X-rays negative, Ellsbury hopes to play Thursday

BOSTON -- There isn't much room between the part of the pad that covers Jacoby Ellsbury's right shin and the part that covers his right foot, but there's a wide enough space for a baseball to hit in between there, and Ellsbury paid for it on Wednesday night.

In the seventh inning of the Red Sox's 4-3 win over the Orioles, Ellsbury hit a 0-1 pitch from Francisco Rodriguez and smacked it off his right foot, which left him hobbling momentarily for a minute and brought out the Red Sox's medical staff. Ellsbury continued the at-bat, hit an infield single and then again was examined at first base by the trainers.

Ellsbury stayed in the game, stole second base and scored the game-tying run, but he did not return to play center field in the top of the eighth inning, instead getting X-rays, which came back negative.

"The foot was throbbing, but I knew it was a big run, big situation, and I knew how to get in scoring position," said Ellsbury, who expects he'll be in the lineup for Thursday's series finale. "It obviously didn't feel good at all. But obviously it was a big point in the game and I know we had to get in scoring position. And when [Dustin] Pedroia hit that ball, there was only one thing, and that was to score."

Ellsbury has been electric at the top of the Red Sox's lineup, particularly over the past 10 games, when he's scored 10 runs and stolen five bases, including his 49th of the season.

Manager John Farrell is hopeful Ellsbury will play Thursday.

"If overnight there is additional pain or swelling, we'll take every precaution needed," Farrell said. "But hopefully this is a short-term thing. He's been so important to us."