"Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who had a pretty fair game of his own - a home run and a double - was in awe watching David Ortiz's at-bats from the on-deck circle last night.

"Any time a guy is hitting like that, you don't know what to throw,'' said the Red Sox catcher. "He hits your best fastball out of the park, hits a curve up the middle, and throw him something away and he hits it to left.''

Ah yes, it was one of those throw-up-your-hands and tip-your-cap games for Ortiz. The big fella, who played his first six seasons in Minnesota, stroked four hits, including a home run and a double, to key Boston's 8-6 win at Target Field. He also acted like a freight train and may have caused Joe Mauer to take his eye off the ball when the Twins catcher dropped an eighth-inning relay with Ortiz bearing down, allowing Ortiz to score Boston's sixth run."