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 So he went out and did the next best thing.
"I got tears coming out when I see Pedro talking because I know the
man. I know everything he went through in his career," Ortiz said
after hitting a pair of two-run homers and adding an RBI single for
a career-high seven-RBI night that led the Boston Red Sox to an 11-1
rout of the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night.
"Pedro is the most unbelievable human being that I've even been
around. ... Pedro, man, that man is special."
It is likely that someday Ortiz, the greatest power-hitting
designated hitter of all time, will join Martinez and Juan Marichal
as Dominicans in the Hall. But for now, at age 39, he just keeps
building up his numbers.
On Sunday, the seven RBIs allowed him to pass Hall of Famers Rogers
Hornsby, Al Kaline and Harmon Killebrew to take sole possession of
38th place on the all-time list. Ortiz has been great for much of
this season, and his last-place team has been worse, but he has 19
homers and 54 RBIs.
"It may have inspired him somewhat to see a close friend of his be
honored in the way he was," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
"Whether or not that's the root of tonight, I'm sure there was some
positive effect. ... But you look back over the last probably six,
seven weeks and David has swung the bat extremely well."
Boston rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, rebounding from a
dreadful performance against the Angels in Anaheim on July 20,
pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing a long home run to
third baseman Nick Castellanos and two singles. Relievers Robbie
Ross Jr. and Alexi Ogando completed the three-hitter.
Rodriguez improved to 6-3 with a 4.26 ERA overall but is a
major-league-best 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA in night games.
The Red Sox stroked a season-high 20 hits, including four each by
Ortiz and shortstop Xander Bogaerts, to take the deciding game of
the three-game series.
Ortiz snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run shot off Shane Greene (4-8)
in a four-run fifth inning. The Red Sox then scored three in the
sixth, one driven in by Ortiz.
In the seventh, Ortiz hit a three-run homer off reliever Neftali
Feliz that almost hit the ESPN announcing crew working the game from
atop the Green Monster. It was the 48th multi-homer game of Ortiz's
career, but his first this season.
First baseman Mike Napoli drove in two runs for Boston.
Castellanos' 10th homer of the year was his second in as many days.
The loss kept the struggling Tigers (48-50) from getting back to the
.500 mark.
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"I mean, there's really not much to say -- they beat the (stuffing)
out of us," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "They hit. We didn't
pitch, we didn't hit. That's usually a recipe for a loss."
Asked about Ortiz, Ausmus said, "I don't know if he's slowing down
or not, but he was fine tonight. He looked like David Ortiz of the
last 15 years."
Boston second baseman Brock Holt went 2-for-3 but hurt his left knee
rounding first on a first-inning single. He stayed in the game
through the fifth inning before leaving. The injury is not believed
to be serious.
Greene, who started the season by winning his first three starts and
allowing one run in 23 innings but has been to the minors since
then, hasn't won a major league game since May 15.
He was fine at the start. "Nothing changed," he said. "I made a
mistake to one of the best left-handed hitters in the game and I
paid for it."
Greene wound up allowing five runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
NOTES: Bo McKinnis, the agent for potential free agent LHP David
Price, told MLB Radio that he talked contract with the Tigers during
the season. However, he didn't sound optimistic about his client
staying with the club and is unsure what Detroit will do with Price
by Friday's non-waiver trade deadline. ... The Tigers recalled LHP
Kyle Ryan from Triple-A Toledo and demoted INF Marc Krauss. Ryan
relieved Sunday and gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings. ... The Red
Sox selected the contract of INF Jemile Weeks from Triple-A
Pawtucket and optioned RHP Noe Ramirez. Weeks replaced injured 2B
Brock Holt and went 1-for-2. ... The Red Sox broadcast Pedro
Martinez's Hall of Fame speech for the fans before the game and will
retire his No. 45 prior to Tuesday night's game. ... RHP Anibal
Sanchez, 7-0 in his past eight starts, opens the Tigers' three-game
series at Tampa Bay on Monday. ... The Red Sox send RHP Joe Kelly
out Monday in the opener of a four-game set against the visiting
Chicago White Sox.
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reserved.]
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