Ortiz singles twice for Sea Dogs in rehab appearance at Hadlock

PORTLAND – Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz singled twice, walked, and flied out Monday night in his first of three rehab appearances for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.

Ortiz went 2-for-3 in his fourth minor league game since he was sidelined on May 30 because of a partial tear of the sheath that surrounds the tendon in his left wrist.

“I want to see pitches. I know my hand is fine right now. Everything is coming out pretty good,” said Ortiz, who helped Portland beat the Connecticut Defenders 8-2. “When you see pitches, that’s when you really get your timing that you want to have.”

Ortiz is expected to return to the Red Sox on Friday for the beginning of a nine-game home series with New York, Los Angeles and Oakland.

In Monday night’s game, Dave Gassner (2-5) allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings to earn his second win of the season for the Sea Dogs. Gassner allowed an unearned run in the first inning and a solo homer to Olmo Rosario in the third.

Joey Martinez (6-8) suffered his third loss of the year to Portland, allowing eight runs (five earned) on five hits over five innings. He surrendered four runs with two outs in the first inning.

Ortiz, Wagner and Bates walked to load the bases. Josh Reddick, who joined the Sea Dogs earlier in the day, delivered a two-run single. Tony Granadillo reached on a shortstop’s error to bring home the third run and Argenis Diaz nailed a run-scoring single.

Portland added two runs off Martinez in the second inning. Bryan Pritz reached on Dave Maroul’s second error in as many innings and scored on Mickey Hall’s double. Ortiz followed with a single and Mark Wagner delivered a sacrifice fly.

The Sea Dogs scored two in the sixth inning on Hall’s sacrifice fly and Ortiz’s single off Nate Bump.

Gassner scattered three hits over six innings and left the game after a perfect sixth. Richie Lentz, Daniel Bard and Beau Vaughan sealed the win scoreless relief.

Ortiz plays in Portland again tonight as the Sea Dogs and Connecticut play the second game of their four-game series.

MRI next for Posada

NEW YORK – Jorge Posada’s injured right shoulder put him on the disabled list Monday for the second time this season. This time, the Yankees catcher goes on the DL with the knowledge that he might not play again in 2008.

Posada has a tear in the labrum in his shoulder, an injury he had surgery to correct after the 2001 season, and also has damage in the rotator cuff. Posada, who got choked up as he talked with reporters, said: “I will have to have surgery no matter what, either now or later.”

The surgery will require four to six months of recovery time. So if Posada waits until after the season to have the surgery, he could miss part of next season.

“That’s the biggest thing, I don’t want to miss two years,” Posada said. “I’m already flustered with this one, because I haven’t been 100 percent. I’ve been trying to play through a lot of pain.”

Posada first experienced shoulder problems during spring training. He was shut down for part of April and was on the DL from April 28 through June 3. Since his return, he had seen limited action behind the plate as the quality of his throws varied but never reached 100 percent. Jose Molina has been the Yankees’ primary catcher, and Chad Moeller has seen action.

Tuesday, Posada will have an MRI and be examined by Dr. David Altchek. General manager Brian Cashman said Posada will also see other doctors before a decision is made about surgery. The Yankees, Cashman said, must decide “can he help us in all aspects at some period of time this year? Can he help us in some aspects more than others? Or is it complete shutdown mode?”

There is a possibility that Posada will return this season even if he cannot catch. They would consider bringing him back as a first baseman/designated hitter.

“If he could be a real productive bat for us and still be ready (for next season) if he had the surgery November 1,” manager Joe Girardi said, “that’s why we would keep him on the roster.”

Posada said the pain has been more significant than he had let on. But two poor throws Saturday put him at the breaking point.

“I have no power,” Posada said. “I have nothing in the shoulder to throw a baseball. I have a lot of pain when I throw.”

Cashman said the Posada injury, along with the possibility that Hideki Matsui will have season-ending left knee surgery, will not affect how he approaches the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.