BOSTON -- It appears that Red Sox slugger David Ortiz avoided significant injury after hitting a 99-mph fastball from Dellin Betances off the midpoint of his right shin in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Yankees.X-rays and a fluoroscan taken following the game were negative. Ortiz is

BOSTON -- It appears that Red Sox slugger David Ortiz avoided significant injury after hitting a 99-mph fastball from Dellin Betances off the midpoint of his right shin in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Yankees.

X-rays and a fluoroscan taken following the game were negative. Ortiz is day to day.

"My heart sunk a little bit when I saw it, but fortunately, I just saw him back there," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "He's doing much better. It's not broken. He looks like he's moving around pretty good right now, considering how he was. Before, we had to carry him off, basically, but he's now walking. He's standing around on his own. It hit off him solid, but he's doing much better."

There was quite a bit of concern initially, when Ortiz was writhing in pain and walked back to the dugout with the help of manager John Farrell and a member of the training staff.

With the Red Sox in the thick of two postseason races -- they trail the Blue Jays by 2 1/2 games for the American League East title but hold a one-game lead in the AL Wild Card standings -- a serious injury to Ortiz could have been devastating.

"I felt bad for him," said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts . "It was 99 mph. ... That's something that's not very nice, and especially to lose a player like that for an extended period of time wouldn't be good for us."

Ortiz tried to gather himself and continue the at-bat, but he couldn't shake off the pain. Bryce Brentz came on as a pinch-hitter and finished the at-bat by striking out. Adding insult to injury, Ortiz was charged with the strikeout.

In the eighth, Mookie Betts left the game with right calf tightness, and he is doubtful for Thursday's series finale against the Yankees. Prior to the game, the Red Sox announced that knuckleballer Steven Wright would miss his next start, originally scheduled for Thursday, due to right shoulder inflammation.

The 40-year-old Ortiz is in the midst of what is expected to be his final season in the Major Leagues. Despite a recent slump, he is slashing .307/.400/.612 with 25 homers and 88 RBIs.

Ian Browne has covered the Red Sox for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne and Facebook.