By Sean McAdam
CSNNE.com Red Sox InsiderFollow @sean_mcadam
David Ortiz never got a chance to speak his mind about the incident for which he received a four-game suspension.
But without saying a word, Oritz did get a game reduced -- with the understanding that he would begin his suspension Monday night when the Sox began a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, the very team against which Ortiz charged the mound on July 8.
Two industry sources said Monday that a "quid pro quo'' element was involved in the decision: by staying off the field against the Orioles, his punishment was reduced by a game.
"I found out (Monday) morning,'' said Ortiz. "It happened and I have to take it like a man.''
Ortiz said he never got an opportunity to explain himself. Rather, he said, he was notified by his agent Monday morning that his suspension was shaved from four games to three.
"I just didn't want to go over the same thing all over again,'' said Ortiz. "I know that what I did wasn't the right thing to do. So I'm going to be punished because of that. I just want to get it over with and finish the season.
"A situation like that goes down..it happened and it's good to be over. They made their decision the way they would have with anybody else and that's it.''
Boston Red Sox
This will be Ortiz's third layoff in the last few weeks. He first was out of the starting lineup seven times in the span of nine games when the Sox played nine straight games in National League ballparks.
He was next off for four days during the All-Star break, and now will miss the next three games.
"It won't help you,'' shrugged Ortiz. "But I'm just going to keep doing what you're supposed to do and try not to put too much in my head and go out there once the time comes for me to start playing (again) and try my best.''
With Ortiz sidelined, the Red Sox had Jacoby Ellsbury as the DH, giving the outfielder a chance to rest his legs for a night.
Sean McAdam can be reached at smcadam@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Sean on Twitter at http:twitter.comsean_mcadam