they come.’’

-- Daisuke Matsuzaka, who struck out the game’s first three batters on a total of 14 pitches, had opened a game in such fashion just once before in the big leagues, on June 27, 2008 against Houston. He finished with seven strikeouts in all, but the three-run home run by Travis Snider after two walks in the third spoiled what otherwise would have been a strong outing.

John McDonald’s bloop single in the sixth was the only hit by a right-handed hitting Blue Jay in 13 at-bats against Matsuzaka, who took a stripped-down approach Tuesday night, according to a breakdown by the scouting service Inside Edge. He threw only fastballs and curves to righties, and fastballs, curves and changeups to lefties.

Matsuzaka threw first strikes to two-thirds of the hitters he faced (18 of 27), above the big-league average of 58 percent. Jays hitters also chased 42 percent of his off-speed pitches, well above the 30 percent MLB average.

-- It’s another beautiful day in Toronto, which means the roof should be open for Wednesday night’s game, which means a greater possibility of more home runs. The Blue Jays, who hit three home runs Tuesday night, have 79 home runs in 30 games with the roof open, compared to 25 in 19 games with the roof closed. It doesn’t seem to have the same effect on opposing hitters: Opponents have 31 in 30 games when it has been opened, including Mike Lowell's game-winner Tuesday night, and 15 in the 19 games when it’s closed.

TORONTO -- Quick hits on Red Sox 7, Jays 5:

* The race: Sox still trail Rays by 4½ in wild card as Tampa beat the Tigers 8-0. But they moved within 5 of the Yankees in the AL East as New York lost 4-3 in 10 innings at Texas on a walk-off single by David Murphy off Mariano Rivera. Games left: 48

* The difference-maker: Mike Lowell, with a home run that broke 5-5 tie in the eighth. In seven games (six starts) since his return, Lowell is batting .240 (6-for-25) with two HRs and six RBIs.

* Keep the roof open: Seven of Boston’s 11 hits went for extra bases. J.D. Drew also homered, and David Ortiz and Jed Lowrie each had two doubles.

* Lineup change?: Look for Jacoby Ellsbury, who had two singles, to be restored to top of the order. Marco Scutaro was hitless in five trips and is 2 for his last 24.

* Positive development: With Daniel Bard unavailable, Manny Delcarmen pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and now has nine scoreless outings out of 10 since coming off the DL.

* Rest paid off: Lowrie, who did not play in the last three games of the Yankees series, hit three balls hard, the two doubles and one shot that was caught on the track. But it wasn’t all good for Lowrie. He also dropped a feed at second and was late to the bag on another.

* Stat of the night: Jonathan Papelbon is now 24-for-24 in save opportunities in his career against the Blue Jays. He has allowed four earned runs in 44 innings, an 0.82 ERA.

* Quoteboard: “Tonight was like our whole season. It wasn’t perfect, but we kept playing.’’
--Manager Terry Francona

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- While the Red Sox are on the hunt for relievers, one major league source said Monday that the Sox have indicated some willingness to move either Manny Delcarmen or Ramon Ramirez in the right deal.

That possibility may well be predicated on whether the Sox succeed in lining up additional relief help, although the same source said that the Sox are not prepared to pay the price of at least one quality prospect, and possibly two, that the Toronto Blue Jays are asking in return for lefty Scott Downs.

Another lefty that could pop up on the Sox radar is Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett, whose changeup has not been as good as it was before he underwent Tommy John surgery but he still throws a 91- to 93-mile-an-hour fastball and has put up pretty good numbers for the Nats: a 3.03 ERA in 45 appearances, 32 hits and 12 walks in 32 2/3 IP, with 31 strikeouts. Oddly, his lefty-righty splits are backwards this season: He is holding righties to a .184 average, while lefties are batting .321.

BOSTON -- By the time this season is over, Red Sox manager Terry Francona will be an expert on baseball-related injuries.

He needs to give daily updates on the majority of his players since most of them remain on the disables list with a variety of injuries.

Here is the latest checklist:

**Catcher Victor Martinez will have a scan taken tonight on his fractured left thumb. “He actually says he feels a little bit better, and that’s what matters.”

**Third baseman Adrian Beltre had a MRI on his left hamstring and results showed only a strain. There’s no tear or bleeding. Beltre is not in the lineup tonight against the Rangers, but could be used in a pinch-hitting situation if needed. There’s also a chance he could be back in the lineup on Friday. “I wasn’t real comfortable playing him tonight,” Francona said Thursday.

**Second baseman Dustin Pedroia (fractured left foot) and catcher Jason Varitek (fractured right foot) will be examined at noon and 12:30 p.m., respectively, on Friday.

**Pitcher Clay Buchholz (hamstring) will start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday at Syracuse. Fellow starter Josh Beckett (lower back) will get the nod for the PawSox on Saturday at Syracuse. “Pawtucket’s got quite the staff,” Francona said.

**Reliever Manny Delcarmen (forearm) will work one inning for Double-A Portland Thursday night.

**Outfielder Jeremy Hermida (ribs) will DH for the Sea Dogs on Thursday night and is scheduled to play the outfield for Portland on Friday. He’ll DH again on Saturday before being re-evaluated on Sunday in Boston. He’ll then spend three days in Pawtucket and could be activated when the Sox go to Seattle later next week.

**Mike Lowell (hip) took ground balls and hit off the batting tee Thursday.

Three Red Sox pitchers on the disabled list appear close to returning to the club as the team gears up to start the unofficial second half of the season.

* Reliever Manny Delcarmen, on the shelf with a forearm strain, will pitch an inning for Double-A Portland on Thursday in what manager Terry Francona hopes will be his only rehab outing.

“I think Manny throws his inning and as long as he feels like we think he’s going to feel we can get him back on the weekend, which is terrific,” Francona said during his weekly interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI.

* Starter Clay Buchholz, recovering from a hamstring strain, will start for Triple-A Pawtucket in Syracuse on Friday. The Red Sox will start Felix Doubront against the Rangers that night.

Buchholz had insisted after the All-Star Game Tuesday night in Anaheim that he did not know whether he would be pitching for the Red Sox or making a rehab start, although he suspected he might be sent out.

“[Buchholz has] thrown, it will end up being one inning in like 21 days,” Francona said, “that’s not putting him in a good spot to pitch in a major league game.”

All indications are that Buchholz will return to the Red Sox after that start.

* Finally, Josh Beckett, who has been out since mid-May with a lower back strain, will make his second rehab start with Pawtucket on Saturday. Francona said the hope is that Beckett would throw 75-80 pitches and the team would then determine his next step. It’s conceivable he could make his next start sometime on Boston’s upcoming West Coast trip.

“Things are starting to look bright for us, guys are on their way back,” Francona said. “We’ll just see where they are after they pitch.”

TORONTO -- Injured Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett and Manny Delcarmen tossed bullpen sessions Friday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

Starter Beckett (lower-back strain) and reliever Delcarmen (forearm) both threw and felt fine afterward. Beckett tossed 40 pitches in preparation for his first rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday. The right-hander is scheduled to throw 65-70 pitches for the PawSox.

Delcarmen threw 35 pitches during his session and said he was pleased with his workout. In fact, pitching coach John Farrell was “raving” about it, according to manager Terry Francona. Delcarmen will throw another one on Sunday and is expected to be activated from the DL after the All-Star break.

BOSTON -- Less than 24 hours later and Red Sox manager Terry Francona still couldn’t believe Friday’s game lasted just over two hours.

The official time of the game was 2:07 and it ended in a 3-2 victory over the Orioles. When Francona met with the local media this afternoon, a beat writer jokingly asked if Tim Wakefield could pitch again on Sunday because he wanted to make his evening tee time.

“Who do we have? Lackey. He’ll be all right. Daisuke’s not pitching, you’ll be all right,” Francona said with a smile.

“That was unbelievable,” added Francona. “I don’t think any of us knew how to act. It just didn’t seem like, it felt like you were missing something and we’ve got Papelbon in the sixth inning. It was weird. Both guys were throwing strikes and working quick, it was great.”

With such a quick game on Friday, it’s a safe bet tonight’s game Baltimore will last four-plus hours.

Francona did have a few injury updates to discuss.

* Team physician Dr. Thomas Gill read the MRI of Red Sox right-handed reliever Manny Delcarmen and it showed no structural damage. The discomfort he’s been experiencing for the last week or so is muscular. If he continues to improve, he should be able to throw a pair of bullpen sessions on Friday and Sunday before the All-Star break, according to Francona.

* Outfielder Jeremy Hermida (ribs) hit off a tee today “pretty aggressively” and felt really good. It’s likely he’ll be cleared to take live BP on Wednesday in Tampa. “He’s doing pretty well,” Francona said.

* After being a game-time scratch on Friday, outfielder Mike Cameron is back in the lineup today and batting eighth. “He felt terrible [Friday] night,” Francona said. “We asked him to [not play] and we’d rather do that than come out in the first inning. He showed up today and he feels really good.”

* Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz (hamstring) played catch on flat ground today and has yet to throw his bullpen session. The right-hander is still scheduled to start either Monday or Tuesday in Tampa. “If he pitches on Monday, he’ll have to be as close to 100 percent as he can be," said Francona. "We’re going to run him through some more [tests] and if he doesn’t pass, we’re not going to pitch him if we’re not completely sure.”

BOSTON -- Friday's medical update from Red Sox manager Terry Francona:

* Josh Beckett, who threw a 41-pitch simulated game on Thursday’s off day, will travel with the Sox on the road trip. Francona said Beckett is slated to pitch for the Sox’ Gulf Coast League team in Sarasota on Tuesday. The game will start at noon so Boston pitching coach John Farrell and trainer Mike Reinold will be able to see him work. Beckett will throw roughly 55 pitches in the outing.

* The team confirmed that Manny Delcarmen (strained right forearm) has been placed on the DL. Delcarmen had been trying to pitch through the problem, but had been hammered in his last three outings, prompting the Sox to disable him. He was replaced on the roster by Robert Manuel, who was 4-1 with eight saves and 1.54 ERA for Pawtucket.

* Right-hander Clay Buchholz, who had to leave his start Saturday because of a hyperextended left knee and strained lower hamstring, said Friday he will throw a side session on Saturday. He said, and Francona confirmed, that the plan is for Buchholz to pitch Monday, the first game of a three-game series at Tampa.

* Utilityman Niuman Romero, who had been obtained by the Sox from Cleveland on April 30, was promoted from Pawtucket to replace Angel Sanchez on the roster. Romero, a switch hitter who can play the infield and outfield, was batting .268 in 168 at-bats for the PawSox. Sanchez was traded to Houston in the deal that brought catcher Kevin Cash to Boston.

BOSTON -- On a night when all the focus around these parts was solely on the Boston Celtics and their Game 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Red Sox dismissed the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 at Fenway Park to complete the sweep.

Red Sox starter John Lackey improved to 8-3. The right-hander worked six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

“I think he’s going to get into a situation where he reels off a lot of zeros,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “In the meantime he continues to compete and successfully.”

Red Sox rookie hero Daniel Nava continues to impress. He has hit safely in four of his five major league games since making his debut last Saturday. After collecting three hits Thursday, he’s 8-for-18 with four doubles, a grand slam and six RBI. He posted a crucial RBI double in the eighth inning Thursday night to help the Sox to victory.

“We won and that’s something I’m up here to help do,” Nava said. “Fortunately we got things done tonight.”

“He’s had quality at-bats,” said Francona. “He went out tonight and looked a lot more comfortable in left field, he’s a little familiar out there. He swings at strikes and stays inside the ball really well and just gives you quality at-bats. That’s what [player-development staff] said he would do and he’s done every bit of that.”

Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen, who has been battling a stiff back of late, came up big in a bases-loaded situation in the top of the seventh inning when he struck out the Diamondbacks’ Mark Reynolds to end the inning and the threat.

“I know Tito is throwing me in those situations is giving me confidence,” said Delcarmen. “I just want to throw strikes and ended up giving up a hit trying to elevate but threw it right down the middle and wished I could take that pitch back. But I felt good and make my pitch when I needed to.”

Before the game Francona knew he wanted to stay away from relievers Daniel Bard and Ramon Ramirez, so it was up to Delcarmen to get the job done. He did.

“What Manny did, that was obviously an important situation,” said Francona. “You’ve got a guy who can hit the ball across two streets with a 3-2 count and runners moving – a lot going on there. That was huge.”

David Ortiz continues to swing a hot bat.

He has hit safely in the last six games, going 11-for-23. His two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning, a blast to deep center field for his 14th of the season, proved crucial.

“He looks like the old David. He really does,” said Francona. “He’s taking some ferocious swings. The ball is coming off his bat and you can tell he feels good about himself. We need that and we’ve said that all along. We’re a different team when he’s swinging the bat like that.”

After the win, the ballpark and clubhouse quickly cleared out and Francona was sitting in his office eating and watching the Celtics.

CLEVELAND -- A few quick hits on the Red Sox's 3-2 win over the Indians to help distract you from the Celtics' loss Tuesday night:

* Sox starters have thrown at least six innings in 15 of 17 games since May 22, going 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA in that span. In the first five games of this trip, Sox starters have allowed three earned runs in 37 2/3 innings, an 0.72 ERA.

* That kind of starting pitching (and Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester are on deck for the next two games) makes it easier to absorb the absence of your closer. Jonathan Papelbon, who is on bereavement/family emergency leave, missed his second game Tuesday night, though manager Terry Francona said he stopped by Fenway Park to get in a little work.

* Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury flew out of Cleveland late Tuesday afternoon for L.A., where he is to be examined by orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Wednesday. Ellsbury will rejoin the team on its return to Boston on Friday.

* According to baseball-reference.com, there are only 40 pitchers who have thrown at least 2,800 innings for one team. (Tim Wakefield became the Sox's all-time leader with 2,777.) The last to do so were two Braves, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. The Tigers have the most, six. There are only a handful of pitchers who have done it post-1980: Don Sutton, Jack Morris, Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, Dave Stieb, Steve Rogers, and Glavine and Smoltz. Wakefield may be onto something when he says his will be a tough record for a Sox pitcher to break.

"You look at some names who pitched for this franchise,'' Francona said, "pretty remarkable record. I think the word you use is tenacity. Where he was a long, long time ago, that he's done that, is an amazing accomplishment."

* The Sox were not oblivious to what Mr. Strasburg was doing in Washington Tuesday night. Francona said the dugout got periodic updates from players going back and forth from the clubhouse.

''There was a little bit of buzz in the dugout,'' Francona said. "I look forward to watching the highlights tonight. It's good for baseball. Sounded like their ballpark was sold out. I know there's been a buzz all week. That's good for baseball. Just good that we don't have to face him.''

* Reliever Manny Delcarmen (back) was not available Tuesday; he'll throw a side session Wednesday to see how he's progressing. Jeremy Hermida (ribs) was available to pinch-hit.

* A word on Kolbrin Vitek, the team's No. 1 draft pick: According to baseball-reference.com (have you noticed I consider it the mother lode?), there are seven players (four pitchers) who have made it to the big leagues from Vitek's school, Ball State University. The best of the lot were outfielders Larry Bigbee, Thomas Howard and Merv Rettenmund. The Red Sox obviously expect Vitek to fare better than the last Ball State player to go in the first round: pitcher Bryan Bullington, who was taken No. 1 overall by the Pirates in 2002 and has a career record of 0-6 with a 5.57 ERA.

CLEVELAND -- Jonathan Papelbon will not be available to close at least the first three games of the Indians series after being placed on the bereavement list to deal with what the Red Sox called an emergency family issue.

No other details were furnished by the club.

With Papelbon gone, Daniel Bard was expected to assume closing duties. Since May 1, Bard has allowed just one earned run in 15 1/3 innings, a 0.59 ERA, while striking out 14 and walking 6.

Right-handed pitcher Boof Bonser, who had completed a 30-day rehab stint in Pawtucket, was activated for Monday's game, but with Papelbon on the bereavement list, no other corresponding roster move was necessary.

Other roster updates:

-- Jacoby Ellsbury may soon receive another independent checkup at the prompting of agent Scott Boras, manager Terry Francona said, adding that he thought it was a good idea.

-- Center-fielder Mike Cameron was given the day off Monday, Francona said, noting that he had gone the distance in Sunday’s 11-inning game and the Sox thought it wise to hold him out.

-- Manny Delcarmen’s back remained a little stiff, Francona said, and he wasn’t sure whether the reliever would be available Monday night.

-- Jeremy Hermida’s ribs remained sore after his collision with Adrian Beltre on Friday, but Francona thought he was available if needed.

BALTIMORE -- On the fifth pitch of his relief appearance against the Orioles on Sunday, Manny Delcarmen felt his lower back tighten up.

It was the bottom of the eighth inning and a critical moment with the game tied at 2-2. Red Sox starter John Lackey had worked seven strong innings when manager Terry Francona gave the ball to Delcarmen to start the eighth. The right-hander allowed one run on one hit with two walks in 1/3 of an inning worked.

“I tried to get on top of the ball and I couldn’t,” Delcarmen said. “Ramon [Ramirez] came in and picked me up and kept the game right there.”

Prior to the series finale, Delcarmen received treatment on his back and it’s been bothering him for the last three weeks.

“His lower back is stiff and it’s the same thing he’s dealt with on and off,” Francona said. “It looked like it was hard for him to drive the ball down in the zone. We’ll check him out after today.”

The timing of this couldn’t be any worse, especially given the fact he’s been throwing the ball well this season.

“I felt good warming up and confident when I went in the game,” he said. “But I haven’t been that off this season with the fastball up in the zone like that. I’ll [continue] treatment and hopefully in the next couple of days I’ll be good.”

After Delcarmen was removed from the game, he had the team’s massage therapist Russell Nua work on his back.

“Whatever he does, he does wonders because it feels good right now,” said Delcarmen. “Hopefully I don’t wake up too stiff tomorrow. I’ve got an old man’s back.”

BOSTON -- Quick hits on Red Sox 11, Angels 6

-- The four-game sweep of the Angels puts the Sox over .500 for the first time since they beat the Yankees on the season’s opening night. They enter the Yankee series on their first winning streak of four games or more this season, while the Yankees, who had an off-day Thursday, also have won four straight.

-- Dustin Pedroia raised his average back over .300, to .303, with a double and single, scored three runs, and had a terrific series both offensively and defensively. He was on base nine times with six hits and three walks, scored four runs, and set up what promises to be an entertaining duel with Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, one of the hottest hitters in the league.

“He’s on another level, man,’’ Pedroia said of Cano, who comes to town second in the league in home runs with 9, second in slugging at .695, and third in hitting at .362. “Fun to watch. I’d definitely pay to watch him hit, the way he plays.

“I think everyone has seen it. That first week at our place, the way he swung the bat. He hits every pitch. There really isn’t a flaw in his swing. It’s pretty fun to watch.’’

The Red Sox lost two of three to the Yankees in the season’s opening series, and enter this weekend 6½ games behind first-place Tampa Bay, five games behind the second-place Yankees and 1½ games behind third-place Toronto in the AL East.

"Those are going to be some good games,’’ Pedroia said of playing the Yankees. “We just have to keep doing what we’re doing.

“We know we haven’t played well early. We don’t want the three teams in front of us to get too far away. We’ve just got to play better.’’

-- Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez brought the Sox back with a two-run home run off Scott Kazmir in the third and a game-tying, two-run double in the fifth. Martinez had gone 24 games (90 at-bats) without a home run, the longest homerless drought of his career since he went 60 games over the 2007 and ’08 seasons.

Martinez went 2 for 17 on the last trip, his average dropping to .233 after the sweep in Baltimore. But he rebounded with six hits against the Angels, and has been prolific from the right side against lefties, his hits off lefty Kazmir raising his average against left-handers to .429, highest on the club and among the top three in the league.

-- Whatever problems the Sox were having pale compared with those of the Angels, who have now lost seven straight and were outscored, 36-16, in this series. The Angels’ bullpen in particular was horrific. Their line against the Sox in this series: 10 2/3 IP, 23 H, 10 B, 16 ER, 13.50 ERA.

After Thursday’s game, manager Mike Scioscia closed the clubhouse doors for a team meeting that was nothing like a New England town meeting. Only one voice was heard -- his.

"Right now, we’re carrying some ghosts,’’ Scioscia said. ‘’You have to be able to turn the page and get to the next game and start fresh. I think that was always a strength of this group here and when you’re not playing well, I think some things are starting to become distractions. Guys are starting to press because of something that happened three days ago."

-- Daisuke Matsuzaka survived a wild start -- three walks in a 39-pitch, four-run first inning -- to emerge with his first win of the 2010 season. Matsuzaka held the Angels scoreless on three hits and did not walk another batter before leaving after Juan Rivera’s one-out double in the sixth. A fifth run was charged to Matsuzaka after Rivera scored ahead of Mike Napoli’s home run off Manny Delcarmen.

“Kind of reversed the other day,’’ manager Terry Francona said of Matsuzaka, whose first start of the season ended badly, with a six-run fifth inning in Baltimore. “His first two pitches were right where he wanted, and the next 30 or so he was scattering.’’

-- The Sox bullpen has now allowed 17 home runs this season, 3 more than the Sox starters have allowed, and that is the most home runs yielded by any bullpen in the American League.

-- Outfielder Mike Cameron said he is scheduled to be evaluated by a doctor Friday to determine how close he is to recovering from an abdominal tear. Cameron has been hitting and throwing. “Power running is the final thing,’’ he said, “and comfort. I can’t really go with discomfort.’’

Cameron, who has been out since April 18 after passing a kidney stone and then being diagnosed with the abdominal tear, said that regardless of the doctor’s evaluation, he will have to go to the minor leagues on a rehabilitation assignment.

“You can’t sit out for three weeks and come back to play major league baseball,’’ he said. “The only guy I ever saw who did that was Barry Bonds.’’

Jacoby Ellsbury (hairline fracture of four ribs) also has increased activity, hitting and throwing and some running, but he, too, is unlikely to return anytime soon.

So, all you folks who sat through three-plus hours of rain Friday night in Fenway Park and went home deprived of the glow of a Red Sox win or the grumbling that follows a Sox defeat, this will not make you feel any better.

Your resoluteness in the face of the mud and the blood and the beer went unrewarded, the Sox losing 3-1 in 12 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays in the completion of a suspended game that had to wait until the next day for its climactic act of misery to be played out.

On the scale of Fan Suffering, this one has few rivals, and the cold and wet were the least of two nights’ worth of aggravation. The Sox had the bases loaded in the 11th with no one out against reliever Lance Cormier and failed to score, as David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre, the two who have hit more home runs in a season than anyone else on the roster, were unable to hit a ball into the air against a two-man outfield.

Ortiz grounded into a force play at the plate, and Beltre rolled into a third-to-first double play against Joe Maddon’s five-man infield, the Rays’ manager having summoned right fielder Ben Zobrist to play on the dirt.

“That’s a great opportunity, you can’t get a better opportunity,’’ a subdued Terry Francona said after the game. “We needed to elevate something, and we couldn’t. They threw cutters to David, and little breaking balls to Beltre. That’s as good an opportunity as you‘re going to get.’’

The Red Sox manager wasn’t interested in discussing the five-man infield. “I don’t worry about what they’re doing,’’ he said. “If we elevate the ball, it doesn’t matter.’’

Then in the 12th, Pat Burrell, the Tampa Bay DH who has been hearing the same “Is he washed up?” chatter that is hounding Ortiz, belted a two-run home run off Manny Delcarmen, the Red Sox reliever who supposedly has been undergoing a mechanical tuneup all spring but remains a wreck.

“A fastball high over the plate, and he took a good swing,’’ Francona said. “He [Delcarmen] got behind in the count.’’

Burrell’s home run, which came with Evan Longoria aboard on a walk, was his first of the season, and accounted for his first RBIs in nine games this season.

The only way this night could turn any uglier is if the Sox should lose its regularly scheduled game, which was set to begin at 9:05.

That’s not implausible, either, with Francona not having Daniel Bard or Jonathan Papelbon available to close out the nightcap. Bard pitched two searing innings of relief after play resumed Saturday, Francona saying it would be asking too much for him to come back later in the evening.

Papelbon, meanwhile, was not at Fenway Park Saturday night. His wife, Ashley, gave birth to the couple’s second child, a boy, Gunner Robert, before the end of the suspended game, and Francona said Papelbon would not be present. Francona initially had hoped that Papelbon would be available for the resumption of the suspended game; he had been on the mound when play was halted by rain after 8 ½ innings.

Clay Buchholz and James Shields were matched against each other in the regularly scheduled game. At 9:05, when the first pitch was thrown by Buchholz, the game-time temperature was 39 degrees.

The outcome: David Ortiz hit his second spring home run and the Red Sox scored more runs than they had in the last four games combined, but they still fell to the Pirates, 9-7. An obviously weakened Josh Beckett, still fighting the effects of a flu that had kept him bedridden for four days, was knocked around for four runs on six hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings, but he considered it a W that he was able to throw 70 pitches.

The notable: Bill Hall went six more innings at short, handled three routine chances and turned a double play started by second baseman Angel Sanchez as the Sox look for further assurance that he can handle the position in the event he's needed.

Hall has logged most of his time at third base (15 innings) but now has played 11 at short, plus had time at second and both corner outfield positions.

Prospect update: Junichi Tazawa gave up a wind-aided home run to Rule 5 pick John Raynor in the eighth, but has placed himself in the mix for a spot in the bullpen.

“He can do different things,'' manager Terry Francona said before the game. "He can relieve, he can start, he holds runners. He’s another guy who has come a long way in a year.''

Tazawa is a Craig Shipley find, signed out of the Japanese industrial league. He projects to be in Pawtucket's starting rotation, but the Sox are giving him a long look in the pen.

"He’s a guy that not only is in a fight to maybe make our team, but someone we really think highly of,'' Francona said.

"Depending on what our needs are, he could always be a reliever.''

The Sox decision could depend on whether Manny Delcarmen begins to show progress in camp. His velocity still topped out at only 91 miles an hour on Wednesday, and while Francona said his issues were mechanical and that he was working on his delivery, mechanical issues typically don't account for such a significant drop in velocity.

Progress report: Daisuke Matsuzaka, back from a brief trip to Boston to witness the birth of his third child, a daughter, threw a 44-pitch bullpen Friday, said he felt good afterward, and Farrell said he is now slated to throw two innings in a minor-league game on Sunday.

Rather than face the Rays, a team the Sox will play 18 times this season -- there's a series between the teams every month -- John Lackey will throw in a minor-league game on Monday, Farrell said. Boof Bonser will face the Rays instead, with Michael Bowden making the trip to Jupiter to face the Cardinals in a split-squad makeup of the rainout there.

What's next: The Orioles are sending a split squad to face the Red Sox at City of Palms Park on Saturday. Tim Wakefield draws the start, but Delcarmen, scheduled in relief, bears watching.

Short hops: Minor-league utilityman Gil Velazquez has a broken bone at the base of his left thumb and is expected to miss "significant time," according to Francona ... Jacoby Ellsbury (throat) was feeling better and worked out Friday, Francona said ... The Pirates brought up third baseman Jeremy Farrell from minor-league camp to face the Sox. Jeremy's father is the Sox pitching coach. He singled in his only at-bat.

"You don't get to see him very often, but to see him in this setting is pretty special,'' said John Farrell, who planned to stick around afterward to have dinner with his son, an 8th-round draft choice of the club in 2008 who played in the Class A South Atlantic League last season.

"I appreciate the Pirates for bringing him over,'' he said.

Farrell hasn't seen his son, 23, play since spring training last season.

"He looks like he's in great shape. I know he loves what he's doing, we'll see where it takes him.''

This has been a week for coach-and-son reunions. On Tuesday in Kissimmee, Ron Johnson switched coaching boxes, from first to third, while his son Chris played third for the Astros.

"One of the weirdest feelings I've ever had on a ballfield,'' said Johnson, whose son is slated to play Triple-A after getting a big-league call-up last September, but is considered a good prospect.

"Nervousness, pride, confusion,'' Johnson said. " A great day.''