BOSTON — David Ortiz hinted at his flair for the dramatic early in the Red Sox’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. Turns out he was just getting started.
Ortiz, playing in his final regular-season series at Fenway Park, was honored in a special pregame ceremony and quickly delighted the crowd with an RBI single in the first inning.
But the 40-year-old slugger saved his most clutch hit for last. Coming to bat in the seventh inning of a tie game, Ortiz did what he’s done so many times in his 20-year-career: Put the Red Sox ahead with a timely home run.
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Ortiz’s line-drive, two-run shot was his 39th of the season, 541st of his career and 500th in a Red Sox uniform. More importantly, it lifted the Red Sox to a 5-3 win in a game that could go a long way in determining Boston’s playoff seeding.
And if you think Big Papi has delivered this type of key homer 100 times before, well, you’re only 61 off.
Tonight marks the 39th time David Ortiz has hit a go-ahead home run in the 7th inning or later (36th with Boston).
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) October 1, 2016
The sellout crowd went wild after Ortiz’s big blast, chanting his name until he emerged from Boston’s dugout to tip his cap for a curtain call.
.@davidortiz, creating magic until the very end. #ThanksPapi https://t.co/gC1ej6wp5i pic.twitter.com/u4ccxJOaDT
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2016
Is there anything Big Papi can’t do?
Thumbnail via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
