By SeanMcAdam
CSNNE.com Red SoxInsiderFollow@sean_mcadam
NEW YORK - After the Red Sox had hit five Yankees over the course of the three-game series here, the Yankees finally got some retribution when CC Sabathia plunked David Ortiz in the fourth inning Thursday night.
Later, Ortiz, in a profane postgame address, blamed the media.
Ortiz began by turning around at his locker and announcing that he would be taking no questions, but would have a statement to make.
"I just want to thank you guys,'' began Ortiz, "not all of you . . . most of you . . . for the stat today of me not getting hit by the Yankees. I finally got hit. I hope you expletives are happy. I'm done."
When a reporter attempted a follow-up to ask where Ortiz got hit, Ortiz snapped: "I don't give a expletive. I already got it. It's too late.''
As he walked out of the Red Sox clubhouse to the bus, Ortiz continued to rant.
Boston Red Sox
"You guys like to criticize us when we expletive up,'' he said angrily. "Well, you can criticize yourself now.''
Strangely, after Ortiz was hit by Sabathia, he could be seen smiling as he started to walk to first base.
The plunking took place two games after manager Joe Girardi said he wasn't happy with Ortiz's bat flip in the series opener Tuesday night.
The Red Sox hit two batters Tuesday, another Wednesday and two more Thursday before the Yankees responded.
The fact that Ortiz had never been hit as a member of the Red Sox by a Yankee pitcher was noted in several outlets ever since Girardi's remarks Tuesday night.
Last season, the Yankees were kryptonite to Josh Beckett.
This year, they're merely fodder.
Beckett improved to 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in three starts against the Yankees, but Thursday night was not without its hiccups at the beginning.
After hitting Derek Jeter to start the game, Beckett tried to get a fastball past Curtis Granderson and saw the Yankee center fielder drive it into the seats in right for a 2-0 head start for New York.
"It tough going against a guy like CC Sabathia that and you give up two runs in the first,'' said Beckett.
From that point forward, however, Beckett blanked the Yankees over the next seven innings and improved to 5-2 this season.
"They're a really good hitting team,'' said Beckett of the Yanks. "You don't feel the same the next day after pitching against a lineup like that. It's tough. But I was making some pitches when I needed to and they were hitting some balls at guys.''
"I think it's a testament to Josh,'' remarked catcher Jason Varitek. "He's become even more complete than he was, but it's still based on his command and mix of his pitches. He was really good. They had some chances to extend some innings and he made pitches and got us out of it.''
"Sometimes when you outlast the other guy,'' concluded Beckett, "good things happen.''
With Jarrod Saltalamacchia (stomach flu) feeling much better and ready to play again, the Red Sox optioned catcher Luis Exposito after the game and called up Michael Bowden.
Bowden again gives the Red Sox 12 pitchers after they had dropped to 11 by optioning Scott Atchison Wednesday to allow for the call-up of Exposito to give the team a backup catcher after Saltalamacchia fell ill.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com.Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam