OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Manager Terry Francona and the healthy members of the Red Sox finally finished their miserable 2-7 road trip and left the Bay Area to meet the rest of Boston’s beat-up lineup in Beantown.

“They’ll be welcoming us with open arms,” Francona joked of the fans at Fenway Park.

Slugger David Ortiz was to remain at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston until today as a precaution and for further tests on his heart.

“David Ortiz is in the process of undergoing further testing to determine the cause of his symptoms,” Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill said in a statement. “The testing and evaluation will continue throughout the remainder of this afternoon and evening. David will remain in the hospital Wednesday night. He is resting comfortably and is in good spirits.”

Ortiz felt heart palpitations earlier this month and again before Monday night’s game in Oakland, where he was a late scratch from the lineup. He then returned to Boston for evaluation.

“Dave is doing real well,” said Francona, who talked to his star player Tuesday. “If and when, I don’t think we have any idea. He’s doing OK.”

Ortiz was admitted to a hospital on Aug. 19 for a full examination and tests. Based on the results of those findings, he was cleared to return when his condition had improved.

The reeling Red Sox had one bench player available – Javy Lopez – for Wednesday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics after Boston scratched center fielder Coco Crisp less than an hour before the first pitch with an injured left shoulder.

Crisp was hurt making a diving catch to rob Jay Payton of a hit in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to the A’s. It didn’t bother him initially but felt some pain during batting practice.

“It’s still a little sore,” Crisp said after Boston’s 7-2 loss. “I’ll come back in tomorrow early and see how it feels.”

The Red Sox did receive some good news: Outfielder Wily Mo Pena received a cortisone shot in his troublesome left wrist and could be ready to play in a couple of days. He missed his sixth straight game.

Left fielder Manny Ramirez also was back in Boston nursing a tendinitis in his right knee that has sidelined him for four games in a row and six out of seven.

Ortiz, one of the top contenders for the AL MVP award, is batting .287 with a league-leading 47 homers and 121 RBIs. Ramirez leads the team with a .326 average and has 34 homers and 100 RBIs; Pena, who went on the DL for seven weeks in May for surgery on his left wrist, has 11 homers and 38 RBIs in just 217 at-bats.

AP-ES-08-30-06 1959EDT