TORONTO -- Mike Lowell insists he has nothing to prove … at least to those who matter in his world.

But when he hit the eventual game-winning home run in the eighth inning Tuesday night during what would be a 7-5 Red Sox win over the Blue Jays, it could have been construed a message-sender. 

Perhaps the delivery could have been sent the way of the team he hit the bomb against, the Jays. It was Toronto which showed interest in trading for Lowell back in June before the deal was derailed by a hesitation of having the infielder play on the Rogers Centre' turf on a consistent basis.

Or perhaps it was another opportunity to show those other major league decision-makers who found reasons not to make it a priority to see if Lowell could help on a more regular basis.

Lowell says none of the above. Not that he is dismissing that the home run helps prove his point to some, it's just that that outcome isn't his priority. Playing and playing well is.

"I played at times to prove people wrong, yeah when people think you're done. But no one on my team," Lowell explained. "I consider the team the people in this clubhouse. I don't consider any outsiders part of this team because if you don't grind it out everyday here with everyone in the clubhouse you're not really part of the team. I don't feel like I need to prove anything to what I consider the team. But I do want to contribute and I do want to produce."

Turning in performances like the one Tuesday night is just part of the equation in regard to what's driving Lowell. There is also the big picture. He knows that while less than two months remain in the regular season, it is enough to prove his point. 

The next quest is to make any decision regarding Lowell's playing time (which still might hinge on the progress of Carlos Delgado) difficult for those believing the first baseman is headed for nothing more than part-time duty heading down the home stretch.

"I don't think like I need any," said Lowell when asked how much rest his surgically-repaired right hip might require. "I'm willing to accept the fact that Victor Martinez can't catch every day and he's a middle of the lineup guy. So I have no problem the days he doesn't catch and he plays first. That's logical and totally reasonable. But from a standpoint where I can only play three in a row and need a day, I mean this turf is as tough as anywhere. If you feel 100 percent you're going to feel a little stiff playing on this turf. There's not much time left. For eight weeks I can do anything."

The first baseman wants to make it clear: He isn't going to be Kevin Youkilis for the remainder of the season. All he wants to be is Mike Lowell.

"No because if i try to do it i think I'll fail," said Lowell when asked if he felt like he had to replace the bat of Youkilis. "I feel like I have to be a solid bat at the plate. I think my job is like it was four years prior, try to be a run producer. If I do that I think I'm doing my part. I think if you look at the numbers he's probably one of the five elite hitters in the game the last three or four years. Would I love to? Yeah, I would love to do it but I think if you try and do something somebody else does you're going to get out of your own game-plan and probably feel."

Lowell wasn't the only Red Sox player Monday night attempting to dispel lingering doubts with a few well-timed performances in the team's series-opening win …

DAVID ORTIZ

Prior to facing off with Detroit's Phil Coke on the last day of July, Ortiz was hitting .190 against left-handers. Then the DH ripped a game-winning double against the Tigers' lefty and that seemed to push Ortiz in the direction he had been looking for throughout much of the season.

Starting with the Coke at-bat, and finishing with his two hits against Toronto lefty Ricky Romero Tuesday night, Ortiz is 6-for-16 (.375) against southpaws.

While still only one of his 24 homers have come against a lefty, Tuesday offered another example that the designated hitter is heading in the right direction against left-handers.

"I don't worry about lefties, man," Ortiz said. "Lefties go back and forth. One day they get you, another day they get you. Lefties have gotten so much better. You don't see that many lefties giving in out there. They either try and hit the spot or give you something they don't allow you to drive. I've been searching for that mistake, and when I get it, it's on baby."

JED LOWRIE

While Ortiz' struggles had been against lefties, for the last few years it has been right-handers which have been the bane of Lowrie's existence. Except in the case of the switch-hitter, it has been more due to the side of the plate he has had to hit from than which arm the pitcher is throwing with.

Due to an injured wrist -- that ultimately required surgery -- Lowrie hit just .201 from the left side, compared to .313 as a righty, during his first two seasons in the big leagues.

Tuesday night he showed that, thanks to a healthy wrist, the problem might be solved.

With Ryan Kalish on first and the Red Sox clinging to a one-run lead in the eighth, Lowrie rifled a shot to the center field wall for an insurance run, and he did it while hitting lefty.

"I've been saying for a long time I know what I'm capable of. To finally to be able to do that with pitches is a good feeling," said Lowrie, who is 7-for-25 (.280) from the left side this season.

"Just having the strength in my wrist, in my body, absolutely that's been absent for a long time. It's a good feeling."