"We’ll see how he feels at the end of the week and we’ll go from there," Francona said.

Near the end of this week, Francona said Ortiz will turn up the speed on the pitching speed to try to get him back to full-speed.

Francona said Ortiz will need a few minor league rehab starts.

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Manny Ramirez, DH
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Brandon Moss, LF
8. Julio Lugo, SS
9. Kevin Cash, C
-- Jon Lester, SP

Twins

1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Craig Monroe, DH
6. Delmon Young, OF
7. Brendan Harris, 2B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
--Nick Blackburn, SP

Cash will catch Sox lefty Jon Lester tonight vs. the Twins and Jason Varitek will catch Josh Beckett in tomorrow's 1:05 p.m. series finale at Fenway.

Francona also commented on a piece in yesterday's St. Petersburg Times: 'No excuse for leaving Maddon off All-Star staff'

In the column, Times sports columnist John Romano writes:

... When it comes to the coaching staff, Francona has no excuse. Maddon deserves a spot in the game, and Francona owes him an apology for not realizing it.

Seriously, which manager has had a better first half? Which manager has pushed more of the right buttons? No matter how it's measured, I defy anyone to find a more deserving candidate than Maddon. ...

Francona obviously didn't base his decision on performance in 2008, because when he named Jim Leyland and Joe Girardi as his coaches in mid May, the Tigers were in last in the Central and the Yankees were in last in the East. Maddon and the Rays, meanwhile, had the best record in the AL on that particular day.

According to Francona, while the coaching announcement was made in May, the All-Star coaching selections were actually made in January, when the Rays were not the First Place Rays.

File under: No apology necessary.

Matsuzaka pitched 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out five.

The Sox scored their only run in the eighth inning when Manny Ramirez singled to score Dustin Pedroia from third. Pedroia had reached on a ground-rule double down the left field line on fan interference.

Hideki Okajima (W, 2-2) relieved Matsuzaka in the top of the eighth and got out of a bases-loaded jam. Jonathan Paplebon picked up his 26th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Tuesday's scheduled starting pitchers pit Jon Lester (7-3, 3.21 ERA) against Nick Blackburn (7-4, 3.78 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

Pedroia led off the inning against reliever Brian Bass with a double off the Green Monster.

The inning began with a flyout by Carlos Gomez, but Alexi Casilla singled to extend his 14-game hitting streak and Joe Mauer followed with another single, ending Matsuzaka's night at 7 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and three walks and struck out five.

Okajima came on and walked Justin Morneau to fill the bases, but was able to escape.

Jason Kubel popped to Kevin Youkilis in foul territory for the second out and Delmon Young grounded into a fielder's choice to second to end the threat.

Scott Baker (5.2, 3.65 ERA entering the game) has struck out seven while giving up four hits and two walks.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-1, 3.12 ERA) has fanned five and walked three while giving up three hits.

The 6-7-8-9 hitters for the two teams are a combined 0 for 15.

Drew and Ramirez hit to consecutive singles -- with Ramirez's single moving Drew to third -- to start the fourth inning before Mike Lowell struck out.

Youkilis walked to load the bases but Scott Baker wriggled out of trouble getting Crisp and Varitek, who began the night with just 15 hits in his last 114 at-bats.

Clay Buchholz will return from Pawtucket later this week to take Masterson's spot in the rotation, with his first starting coming Friday against the Orioles. PawSox outfielder Jeff Bailey will take Masterson's roster spot until Buchholz is needed.

“The thinking there is that we wanted to at some point get Clay back here and get him in the rotation, which I think we’ve been alluding to,” Francona said. “We also think getting Justin acclimated to the bullpen has a chance to really help our ballclub.”

Francona said Masterson is scheduled to get some relief innings Wednesday at Richmond, and Friday and Saturday at Norfolk.

In other news…

David Ortiz took some swings in the batting cage before Monday night's game against Minnesota. He hit a home run to right field on his first swing. He did the normal five rounds with about seven swings in the first few rounds and then the swings decreased in the later rounds.

Former catcher Doug Mirabelli was back visiting at Fenway Park Monday. Mirabelli played for Boston for seven years from 2001-2007 and was knuckleballer Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher before being released last offseason.

Red Sox:

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. J.D. Drew, RF
4. Manny Ramirez, DH
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS
--Matsuzaka, SP

Twins:

1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Delmon Young, OF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Denard Span, RF
-- Scott Baker, SP

"I think he's going to be OK," manager Terry Francona said. "I think he understands his responsibility and I think he feels OK about it. Now if he runs around second this week and looks like he got shot, that's the way it is with anybody, but I think we're in good shape."

That's a 5-4 win for NY.

Rodriguez, who is having an affair with Madonna according to reports, didn't seem to flinch a bit.

Coming in to relieve Tim Wakefield, Lopez allowed a single to Jorge Posada, followed by a triple to Robinson Cano that went all the way to the wall in the gap in right-center field.

Both Posada and Alex Rodriguez, who was on first base when Lopez entered, scored on the triple, tying up the game. It's now 4-4 in the seventh.

Prior to tonight, Lopez had allowed just one run in his last 15 2/3 innings (15 outings). He has a 1.08 ERA (three earned runs in 25 innings) in 28 games.

It was Girardi's seventh career ejection, fourth as a manager. It was his second as Yankees manager.

Immediately after Girardi was tossed, Gardner singled up the middle.