KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wednesday night David Ortiz hit his 25th home run of the season, had two hits, accounted for four RBI to raise his season total to 88, and finished the night carrying a .234 batting average, equaling the highest it has been since the third game of the season.

And the Red Sox won, 9-2, over the Royals, at Kauffman Stadium.

Since June 1, Ortiz has the sixth-most home runs in baseball (24), and the 11th most RBI (70). As the DH noted, he has come a long way just in the nick of time, as was most recently evidenced by his performance against the Royals.

With the visitors’ clubhouse music system blaring Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ (“It’s a nice change, isn’t it,” said Sox outfielder J.D. Drew), Ortiz reflected on how he has rebounded after a horrific start to the 2009 season:

• “I think with the numbers I have already this year, those guys that were checking out my age, I think this should stick in their mind. You know what I’m saying? People thought I was looking for excuses and thinking in the wrong direction when you struggle a little bit. That’s something that at the end of the day, it’s a sorry analysis. People always have to look at things the right way. Anybody can struggle. Anybody can bump into a bad year. Just see the good things and the positive things.”
• “Yeah, I feel good. I feel good. Like I told you guys before, sometimes this series right here, I haven’t gotten that many hits but I’ve been putting good swings on the ball. I’m just not as lucky as Pedroia is, but I stick with it.”
• “I would say a bad season for me is a good season for another guy. Like one of my boys told me the other day, ‘I’ll take your number anytime if I’m going to arbitration.’”
• “People thought I was looking for excuses and going the wrong direction when you struggle a little bit. At the end of the day people always have to look at things the right way. Anybody can struggle and bump into a bad year. You just have to see the good things and the positive things. “
• “This is a team that definitely when I do well the team does well. We’ve been doing that for years here and that’s why I get my work in and try to show the guys it doesn’t matter what happens, you’ve got to just keep on going. When I hit good things happen. Sometimes it takes pressure off the guys when I do my thing out there. The good thing about the whole situation is that even when I do bad guys stepped up and got it done.”
• (On forgetting the season’s first few months) “It’s been gone a long time ago. It’s been gone. I’ve put that in the past and moved on. I’m not going to change whatever happened the first two months of the season. We walk into the playoffs and I know this ballclub needs me. I have to keep on doing my thing.”
• “We have a lineup that it works really into the count with pitches. We see a lot of pitches, and that’s what makes us good because when you see a lot of pitches you have an idea what you want to do at the plate. That’s why after the second or third at-bat you see our production getting even better and that’s because we know what we’re dealing with. “
• “I feel great (about the lineup).”

And the following is Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s take on Ortiz’ resurgence:

• “You know what? It’s amazing. I know that what David went through was more than the normal problems or a slump. But this game has an amazing way of guys seeking their level. I don’t know if it’s human nature or what, but it’s just amazing. For the most part, guys get to their level. They just don’t always do it the way you draw it up.”
• “I can’t think of one person who it’s not important to have. I know what your saying. There’s nothing that’s not important now. If he starts or continues to swng like that, obviously it’s a big bat. Any time you’re one pitch away from a three-run homer, it gives the other teams something to think about and gives you a good chance.”