David Ortiz gets a high-five from teammate Chris Carter, left, after blasting a solo homer in the third inning yesterday at McCoy Stadium. Ortiz will not play for Pawtucket tonight.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

PAWTUCKET –– The fastball zipped to the plate at 90 mph.

As it left the hand of Toledo pitcher Chris Lambert, it didn’t take long for David Ortiz to recognize he was getting a fastball on the 3-and-2 count with the bases empty and one out in the third.

It also didn’t take Ortiz long to realize that this fastball was thigh-high and on the inner half of the plate.

Instinctively, Ortiz turned on the ball and crushed a monster shot to right-center, off one of the billboards at McCoy Stadium for a solo homer, his third home run in as many games in his final rehabilitation game with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Ortiz has elected not to play a fourth game in Pawtucket, instead taking today off, as had been originally discussed before his return. He is still expected to finish his rehab assignment with three games in Double-A Portland, beginning tomorrow night.

The crack of Ortiz’ bat last night, though, ignited the crowd of 10,675, which was already excited just to see Big Papi up close and personal at McCoy.

Ortiz knew instantly it was a homer. Immediately after contact and his follow-through, Ortiz turned toward the Pawtucket dugout on the third-base side of the field and calmly tossed his bat in that direction before beginning his lumbering home-run trot.

The homer cut the PawSox’ deficit to 9-3 in what eventually became a 13-5 loss to the Mud Hens.

But Ortiz’ approach at the plate, not to mention the long balls, are clear indications that he is no longer hampered by the partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, which knocked him out of action May 31.

Physically, the Red Sox designated hitter has said he feels fine, and, as his violent swings would attest, he has overcome normal fears that one swing could reverse his recovery.

Ortiz certainly looks ready enough to join Boston, which has scored only five runs in two post-All-Star-break losses, but he doesn’t want to return to the majors too soon.

“I’m too old to rush,” said Big Papi on Friday.

Ortiz, who was not available to speak to the writers after last night’s game, went 3-for-9 with three homers and five RBI in his three games in Pawtucket.

Last night, he went 1-for 4. He fouled out to first, homered and struck out on a foul tip on a low 3-and-2 changeup against Lambert. In the seventh, Ortiz couldn’t hold up on a 79-mph slider from left-hander Clay Rapada and was rightfully rung up by base umpire Lance Barrett on appeal.

Of his homers — his only hits — the first one was a liner to right Thursday night, the second one a liner to left Friday, and last night’s rocket to right-center. His timing may not be perfect just yet, and it wouldn’t hurt him to have a few more at-bats against left-handers, but the wrist doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson has been carefully studying Boston’s slugger for any signs that he’s either favoring his wrist or feeling pain. He hasn’t noticed any issue as Ortiz has been himself in the batter’s box, spraying pitches around the diamond and being selective. He checked his swing once last night, and that didn’t seem to affect his wrist.

“I’ve been watching his swings and his swings and misses. He took some vicious hacks with no restraint at all. He just claps his hands and gets back in the box,” said Johnson. “I try to look at the body language of a guy after an injury. I’m looking and I don’t see any grimaces or wincing. That’s a great sign. I’m constantly talking to him, and he says he feels fine.”

Johnson believes him.

“When you have an injury to a hand, it can restrict your movement. But you don’t [hit the ball to all fields with power] if you’re trying to protect something,” said Johnson.

“The real exciting thing over the three days was to see his bat speed. It’s a timing issue, and you could see it gradually coming back. He hit a home run the first night, but he looked like he getting more and more on the average velocity fastball (as the three games played out). We saw that on the one he hit out tonight. Watching his swing, his approach and his finish in typical David Ortiz fashion, he looked very comfortable.”

That is very good news for the Boston Red Sox, whose offense could definitely use a comfortable, healthy Ortiz back in the lineup sooner than later.

skrasner@projo.com