PawSox fans showing love for Big Papi - Journal photo / Glenn Osmundson

Well we all waited since Sunday for the Boston Red Sox to return to action and after last night’s debacle I’m sure we wouldn’t have minded waiting another day. Last night’s game was not pretty at all as Clay Buchholz struggled again and the fielding wasn’t quite up to par.

All told it was just another loss for the Red Sox on the road, a place where they have struggled all season long.

More good news on the Big Papi rehab front. He went 1-for-2 last night with a 3-run homer and 2 walks. It was his second straight night with a home run and said his wrist felt good after the game.

“The most important thing is my hand, is feeling good,” he said after the game was called in the bottom of the seventh inning because of rain. “That’s what I’m working on. I try to hit with power to left field.”

“I’m going to take my time,” said Ortiz. “It’s only been a few days. I haven’t played in the last six weeks. I’m going to make sure. My progress has been good, I’m happy with what’s happening, I hope everything stays that way.”

With Big Papi hitting the ball well you know that some of the pundits will call for him to be activated if the Red Sox continue to struggle on this road trip. We already know that’s unlikely to happen as he would like to complete his 7-game rehab assignment to be sure he’s fine. That’s definitely the right call as you don’t want to bring him back too early.

Big Papi made a point of calling Terry Francona after his 1st at-bat on Thursday.

Curt Schilling has posted the pictures of his surgery and his torn right biceps tendon over at 38 Pitches. I will warn you though that if you are squeamish, you definitely don’t want to look. So if you lose your breakfast after looking, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Angels OF Gary Matthews Jr went for an MRI on his troublesome left knee.

Manny’s fine from the Jack McCormick incident was still being discussed last night as Bob Lobel said his information was accurate, otherwise he wouldn’t have reported.

Jon Garland’s stiff neck pushed his start today back until Sunday.

With Hideo Nomo retiring from baseball, Daisuke Matsuzaka took the time to talk about his fellow countryman and what he meant to him.

When I was in junior high, his presence gave me the clear and precise goal of playing in the major leagues. From then on, it was my goal to stand on the same playing field as him. Even though there could have been some chances last year and this year, I never did get to greet him on the same field, and that’s such a shame. Nomo-san’s coming over here had a very big impact, and it’s something that will, without question, live on for a long time. For now I just want to thank him for everything that he did.

“When you still feel that you want to play, it takes courage to decide to bring the curtain down. It’s something I can’t even begin to imagine . . . to leave this game we love. But it doesn’t mean he has to leave the game of baseball, it’s just that as a player maybe he believes it’s time to go. Retirement isn’t something that others decide for you. Nomo-san himself has felt this and has made the decision. Still, it’s sad.”

The Angels will probably win the AL West but what happens in the postseason remains to be seen.

For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.

And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites.