Ausmus takes Lamont deep over Green Monster

BOSTON -- Brad Ausmus grew up in Connecticut watching Red Sox games at Fenway Park. He hit a home run over the Green Monster 15 years ago as a catcher for the Tigers, taking John Wasdin deep. On Friday, he had the chance to swing again.

"I've never hit a home run into the seats over the Green Monster," Ausmus said proudly of his shot during early batting practice Friday afternoon, "because they weren't there [back in 1999]."

He did it Friday, driving a ball down the line.

The coaches' batting practice was a way to break up the monotony of a long road trip. Ausmus wanted to take his swings at Camden Yards in Baltimore, where he hit two home runs in his playing career, but early work didn't allow for it.

Ausmus' home run pitch Friday came from bench coach Gene Lamont.

"I put it right where he wanted it," Lamont said.

Said Ausmus: "You didn't see the other 15 swings."

Several other coaches took their swings. Third-base coach Dave Clark homered to right, Ausmus said. First-base coach Omar Vizquel hit some drives off the Green Monster. Darnell Coles also swung, as did pitching coach Jeff Jones.

Hitting coach Wally Joyner, who has more Major League home runs than anybody else on the coaching staff, did not hit.

"Hitting coaches don't like to hit, I don't think," Ausmus said. "They're afraid their hitters will judge them."