Boston's Ortiz sidelined with bursitis

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz will out indefinitely because of bursitis in his right heel that has forced his foot into a walking boot.

Ortiz, batting .300 with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs, was a late scratch from the opener Boston's day-night double-header with Tampa Bay Tuesday with what was first called an illness. Later, it was announced he had bursitis and manager Terry Francona said after the second game his No. 5 hitter needs rest.

''He got an MRI and it showed the bursitis in his heel,'' Francona said. ''We're going to get him out of his spikes for a couple of days, get him in a little bit of a walking boot, just to kind of alleviate some of the pressure.''

As far as how long Ortiz will be out, Francona said, ''We'll keep re-evaluating him, I'm sure, every couple of days, but we want to get him off that for a little while.

''It's not going to be a DL but we're going to have to keep him out there for a little bit and we don't know what that (length of time) is.''

The Red Sox also played the double-header, which they split, without shortstop Marco Scutaro, out with back stiffness.